Who knew apples could be this pretty? We had so much fun turning Du Toit’s juiciest new-season Kissabel® apples into these gorgeous apple roses. They’re easier to make than they look, and absolutely dreamy served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel.
Rose Apples
Ingredients
- 1 large DUTOIT kissable apples
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- 2 cups of water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup apricot Jam, mix with a bit of boiling water to form a glaze
- 1 roll puff pastry, thawed
- To Serve
- Icing sugar, sifted
- Toasted flaked almonds
Instructions
PREHEAT the oven to 200ºC
CUT the apples in half and core them. Place the flat side down on the chopping board and start slicing into very thin slices. They should be half-moon shape(s).
COMBINE lemon juice and water together in a bowl and add the apple slices.
MICROWAVE for 2-4 minutes, or until tender. This will make it easier to roll without them breaking. Alternatively, you can boil them in a pot over a medium heat for 2-5 minutes until just tender. Drain the water and set apple slices aside.
UNROLL the pastry onto a lightly floured workstation and cut into six even strips.
GENEROUSLY sprinkle cinnamon sugar along each strip.
PLACE apple slices along the top edge of one of the pastry strips, so they are just slightly sticking out over the edge. Line them up so that the next apple starts halfway across the last apple, until you reach the end of the strip.
GLAZE the end of each strip with a bit of apricot jam glaze and roll tightly from one edge to the other to form the rose shape.
TRANSFER into a muffin tin or ramekins and glaze with apricot jam glaze.
BAKE for 20-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. If your apples are looking a bit too charged, cover loosely with foil and continue to bake until the pastry is flaky and crisp.
SERVE with a dusting of icing sugar and sprinkle of toasted flaked almonds.
Notes
These apple roses taste divine served as is, with caramel sauce or with some vanilla ice-cream or cream.
More about Kissabel Apples:
Cape Town, get ready to bite into something truly different. For a limited time only, an exclusive batch of Kissabel® apples—known for their naturally red flesh and crisp, refreshing taste—will be available at select retailers in the Western Cape from Friday, 30 May.
From the outside, they may look like any other apple. But take a bite, and you’ll discover the real surprise: a vibrant pink-to-red interior, a burst of juicy flavour, and a crisp texture that transforms the everyday apple into something remarkable. These apples contain no GMOs or artificial colouring—just naturally striking fruit, grown with care right here in South Africa.
Kissabel® apples form part of a global movement driven by the IFORED breeding programme, with trials currently underway in over 14 countries. Locally, Dutoit—one of South Africa’s leading fruit producers—has taken the lead in cultivating this exciting new variety. This trial harvest marks a first for the local market, and the results have been highly anticipated.
“This year’s trial was so exciting to see unfold. These apples really do live up to the hype—not just for how they look, but how they taste,” says Willie Kotze, Technical Manager at Dutoit. “We’re thrilled to be giving local food lovers in th Western Cape a sneak peek before the full South African launch in 2026.”
Globally, Kissabel® apples have already attracted attention, having featured in media campaigns and culinary showcases in Europe and Australia. Now, South African consumers can enjoy their first taste of an apple that’s turning heads around the world.
Quantities are extremely limited—this is a seasonal drop not to be missed.
Kissabel® apples will be available in participating Woolworths, Checkers and Pick n Pay stores in Cape Town and surrounding areas while stocks last from Friday.
ALSO SEE: Apple Pie Day and we’re celebrating with Dutoit Agri
A food stylist and recipe developer, contributing to Food & Home and other esteemed magazines under Habari Media. I love for creating mouthwatering recipes, I bring culinary visions to life through my work.