Jack-o-Lantern Apple Pie With Puff Pastry

Have some fun with the kiddos. Transform an ordinary apple pie into an amazing (and not to mention delicious) Jack-o-Lantern apple pie with puff pastry.

Fall for many equals apple picking in sweaters, cooler weather, and everything pumpkin. Now, apple pies are a classic fall dessert. But today I wanted to take it one step further and create not only an apple pie with puff pastry, but one that’s shaped like a Jack-o-Lantern. Yes, I’ve taken a fall favorite and created the most fun Halloween-inspired dessert, which is bound to be a hit with kids (and big kids at heart).

Fortunately, it’s super quick and easy to create and takes less than 30 minutes to prep and cook. This is because we use store-bought puff pastry and canned apple pie filling, which requires no cooking. All you need is a sheet of puff pastry, apple pie filling, and some extra accessories to make the cutest dessert you ever did see.

It’s also mouthwateringly delicious, thanks to the crunchy puff pastry exterior and sweet and juicy apple pie filling. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

But hey, if you want to keep things traditional, check out these other popular apple pie recipes: easy apple pie muffins, apple pie oatmeal, freezer apple pie, and apple scoop pie.

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 refrigerated sheet of frozen puff pastry dough. Found in the freezer section at your local grocery store, you can make your own homemade puff pastry, but it’s very time-consuming. Ensure you thaw your freezer sheet in the fridge beforehand.
• Dollar Tree wooden pumpkin
• Knife 
• 1 can of apple pie filling (or you can make the filling from scratch here)
• Cookie sheet
• Fork
• Green icing (with an extra small piping tip)

Start by unrolling your thawed puff pastry dough out flat. It’s easier to roll out the dough while it’s still a little bit frozen.

Place your pumpkin close to the edge of the puff pastry sheet and trace around it with a knife. (If you have a large cookie cutter you can use that as well, but I like to use what I already have.) Make TWO cut-outs.

Place your two large cut-outs on a cookie or baking sheet or parchment paper (whatever you have on hand).

Cut a Jack-o-Lantern face out on one of the cut-outs. Just as you would when carving a pumpkin.

On the opposite one, place a heaping spoonful of apple pie filling in the middle. 

Place your Jack-o-Lantern face directly on top and line up your edges.

Seal the edge by pressing it down with a fork, as shown.

Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 8 minutes.

Let cool so the filling thickens up completely. 

Make some vines and leaves at the top of your Jack-o-Lantern with your green icing.

Serve warm and enjoy! Maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce? The choice is yours.

Storage

If there are leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or at room temperature overnight. I recommend reheating in the oven instead of the microwave to crisp up the exterior once more.

Recipe Notes

• If you’re missing that quintessential fall flavor, you can sprinkle some cinnamon or apple pie spice on your apple pie filling before covering with the cut-out.
• Don’t forget to flour your surface before you roll out the dough, to ensure it doesn’t stick to the surface.
• The colder the puff pastry, the more light and fluffy the pie.
• You can also brush the top of the puff pastry with an egg wash (simply a beaten egg in a bowl) for a golden brown finish.

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples to use in apple pie?

Now, in this recipe, I simply use a can of apple pie filling to save time. But generally, when baking an apple pie you want a firm apple variety that will keep its shape when baking. This includes Gala, Jazz, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith apples. 

Do I have to make this puff pastry apple pie into a Jack-o-Lantern?

Not at all. On one hand, you could make it into a pumpkin-shaped apple pie with puff pastry with no Jack-o-Lantern face. Otherwise, you could use a similar-sized object to create the decorative puff pastry apple pie of your choice. 

Looking for more amazing apple desserts to enjoy this fall? Check out these recipes:

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Easy Apple Crumble Recipe

Easy and Delicious Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Brownies

Caramel Apple Cheesecake (Unbelievably Blissful)

Apple Pecan Cobbler