A spiced apple galette that celebrates the classic flavors of fall.
The season’s best apples meet warming spices and a buttery, flaky crust to create a colorful, rustic galette that’s easy to make and delicious to share.
Galettes make home bakers look like pros: you get all the joys of pie — tender fruit and a flaky crust — without the fuss of perfect edges or a lattice top. Consider a galette pie’s more relaxed, friendlier cousin.
This galette embraces the full range of apple colors and textures, from green and yellow to red and pink.
Why This Recipe Works
- Full of fall flavor. Apples with cinnamon and nutmeg give the galette a warm, comforting spice profile.
- Rustic and forgiving. The dough is simply folded around the fruit, so no precise shaping is required.
- Easier than pie. You get the same satisfying result with far less stress and fewer steps.
Food tastes best when it’s in season.
In many regions, apple harvest starts in mid-summer and continues through fall. Local farmers markets brim with different varieties during this time, giving you the chance to experiment with flavor, texture and color.
There are thousands of apple varieties worldwide, each with distinct size, color, texture and flavor. Supermarkets typically stock a small handful of commercial varieties, so visit a farmers market in early fall to enjoy a wider selection and discover apples you may not see in stores.
Fun note: apples with pink or red flesh exist and can make a galette especially striking.
How to Make this Galette Recipe
- Make the dough in a stand mixer or food processor, or use store-bought pie dough. If homemade, chill the dough; if store-bought, let it thaw.
- Roll the dough out into a free-form shape — round, oval or rustic rectangle — and transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill while you prepare the apples.
- Thinly slice apples (about 1/8 inch). Use a mix of colors for visual impact or one variety for simplicity.
- Optional: arrange apple slices by color to create an ombre or rainbow effect.
- Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar, then brush with melted butter mixed with vanilla.
- Fold the dough edges over the fruit, brush the crust with the remaining butter-vanilla mixture and sprinkle with a touch more sugar and spices.
- Bake until the apples are soft and jammy, juices are bubbling and the crust is deep golden-brown.
Precision isn’t necessary — this is a relaxed, rustic dessert. Any unevenness is part of the charm.
Note: While this recipe uses apples, other firm fruits like pears also work well; adjust sugar to taste if your fruit is tart.
Ingredients: Cinnamon & Nutmeg
Cinnamon: Cinnamon varieties differ in flavor. Cassia (the common U.S. variety) is bold and spicy, while Ceylon, often called “true” cinnamon, is milder and more delicate. Choose the type you prefer.
Nutmeg: Nutmeg is warm, slightly sweet and aromatic. For the best flavor, grate whole nutmeg fresh rather than rely on pre-ground spice; it’s brighter and more complex.
These two spices give the galette its cozy fall aroma and flavor.
Cook’s Tips
- Buy local when possible. Local apples often offer better flavor and variety.
- Use freshly grated whole nutmeg for the most vibrant flavor.
- Start with very cold butter to ensure a flaky, tender crust.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Dough freezes well for up to a month.
- Don’t worry about perfection. Galettes are meant to be rustic — embrace the irregularities.
- Best served warm, straight from the oven, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Celebrate the season’s apple bounty with this colorful, easy-to-make rustic galette.
Apple Galette
20 minutes
50 minutes
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour plus more for surface
- 8 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 large egg, beaten
For the Apple Filling
- 4–7 apples (about 1.5 pounds), any mix of colors
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon, divided
- 1 tsp nutmeg, divided
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- To make the dough: pulse flour, sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle in the beaten egg and pulse just until a dough ball begins to form.
- Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and chill until firm, at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the dough to it, or roll and assemble directly on the parchment. Chill while you prep the apples.
- Thinly slice apples (about 1/8 inch) or use a mandolin. Arrange slices on the dough by color if desired, then gently fold the dough edge over the apples.
- Sprinkle apples with granulated sugar, 1.5 tsp cinnamon and 3/4 tsp nutmeg.
- Melt 3 tbsp butter, remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Brush the apples with this mixture.
- Brush the crust with the remaining 1 tbsp of butter-vanilla, then sprinkle with brown sugar and the remaining cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Bake, rotating the pan once, until the apples are soft and jammy and the crust is golden brown, about 40–50 minutes.
Notes
- Buy local apples when possible.
- Use freshly grated nutmeg for brighter spice flavor.
- Keep butter very cold to ensure a flaky crust.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours; it can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen for a month.
- Embrace the rustic look—galettes are meant to be relaxed.
- Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days.
If you make this recipe, feel free to share and tag the author on social media.
More Easy Galette Recipes
Galettes are wonderfully simple: wrap flaky pastry around a filling and bake until golden and bubbling. They work for both sweet and savory fillings and are highly forgiving.
Try other fruit or savory galettes when you’re ready to branch out.
Want More Cakes with Fresh Fruit Toppings?
There’s a wide range of cakes and desserts that feature fresh seasonal fruit. Exploring them is a great way to celebrate the produce of each season.
There are many more seasonal recipes and produce guides to discover — keep exploring and enjoy making colorful, seasonal dishes at home.
Let’s make waves in the kitchen.