Warm apples, flaky pastry, and a scoop of melting vanilla turn this Carrabba’s favorite into a straight-up comfort dessert with restaurant polish.
Photo by SCRR
Copycat Carrabba’s Italian Grill Cinnamon Apple Crostata
Carrabba’s Italian Grill Cinnamon Apple Crostata is a rustic-style baked pastry filled with cinnamon-spiced apples and typically served warm with ice cream.
This one is about contrast done right. Buttery crust, soft apples, warm spice, cold ice cream. Keep the pastry crisp and the filling from getting too wet and you’re there.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Desserts, holidays, dinner parties, and comfort baking.
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, cinnamon-spiced, and slightly tart.
- Skill Level: Moderate.
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Rustic folded crust and warm apple filling recreate the signature crostata style.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Carrabba’s Italian Grill was founded in 1986 in Texas, blending Italian-American traditions with a slightly more rustic, family-style approach. The menu leans into bold flavors and comforting dishes, from wood-grilled meats to classic pastas.
Desserts follow that same philosophy, focusing on familiar flavors presented in a warm, approachable way. The cinnamon apple crostata fits perfectly into that lineup, offering a simple concept executed with just enough refinement to feel restaurant-worthy without losing its homemade appeal.
Rustic Dessert, Restaurant Finish
A Crostata is an Italian free-form tart, typically made with a folded crust and a simple filling, often fruit-based. Unlike more structured pies, crostatas are intentionally rustic, with uneven edges and a more casual presentation.
In American restaurant settings, apple versions have become especially popular, combining the familiar flavor of apple pie with a lighter, more open pastry format. The addition of ice cream and caramel or cinnamon accents brings it fully into the comfort-dessert category, bridging traditional Italian technique with American expectations.
Carrabba's Italian Grill Cinnamon Apple Crostata Recipe
Warm apples, flaky pastry and a scoop of melting vanilla turn this Carrabba’s favorite into a straight-up comfort dessert with restaurant polish.
Yield: 6
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted Butter cold and cubed
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 3 to 4 tablespoons Ice Water
For the Hazelnut Layer
- 1/3 cup Hazelnut Spread or finely ground Hazelnuts
- 2 tablespoons Butter softened
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Egg Yolk
For the Filling
- 3 cups Apples peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
For Serving
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Caramel Sauce optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
- Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add ice water gradually until dough forms.
- Shape dough into a disk and roll out on a floured surface.
- Transfer dough to a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix hazelnut spread or ground hazelnuts, butter, sugar, flour, and egg yolk until smooth.
- Spread a thin layer of the hazelnut mixture over the center of the dough, leaving a border.
- In another bowl, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and flour.
- Place apple mixture over the hazelnut layer.
- Fold edges of dough over the filling, leaving the center exposed.
- Bake 30 minutes until crust is golden and filling is tender.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Related Copycat Recipes
- Ruby Tuesday Apple Pie – Tender apples, rich cinnamon flavor, and golden pastry come together in a slice that is simple and satisfying.
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill Apple Martini Cocktail – Crisp green apple flavor and smooth vodka create a bright, refreshing cocktail with a clean finish.
- McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie – Iconic fast-food dessert that’s hot, flaky, and dangerously good
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Questions People Ask
What is the difference between a crostata and a pie?
A crostata is free-form and rustic, while a pie is baked in a structured pan with defined edges.
Should a crostata be served warm?
Yes. It is best served warm, often with ice cream or a sauce.
What apples work best?
Firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold their shape and provide good flavor balance.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.
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Photo of “Carrabba’s Italian Grill Cinnamon Apple Crostata” created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Photo of “Carrabba’s Italian Grill Restaurant” is by Mike Mozart and is used by permission under the Attribution 2.0 Generic Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode.en. Thank you, Mike. Great Picture. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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