Tarte Aux Pommes (Apple Tart)
Submitted by laraspal00
Classic French tarte aux pommes with butter-sautéed apples in a flaky puff pastry shell, topped with a golden egg and vanilla custard. The apple tart that every French grandmother gets right.
YIELD
12 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
65 minREADY
105 minThere’s a reason this tart has been a staple in French bakeries for generations. It just works.
A rough puff pastry shell gets blind-baked until golden and sturdy, then filled with apples that have been sautéed in butter and sugar until lightly caramelized.
The whole thing gets crowned with a simple but rich topping of beaten eggs, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla that bakes into a glossy, custardy layer on top.
No fancy techniques, no fussy decorations. Just honest French baking with a few good ingredients doing all the heavy lifting.
Kitchen Tips
- Build the pastry higher than the pan rim. It will shrink during baking, so starting tall keeps you from ending up with stubby edges.
- Tuck the overhang inward to create a double-thick wall. This reinforces the shell and gives it a cleaner look.
- Sauté the apples until golden on all sides, shaking the pan rather than stirring. You want caramelized wedges, not applesauce.
- Beat the topping until thick and pale. The more air you work in, the lighter and more soufflé-like it bakes.
Ingredients
Directions
On a lightly floured surface, carefully roll out the dough to a 12 inch (30 cm) circle.
Transfer the dough to a 10½-inch (27 cm) black tin tart pan with a removable bottom.
Carefully press the pastry into the pan and up the sides, trying not to stretch it.
Trim the overhang, leaving about a 1-inch (2½ cm) extending over the rim.
Tuck this overhang inside the pan, pressing gently against the side to create a sturdy, double-sided shell.
(If you build the pastry a bit higher than the height of the pan, you will have less problem with shrinkage)
Chill for at least 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃) F (190C).
Prick the bottom of the shell with the tines of a fork.
Carefully line the shell loosely with heavy-duty foil, pressing well into the edges so the pastry does not shrink while baking.
Fill with pie weights, or dry rice or beans - making sure you get all the way into the edges - to prevent shrinkage.
Bake just until the pastry begins to brown around the edges and seems firm enough to stand up by itself (about 20 minutes).
Meanwhile, peel and core the apples.
Cut each apple into 12 even wedges.
Toss them in a bowl with the lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
In a Iarge skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add the apples, sprinkle on the sugar, and sauté, shaking the pan from time to time so the apples cook evenly.
Cook until lightly browned on all sides (about 15 minutes.)
While the apples cook, prepare the topping: beat the eggs and sugar thoroughly until thick and pale.
Add the melted butter and vanilla and continue mixing at high speed until the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
Spoon the apples into the center of the prepared pastry shell, arranging them carefully.
Pour the topping over the apples.
Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.
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