Impress Your Guests With Baked Apple Roses

They look impressive, they taste delicious, and they're so easy to make.  I got the recipe from my neighbor Max, who loves to cook.  He had guests for dinner last night, and besides a fabulous ciopppino, he made the apple roses for dessert.  Here's how to impress your guests with a dessert that looks like you've been in the kitchen all day.

                                      Baked Apple Roses

1 package Pepperidge Farms puffed pastry (or similar), defrosted
2 firm apples, halved, cored, and sliced thin.  Be sure to keep skin on.
melted butter
mixture of cinnamon and sugar

Place sliced apples on a plate and microwave for 45 seconds, or until apples are limp.  Take two pieces of the puffed pastry, and roll it into a long rectangle, about 3 inches wide.  Trim puff pastry and have 4 rectangles to fill.  Spread with melted butter or apricot jam, which has been heated to a thin consistency.  Layer the apples on the puff pastry, with about 1/2 inch of the skin over the puff pastry.   Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. When you roll it up this will be the top of the rose, so red apples are good.  After covering the rectangle, fold the rest of the rectangle over the apples. Again, spread melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Now, start at one end and roll the puff pastry tightly, then seal the puff pastry at the end.  The tops of the apples should be exposed and look like a rose.  Place in a buttered muffin tin, cook at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool and remove.  The result is a beautiful apple rose!  You can cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar, or serve with ice cream or whip cream.  Any way, it's a delicious dessert.