**Tarte Tatin: A Classic French Dessert with a Sweet and Tangy Twist**
Tarte Tatin is a timeless French dessert that captivates taste buds with its unique upside-down construction and irresistible combination of caramelized apples and flaky pastry. This culinary masterpiece is believed to have originated in the late 1800s at the Hotel Tatin, a family-run establishment in Lamotte-Beuvron, France. The story goes that Stéphanie Tatin, one of the hotel's sisters, accidentally flipped a tarte aux pommes (apple tart) upside down before baking it. Surprisingly, the result was a delightful surprise: the caramelized apples took center stage, creating a tantalizing contrast with the buttery crust. Since then, Tarte Tatin has become a beloved dessert, enjoyed worldwide for its rustic charm and delectable flavors. Our comprehensive guide offers three enticing variations of this classic recipe, each with its own unique twist. From a traditional Tarte Tatin with its simple yet stunning appearance to a contemporary version featuring a frangipane filling and a gluten-free alternative that caters to dietary preferences, we've got you covered. Embark on a culinary journey and discover the secrets behind this iconic dessert.
TARTE AUX POMMES (FRENCH APPLE - CUSTARD TART)
The classic French Apple - Custard Tart. Unfortunately for me, I can never eat just one piece of this - the combo is heavenly!
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Tarts
Time 1h30m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- For crust: Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface turning it constantly so that it does not stick; add more flour as needed (the dough might crack around the edges, most of the cracks don't matter since the edges will be trimmed after the tart is in the pan, if there are some big ones that will show when the tart is in the pan, patch them with pieces of dough before fitting the) when the dough is rolled out, flip it over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom; fit it into the tart pan without stretching; roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart to cut off the dough hanging over the pan's edge; refrigerate 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F Place the tart pan on shallow baking sheet; fit the tart pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, fill with beans or pie weights, and bake in the middle of preheated oven for 15 minutes; carefully remove the foil with beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
- For filling: Turn the heat down to 375F; quarter, core, and peel the apples; cut into 1/4" lengthwise slices; toss them in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon, then arrange them in the crust in concentric circles; bake in the upper third of preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they start to color and are almost tender; remove from oven and let cool while preparing the custard.
- For custard: Beat the egg and sugar together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick, pale yellow, and falls back on itself forming a slowly dissolving ribbon; beat in the flour, then the cream, and finally the cognac; pour the mixture over the apples; it should come almost to the top of the pastry shell; return to oven for 10 minutes, or until cream begins to puff.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar (placed in a sieve and sprinkled evenly over) and return to oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.
- Tart is done when top has browned and a knife plunged into the custard comes out clean; unmold the tart; cool 10 minutes and serve.
TARTE AUX POMMES
Steps:
- Total Prep. Time: 10 minutes. Total Cook Time: 20 minutes. Pre-Heat Oven to 375 deg. Farenheit. Remove the puff pastry from its packaging and let it dethaw in the fridge, about 20 minutes. Place the puff pastry sheet on a greased cookie sheet. Place a round plate on the puff pastry and cut along the edge until the puff pastry is round. Halve the apples sideways, and cut out the core. Peel each half, and cut in half lengthwise. Slice each quarter of apple into thin slices, until all slices resemble crescents. Reserve the small end pieces. Melt the 2 tbsp. of butter in either a pot on low heat or in the microwave for 10 seconds. Brush the puff pastry with the melted butter until completely brushed with butter. Arrange the apple slices, layered, one on top of another, in a circular patter around the rim of the puff pastry. Use the remaining apple slices and the smaller end pieces and arrange in the middle of the puff pastry. Brush the arranged apple slices with remaining butter. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove apple tart from the oven and sprinkle sugar over all the apple slices. Using the kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar that has been sprinkled on the apple slices. Best method is to place the torch as close as possible to the sugar for a few moments. The apple slices will cinge and brown as you go along, do not be alarmed, this gives the apples a nice crisp and makes the dish look very rustic. Serve immediately after carmelizing the sugar. Serve each slice with a dolop of creme fraiche on the side.
TARTE AUX POMMES - MOROCCAN
French fruit tarts are popular in Morocco. This particular recipe for Tarte aux Pommes is one of my favorites. Apple slices are mixed with sugar and a little bit of cinnamon, and then baked with creme patissiere in a sweet pastry shell. An apricot glaze adds sheen and a bit of tartness to the finished dessert. Prep time does not...
Provided by Melanie Campbell
Categories Other Desserts
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F
- 2. Spread the pastry cream across the bottom of the chilled, unbaked sweet pastry shell.
- 3. Mix the apple slices with the sugar and cinnamon. Arrange the slices in an overlapping pattern over the pastry cream. Dot the apples with tiny bits of butter.
- 4. Wrap strips of aluminum foil around the edges of the tart pan to protect the crust from burning. Bake the tart in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until the apples and crust are nicely colored. Remove the tart to a rack to cool.
- 5. While the tart is still warm, heat the apricot jam with the lemon juice until boiling. Use a pastry brush to apply the apricot glaze over the apples.
- 6. Refrigerate the tart when it has cooled completely. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- 7. Pâté Sucrée Recipe - French Sweet Pastry Crust Prep Time: 15 minutes Chilling time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes Yield: 2 tart crusts Ingredients: 3 cups (340 g) flour 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (220 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits 2 egg yolks ice water
- 8. Pâté Sucrée Recipe - French Sweet Pastry Crust (continued) Blend the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with bits of butter no larger than peas. (Alternatively, you can process the mixture on pulse mode in a food processor.) Add the egg yolks, and continue blending with the pastry cutter (or on pulse mode in the processor) until the eggs are evenly incorporated and the mixture resembles a fine meal. Stir in the ice water with a fork, one tablespoons at a time, until the mixture is just moistened enough to gather and mold into a smooth ball. (Or, with the food processor running, add the water one tablespoon at a time just until the mixture forms a dough.) Divide the dough in half and flatten each portion into a smooth disc. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you prefer. The dough may also be frozen for up to two months. Remove the chilled dough from the fridge, and allow to rest at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough. Lift and turn the dough as you work, keeping the work surface dusted with flour to prevent sticking. Fit the dough into a tart pan and press it firmly against the sides and bottom without stretching it. Trim off any excess dough and then cover and chill the dough in the pan for at least 30 minutes before filling and baking. To prebake the empty tart shell, prick the dough all over with a fork, cover lightly with foil and bake at 375° F (190° C) for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue baking until barely colored for a partially baked shell, or golden brown for a fully baked shell.
- 9. Creme Patissiere (Pastry Cream) Recipe Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups milk 5 egg yolks 6 to 8 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons flour 3 tablespoons corn starch 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (or 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring) Preparation: In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the milk with the vanilla bean almost to boiling. While the milk is heating, mix the egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl, then whisk in the flour and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth. Remove the vanilla bean from the milk, and gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Strain the mixture back into the saucepan, and place over medium heat, stirring or whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and reaches a boil. Continue cooking for half a minute longer, stirring hard and constantly to keep the pastry cream smooth. Remove the pastry cream from the heat. (Stir in the vanilla flavoring at this point if you did not use a vanilla bean). Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to avoid a skin forming, and leave to cool. The pastry cream can be used when cool, or covered and refrigerated for up to several days until needed. Stir chilled pastry cream before using.
Tips:
- To make the perfect apple tart, use a variety of apples with different textures and flavors. Granny Smith apples are a good choice for their tartness, while Honeycrisp apples add sweetness and crunch.
- Be sure to roll out the dough thinly so that it cooks evenly. If the dough is too thick, it will be difficult to cut and will not cook properly.
- When assembling the tart, be sure to brush the edges of the dough with egg wash before baking. This will help to seal the dough and prevent it from cracking.
- Bake the tart until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender. If the apples are not tender, continue to bake the tart for a few more minutes.
- Let the tart cool completely before serving. This will allow the filling to set and the flavors to meld.
Conclusion:
Apple tart is a classic French dessert that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With its flaky crust, tender apples, and sweet filling, it is the perfect way to end a meal. Whether you are serving it for a special occasion or just a casual weeknight dinner, this apple tart is sure to be a hit.
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