Baked Honey Apple Roses

Apple honey roses are a simple yet beautiful dessert.  They are delicious served on their own, or with a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

For special occasions, I like to combine many apple roses to make a truly stunning dairy-free apple rose tart.

Apple flowers are an elegant Rosh Hashanah dessert

Apples and honey are traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, to symbolize hope for a sweet year ahead.  I love this tradition and it is one my family always incorporates into our New Year’s celebration.

This year, I wanted to make a simple yet elegant dessert for my family to enjoy on Rosh Hashanah.  Nothing is simpler than a baked apple for dessert.

Adding a touch of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon rounds out the flavors and make the apple truly delicious. And by creating delicate slices in the apple prior to baking, it can easily be arranged into a flower.

Easy steps to make Apple Roses:

1. Peel apples
2. Core apples
3. Cut apples in half and uniformly slice into thin strips and transfer sliced apples to baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicon baking liner
4. Microwave honey (or maple syrup) in a small dish for 20 seconds, stir in cinnamon
5. Using a pastry brush (or back of spoon), coat sliced apples in honey cinnamon mixture
6. Bake in oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then cool completely on baking sheet
7. Once completely cool, use your hands to and gently squeeze sliced apples to create a long strip.  Ensure that sliced apples are evenly distributed
8. Gently roll strip of apple slices into a tight spiral that resembles a rose.  
9. Coil a small apple slice (or piece of apple slice into a tight coil and insert into center of rose to complete the apple flower.  Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with mint leaves (optional).

Baked Honey Apple Rose Recipe

The apple honey roses can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for several days ahead of serving

*Note:  Apples consistently test positive for pesticide residue in the USDA’s annual produce analysis.  That is why I choose to purchase organic apples or buy them from a farmer that does not use pesticides.  Read more about pesticides and produce.

Simple variations for honey baked apple roses:

• For a more rustic looking rose, do not remove apple peel prior to slicing into thin strips
• For red roses, simmer 1 cup of hibiscus tea with honey in a medium saucepan until reduced to about 1 tablespoon of liquid.  Omit cinnamon and coat apple slices with hibiscus honey sauce prior to baking
• Maple syrup can be used in place of honey to make the baked apple roses vegan

Other delicious grain-free desserts you may enjoy:

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Nutrition information (per serving):

• 52 calories
• 2 g added sugar
• 2 g fiber
• 0 g protein
• 0 g fat