A Festive and Guilt-Free Delight in Under 30 Minutes!
Let me whisk you into the heart of holiday magic with a treat that’s not just dessert—my Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts, where every bite is a symphony of flavor, a dance of textures, and a celebration of all things delicious. I get it—life’s too short to skip dessert, especially during the festive season. That’s why I’ve conjured up these tarts, the result of a love affair between reduced-fat crescent rolls, a high-protein spiced apple filling, and a protein-packed sugar icing.
Imagine unrolling layers of golden deliciousness, revealing a sweet and spiced apple haven tucked inside. It’s not just a dessert; it’s a journey—a journey into the realm where health-conscious choices meet the unapologetic pleasure of savoring something decadent.
These apple tarts aren’t just about satisfying a sweet tooth; they’re about creating moments of joy, relishing the warmth of cinnamon, and sharing laughter over a plate of goodness. So, join me in this culinary adventure where we unwrap the joy that lies within each Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tart.
Because, my friend, life is meant to be sweet, and these tarts are here to prove it!
Macros Per Serving
262 Calories | 41g Carbs | 6g Fat | 10g Protein
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ready to discover why these Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts are stealing the dessert spotlight this holiday season? Get ready for a swift festive delight that takes under 30 minutes to create, offering a perfect balance of health-conscious choices and decadent satisfaction.
- Quick and Easy: These delicious reduced-fat high-protein apple tarts come together in under 30 minutes, perfect for impromptu celebrations.
- Guilt-Free: Reduced-fat crescent rolls are the perfect way to keep these apple tarts light without sacrificing flavor.
- High-Protein: Infused with a high-protein spiced apple filling and protein-packed sugar icing, doesn’t get better than that!
- Meal Prep or Bring to a Party: This recipe yields 4 servings, so it’s perfect to prep for the week as yummy desserts or bring to a party for spreading some holiday joy.
Key Ingredients for this Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts
Let’s dive into the heart of these scrumptious apple tarts! Picture a tantalizing combination of reduced-fat crescent rolls, a high-protein spiced apple filling, and a protein-packed sugar icing. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in crafting a treat that’s not just delicious but also a smart choice for your holiday cravings.
Spiced Apples –
- Unflavored Protein Powder, Optional: Elevate the nutritional profile with a protein boost, ensuring a satisfying and wholesome treat.
- Sugar-Free Syrup: Adds the perfect sweetness without added sugars, contributing to a guilt-free indulgence.
- Water: This component adds moisture to the spiced apple filling, ensuring a delectably gooey texture.
- Diced Apples: Opt for a crisp and sweet apple variety, such as Gala or Granny Smith, for a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.
- Cinnamon: Infusing the filling with this aromatic spice brings warmth and an irresistible holiday flavor to every bite.
Tarts –
- Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls: Choosing reduced-fat crescent rolls offers a lighter pastry base while maintaining that flaky, golden crust.
- Coconut Oil Spray: This subtle addition prevents the tarts from drying out during baking, contributing to a moist and tender texture.
Icing –
- Powdered Sugar: The essential sweet element for the icing, providing a smooth and delectably sweet finish to the tarts.
- Vanilla Protein Powder, Optional: Elevate the icing with a hint of vanilla protein powder, imparting a rich flavor and an additional protein boost.
- Whole Brown Eggs: Whole eggs provide a satisfying richness to the dish and of course are high-protein!
- Unflavored Plant Milk: Achieving the perfect consistency, plant milk ensures a velvety and pourable icing, enhancing both taste and texture.
Substitution Options
Curious about making these Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts your own? Explore the art of substitution with options like swapping unflavored protein powder for a syrupy twist or experimenting with different protein powder flavors in the icing. These choices let you tailor the recipe to your taste buds’ delight.
- Protein Powder: Experiment with different protein powder flavors in the icing for a personalized touch. I opted for unflavored for the spiced apples and vanilla flavored for the icing to ensure not an overly almost fake sweet treat.
- Reduced-Fat Crescent Rolls: If reduced-fat crescent rolls are unavailable, regular crescent rolls can be used, adjusting the overall nutritional content accordingly.
- Unflavored Plant Milk: Feel free to experiment with your favorite dairy free or even regular milks!
**If there is a sub I haven’t mentioned above, it’s because I have not tested it and can’t speak for how well it would work for this recipe.
Equipment and Tools
You don’t need a plethora of equipment for this simple and delicious recipe but here’s a breakdown of a few things you will need:
- Small Bowl: This versatile bowl serves as the mixing hub for creating the protein-packed syrup blend for the spiced apple filling.
- Small Pot: A dedicated pot facilitates the gentle simmering of diced apples with cinnamon, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Floured Surface: A well-floured surface ensures a non-stick environment for effortless rolling and shaping of the crescent roll dough.
- Fork: The fork acts as a trusty tool for creating a secure seal along the edges of the tarts, ensuring the filling stays snug inside.
- Parchment-Lined Baking Dish: The parchment-lined dish simplifies cleanup and prevents sticking, allowing for easy removal and serving of the finished tarts.
With these tools and equipment at your disposal, you’re well-prepared to create a delicious and visually appealing Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts. The right equipment ensures a smooth cooking process and sets the stage for a delightful baking experience.
How to Make Your Apple Tarts
Let’s break down the process of crafting these tarts from start to finish. From creating the protein-infused spiced apple filling to achieving the perfect softness in your crescent roll pastry, I’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide to bring these delectable treats to life.
Prepare Spiced Apples
Begin by blending the optional unflavored protein powder with sugar-free syrup until a smooth paste is achieved.
In a small pot over low to medium heat, combine diced apples, the protein-infused syrup paste, and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Allow the mixture to cook down for 8-10 minutes, ensuring the apples become tender and infused with the delightful spiced flavor.
Roll and Fill Tarts
Roll out the reduced-fat crescent roll dough on a floured surface. Divide the dough into four rectangles, ensuring the triangle perforations are pinched together to prevent holes. Flatten each rectangle evenly, maintaining uniformity in size.
On one half of each rectangle, add 1/4 of the prepared spiced apple filling. Fold the other half over the filling and use a fork to press down the edges, creating a secure seal.
Arrange the filled tarts in a parchment-lined baking dish, sprinkle the tops with cinnamon, and lightly spray with coconut oil.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 12-15 minutes or until the tarts achieve a golden-brown perfection.
Create Protein-Packed Icing
In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla protein powder, and unflavored plant milk. If eliminating the protein powder, replace with equal parts of powdered sugar.
Mix the ingredients until a smooth and luscious icing is achieved.
Allow the tarts to cool before generously drizzling the high-protein icing over each one, ensuring an even distribution of this sweet finishing touch.
Tips and Tricks
Master the art of tart perfection with these insider tips! From avoiding unexpected holes in your crescent rolls to achieving a flawless drizzle of icing, these tips ensure that your Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts come out of the oven looking and tasting like a masterpiece.
- Avoid Holes: Pinching the crescent roll perforations meticulously prevents any unintended holes, preserving the structural integrity of the tart.
- Uniform Sizes: Ensuring uniformity in the size of the rolled-out rectangles guarantees consistent tart sizes, both visually appealing and ideal for serving.
- Perfect Drizzle: Allowing the tarts to cool adequately before applying the icing ensures a controlled and elegant drizzle, enhancing the overall presentation.
With these tips and tricks, your High-Protein Apple Tarts will be even more delightful, whether you’re preparing it for a cozy event or a convenient weekday treat!
Storage Instructions
To preserve the exquisite freshness and flavor of your Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts, follow these detailed storage instructions:
- Immediate Post-Baking Cool Down: Allow the tarts to cool completely on a wire rack before initiating the storage process. This ensures that residual heat doesn’t create excess condensation inside the storage container.
- Airtight Container: Once cooled, gently transfer the tarts into an airtight container. Choose a container with a snug-fitting lid to create a protective seal against external odors and moisture. Store the icing in a separate container.
- Layering with Parchment Paper: For added protection, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers of tarts within the container. This prevents any potential sticking and maintains the individual integrity of each tart.
- Refrigeration Best Practices: Store the airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain the high-protein tarts’ freshness. The cool environment helps inhibit the growth of bacteria while extending the overall shelf life.
- Reheating for Optimal Enjoyment: When ready to enjoy another serving, reheating is recommended for a delightful, fresh-from-the-oven experience. Preheat the oven to a gentle temperature (around 300°F) and warm the tarts for approximately 5-8 minutes.
- Avoid Freezing for Quality: While technically freezing is an option, it’s not recommended for optimal taste and texture. Freezing may alter the pastry’s flakiness, and the texture of the spiced apple filling may become slightly compromised upon thawing.
By following these detailed storage instructions, you can prolong the enjoyment of your protein-packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts, ensuring each bite is as delightful as the first. Whether for a quick personal treat or to share with loved ones, these meticulous storage practices help preserve the essence of this holiday indulgence.
More Dessert Recipes
I am a huge advocate for desserts and when they’re high in protein? Even better! Which is why I have a plethora of other delicious and easy to make high-protein dessert recipes for you to enjoy.
FAQs
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Can I use a different protein powder flavor in the icing?
Absolutely! Experiment with your favorite protein powder flavors to customize the icing to your liking. I definitely suggest one that you like the flavor and sweetness levels of.
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Can I make these tarts ahead of time for a party?
Certainly! Prepare the tarts in advance, refrigerate, and drizzle with icing just before serving for a fresh taste.
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Can I substitute regular crescent rolls for the reduced-fat version?
Yes, feel free to use regular crescent rolls if you prefer. Adjust the macros accordingly.
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How do I store leftover tarts?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the oven for a delightful warmth.
Ready to dive into baking bliss? Armed with the secrets of Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts, your kitchen is about to transform into a haven of festive flavors. Whether you’re treating yourself or sharing the sweetness, these tarts embody the joy of simple pleasures.
So, roll up those sleeves, bake some high-protein happiness, and here’s to the delightful dance of flavors that awaits!
Recipe Card
Protein-Packed Crescent Roll Apple Tarts
Ingredients
Spiced Apples:
- 14 g Unflavored Protein Powder – Optional (Quest )
- 30 ml Sugar Free Syrup (Mrs Butterworths)
- 2-3 tbsp Water
- 160 g Apples (small diced)
- Sprinkle of Cinnamon
Tarts:
- 1 container (8 rolls) Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls (Pillsbury)
- ~200 g Spiced Apple Filling
- Sprinkle of Cinnamon
- Coconut Oil Spray
Icing:
- 30 g Powdered Sugar
- 15 g Vanilla Protein Powder – Optional (Optimum Nutrition)
- 30 ml Unflavored Plant Milk (Good Karma)
Instructions
- Spiced Apples: In a small bowl, mix together your protein powder and syrup until smooth (if not using protein, eliminate completely and just use syrup). In a small pot on low to medium heat, add in your diced apples, the syrup paste, and cinnamon. Mix & let it cook for 8-10 mins.
- Tarts: Roll out your dough onto a floured surface. Divide into four rectangles and pinch the perforations together. Evenly flatten out each rectangle to be as even and uniform as possible. Then add in 1/4 of your filling to one half of the rectangle. Fold the other side over and use a fork to press down the edges. Repeat for all. Add to a parchment lined baking dish. Sprinkle each with cinnamon and spray the tops with coconut oil. Bake at 375° for 12-15 mins.
- Icing: Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. Let your tarts cool before icing the tops of each with even amounts of icing.
Video Tutorial
Nutrition Information
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe.
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