Upside Down Apple Pie Pastry

The Upside Down Apple Pie Pastry Recipe By: Cece Kirkwood This post may contain affiliate links.

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I am pleased to introduce you to the golden crispy, oh-so-fall-tastic upside down apple pie pastry. 

Okay okay, I know the virality of the upside down pastry was about 4 months ago, but look… I’m  a busy gal and sometimes I can’t keep up with the trends. So, instead I decided to push off my own take on this deliciously easy pastry until the fall. 

What makes it apple pie you ask? 

These golden brown delicious upside pastries are filled with everything you love from apple pie. The cinnamon, the nutmeg, a little hint of ginger and brown sugar… and of course a little bit of fall maple flavor to make the taste buds sing. 

If you’re not drooling yet, just wait until you hear how easy it is to bake. 

This recipe will take you 45 minutes from start to devouring thanks to the ready-to-bake pastry crust. That’s right. We are not making this pastry from scratch! Not this time. This recipe is all about the speed in which you can bake it and impress yourself or your guests with just how amazing it tastes and looks. 

Shall we dig in?

The Ingredients for the Upside Down Apple Pie Pastry

The ingredients are simple staples. Head to the farmer’s market or the grocery store for an apple. Stop by the frozen aisle at the store for the pastry crust and you’ll be set. 

Let’s take a look at the full list: 

• Ready-to-bake puff pastry sheet: I used pepperidge farms frozen version but they do make ones that are just chilling in the fridge (think pillsbury dough boy). If you are using the frozen kind, be sure to take a look at how to properly defrost the pastry and make sure you don’t let it too warm. The crust should still have a slight chill to it to keep all those buttery flakey layers ready for rising in the oven.
• Medium apple: I use pink lady here but green apples, honey crisp or any other bright and crisp apple will do just fine. Just stay away from the red delicious apples
• Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
• Lemon: This is an essential ingredient for the apples. Don’t forget to grab one at the store. 
• Maple syrup or Honey: For the assembly of the upside down apple pie pastry, you can use maple syrup or honey. I prefer the maple syrup, but I tested both and both are delicious
• Brown Sugar: Delicious and perfect for this apple pie finish
• Egg: Used for a simple egg wash  

The Process 

Prepare the ingredients 

Pre-measure the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350ºF. Then, create the egg wash by cracking the egg in a small bowl and whisking it. Set that aside.

Finally for the prep, if you are using frozen pastry sheets, defrost the sheets as the package suggests. Do not let the pastry sheets get too warm. They should be malleable but still have a slight chill to them. 

Toss the apples to create the apple pie filling

Thinly slice the apple and add it to a bowl to toss with the juice of ½ lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Be sure the apples are evenly coated with the spices and lemon juice. 

Assemble the upside down apple pie pastry 

Slice the chilled pastry sheet into 6 equal rectangles. Then on a parchment lined baking sheet assemble each pastry in the following in this order:

1. Drizzle about 1/2 tsp of maple syrup or honey in a small circle 
2. Sprinkle a pinch of brown sugar on top 
3. Lay 4 thinly sliced apple slices on top 
4. Drizzle with another ½ tsp of maple syrup or honey 
5. Place a cut pastry sheet on top and lightly press down around the edges
6. Be sure that all the apple slices are covered
7. Repeat for the 5 other pastries 

Finally, bake!

Once all 6 upside down apple pie pastries are assembled, use a fork to press down the edges of the pastry crusts to create trimmed little edges, as shown in the photos above. Then brush the pastry lightly with the egg wash. 

Finally, poke a couple holes on top of each pastry to allow for airflow while baking. Place the baking sheet immediately in the oven and bake until the tops are golden brown, about 20 – 25 minutes. 

Remove the upside down pastries from the oven and sprinkle with a bit of coconut sugar. Allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes before using a spatula to gently flip them over. Devour them on their own or my favorite way, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Tips 

What kind of pastry crust should I use?

I tested this with the pepperidge farm frozen ready-to-bake pastry for the upside down apple pie pastry, but you can use another frozen variety or a chilled dough from pillsbury. Because this recipe is meant to be quick, it’s better to use the ready-to-bake crust, but if you want to make your own puff pastry crust – you most certainly can! 

Why is this recipe in Grams?

Baking is a science and in science you want things to be exact and precise. The best way to do this is by weighing out your ingredients using a simple scale. Ever baked a cookie using the same recipe, yet somehow it turns out slightly different each time? That is because when measuring by volume, you can’t be as precise. It is vital that your ingredient ratios are accurate for a reliable bake every time. 

How long does the Upside Down Apple Pie Pastry last in the fridge?

The upside down pastries are best stored in an airtight container and placed in the fridge until ready to eat. You can either reheat them in the oven for about 5 minutes at 350ºF or in the microwave for about 30 seconds. 

The Upside Down Apple Pie Pastry Recipe

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