Vegan Apple Puff Pastry Braid

Flaky, sweet, spiced, and surprisingly simple — this Vegan Apple Puff Pastry Braid is the ultimate cozy treat! Whether you’re impressing guests or just treating yourself, this beauty is ready in under an hour and goes perfectly with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream 🍨.

✨ Type: Vegan

🍽 Servings: 6-8

⏱ Prep Time: 15 min

🔥 Bake Time: 25–30 min

🧺 Ingredients

For the pastry:

1 rectangular sheet of vegan puff pastry (most supermarket ones are vegan – double-check just in case!)
Agave syrup (or maple syrup)
Icing sugar (optional, for dusting)

For the apples:

2–3 apples 🍏 (Golden, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith all work beautifully)
30g (2 tbsp) brown sugar or sweetener of choice
1 tbsp cinnamon powder
Juice of half a lemon

For the vegan crème pâtissière:

250ml almond milk (or any plant-based milk)
30g (3 tbsp) cornstarch
Zest of the half lemon you juiced earlier 🍋
1 cinnamon stick
2 splashes of vanilla extract
30g (2 tbsp) sugar or sweetener of choice

👩‍🍳 Method

🍏 Step 1: Prepare the Apples

Thinly slice the apples (leave the skin on for extra color and fiber!) and toss them in a bowl with the lemon juice, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Set them aside to soak in all that autumn flavor while you make the crème.

🍮 Step 2: Make the Vegan Crème Pâtissière

In a saucepan (off the heat), combine the almond milk, sugar, cornstarch (sprinkle it in slowly!), lemon zest, vanilla, and the cinnamon stick. Whisk until smooth.
Now, place the pan over medium heat and stir constantly for 5–10 minutes. Once it thickens into a luscious, creamy custard, remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick.

🥐 Step 3: Assemble the Braid

Roll out your puff pastry and divide it into three equal vertical parts.
On the two outer sections, make diagonal cuts (like fringe!) about 2cm apart — these will become your braid strips.
Spread the crème pâtissière down the center section, leaving a bit of space at the top and bottom.
Lay your cinnamon apples on top of the cream in overlapping rows.
Fold the cut side strips over the filling, alternating left and right like a braid. Tuck the top and bottom ends to seal.

🍯 Step 4: Bake & Finish

Brush or drizzle agave syrup generously over the braid (this gives it a golden shine and extra sweetness!).
Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 25–30 minutes, or until golden and puffed to perfection.

🌟 Optional (But Highly Recommended)

Dust with icing sugar for a bakery-style finish, and serve warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. Heaven! 🍦✨

💡 Tips & Variations: