This warm apple crostata is basically fall wrapped in a buttery crust — soft, sweet apples and flaky pastry, just like the one at Olive Garden. It’s chill to make, smells like hugs, and yeah… vanilla ice cream + caramel on top? Instant therapy.
Jump to RecipeQuick Summary
- Prep time: 15 mins
- Cook time: 45 mins
- Flavor: warm, spiced, buttery
- Great for: weeknight cravings, cozy weekends, impressing your mom
Why I Like This Recipe
So this one happened because I had apples and zero emotional stability. I didn’t wanna make a full pie (too much work, honestly), and this felt like cheating… but in a good way. You just throw everything on a crust, fold it like a blanket, and bake. And when that cinnamon-apple smell hits? Girl. You’ll understand.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 tbsp ice water
Filling:
- 4 cups apples (peeled, sliced or chopped — up to you)
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1½ tsp apple pie spice (or mix 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ¼ tsp allspice)
To serve:
- Vanilla ice cream (mandatory, tbh)
- Caramel sauce (store-bought if we’re being real)
How To Make Warm Apple Crostata
- Make the crust: Mix flour, sugar, salt. Cut in butter with a fork (or your hands if you’re chaotic like me) till it’s crumbly. Add cold water bit by bit — dough should come together, not be soggy. Flatten into a disk. Chill if you want, or don’t.
- Roll it out: Lightly flour your surface. Roll the dough into a 12-inch-ish circle. No ruler needed.
- Toss the filling: In a bowl, mix apples + sugar + flour + spices. Toss with your hands. Smells like fall already.
- Assemble: Dump the apples into the middle of the crust. Leave a border. Fold the edges up around the apples — rustic = pretty here.
- Bake: 375°F, about 45–50 mins. Edges should be golden and apples soft and caramel-y.
- Serve: Scoop of ice cream. Drizzle of caramel. Close your eyes and pretend you’re at Olive Garden but better.

Tips for Success
- Cold butter = flaky crust. Don’t let it melt early.
- Don’t worry if your folds look messy — it’s called “rustic charm.”
- Use tart apples (like Granny Smith) for a nice bite.
- Let it cool a few mins before cutting or it’ll collapse like your GPA during finals.
- Double it if you’ve got friends over. Or don’t. More for you.
Storage and Reheating
- Fridge: Cover and keep up to 3 days. It softens a little, but still hits.
- Freezer: Wrap slices individually. Bake to reheat or just microwave if you’re lazy (no shame).
- To Reheat: Oven at 325°F for 10ish mins = best texture. Microwave = gooey mess (still delicious).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use store-bought crust?
Yes. I won’t tell. It works and makes things faster. - Best apples to use?
Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji — mix ’em if you’re wild. - What’s the difference between a crostata and a pie?
Crostata is like a lazy pie. One crust, no top, no pie dish, less stress. - Can I make this ahead?
Yep. Assemble, refrigerate, bake later. Or bake, then warm it up again. - Do I have to peel the apples?
Nope. I skip it when I’m feeling lazy. Texture’s a little different but it works.
Common Mistakes and How to Dodge Them
- Warm butter = sad crust: Keep everything cold till bake time. Trust me.
- Overfilling with apples: Tempting, I know. But it’ll leak and burn. Pile, but don’t mountain.
- Not enough spice: Don’t go shy on the apple pie spice — it’s what gives that warm, bakery vibe.
- Undercooking: The crust should be golden, not pale. If the apples aren’t soft yet, give it a few extra mins.
- Cutting too soon: Let it rest. Otherwise it falls apart and looks sad (still tastes good tho).
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Carbs: 51 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 41 mg
- Sodium: 234 mg
- Potassium: 111 mg
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 29 g
Warm Apple Crostata Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes45
minutes350
kcalFlaky, golden crostata with soft spiced apples and melty vanilla ice cream on top. Tastes like a cozy hug.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp salt
½ cup cold butter (cubed)
2 tbsp ice water
4 cups apples (sliced)
½ cup sugar
3 tbsp flour
1½ tsp apple pie spice
Directions
- Mix crust ingredients, add water, form dough.
- Roll dough into 12″ circle.
- Toss apples with sugar, flour, spice.
- Pile apples in center, fold crust edges up.
- Bake at 375°F for 45–50 mins.
- Serve with ice cream + caramel.
Notes
- Keep butter cold for flaky crust.
- Don’t overfill or it’ll spill.
- Tart apples = best flavor.
- Let cool a bit before cutting.