Description
Thousand-Layer Apple is a stunning dessert made with paper-thin slices of Granny Smith apples, layered over a caramel base and buttery alfajor-style cookie. This warm and tender apple stack is rich, simple, and unforgettable.
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
4–5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced thin
1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
170g cold, unsalted butter
150g all-purpose flour
125g cornstarch
50g powdered sugar
1½ tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup dulce de leche
Flakey salt
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. In a mixer, blend butter, flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, and salt until sandy.
3. Knead dough by hand until smooth. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
4. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick, cut out 6-inch base, bake for 8–10 mins. Cool.
5. Caramelize 3/4 cup sugar in skillet, pour into a 6-inch cake pan, swirl to coat bottom.
6. Slice apples thin (1/8 inch). Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar. Layer apples with cinnamon sugar in the pan.
7. Let apples rest 20–30 mins, then bake at 250°F for 1 hour.
8. Spread dulce de leche on cookie base. Sprinkle with flakey salt.
9. Place cookie base on top of apples, invert onto plate to serve.
10. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desired.
Notes
For best results, use a mandoline to slice apples very thin.
Use only Granny Smith apples for structure and tartness.
Let apples macerate to reduce excess moisture before baking.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Thousand-Layer Apple, apple dessert, caramel apple tart, layered apple recipe