Indulge in the exquisite flavors of a classic French apple tart, a delightful treat that epitomizes the charm of traditional pastry-making. This tart, made with a buttery Pâte Brisée crust and a medley of Golden Delicious apples, is a sight to behold and a joy to savor. The tart’s golden, caramelized apples are artfully arranged in concentric circles, creating a visually stunning centerpiece for any occasion. With the sweet aroma of apples and the flaky goodness of the crust, this apple tart will surely captivate your senses and leave you craving for more.
YIELD: Makes 1 tart
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 recipe Pâte Brisée
- 6–7 Golden Delicious apples
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 lemon
- ½ cup sugar
- Nappage apricot glaze (or apricot preserves, heated and strained)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Prepare Tart Crust: Line a 10-inch tart ring with the Pâte Brisée dough and chill it.
- Cook Apple Compote: Peel, core, and chop four apples, then place them in a skillet or large dutch oven. Add ⅔ cup water, 3 tablespoons butter, and sugar. Simmer the apples over medium heat until they are tender enough to squish with a spoon but still retain their shape. The liquid should mostly evaporate, and the sugar will caramelize the apples slightly. Let the cooked apples cool.
- Slice Remaining Apples: Peel and core the remaining apples, rubbing them with lemon juice immediately to prevent browning. Cut one apple in half top to bottom, lay it cut side down, and slice it into 1/16–⅛ inch slices from stem end to blossom end. Repeat with the other apples and squeeze lemon juice over the slices.
- Assemble Tart: Transfer the cooled cooked apples into the center of the tart crust and spread them to the edges, creating a mound of apple compote about ¾-1 inch deep.
- Arrange Apple Slices: Starting at the outer edge, place apple slices with the rounded side slightly diagonal into the tart, overlapping them to form a circle. Continue making concentric circles, tucking the last slice under the first. Optionally, create a small flower in the center with tiny apple slices or simply fill the space.
- Brush with Butter: Melt the remaining butter and carefully brush the slices with it. Be gentle to avoid disrupting the arrangement.
- Bake Tart: Place the tart in the oven and bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until the crust is deep golden brown and the edges of the apples are also deep golden.
- Glaze and Serve: Remove the tart from the oven, cool slightly, and glaze it with the apricot glaze using a pastry brush. Allow the tart to set for about 10 minutes before serving.
TIPS:
- Choose Golden Delicious apples for this tart, as they have a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, and hold their shape well during baking.
- Use a 10-inch tart ring to ensure a beautiful presentation and uniform thickness of the crust.
- When making the apple compote, stir occasionally to prevent the apples from sticking to the pan and caramelizing unevenly.
- Make sure to rub the peeled apples with lemon juice immediately after cutting them to prevent browning.
- Slice the apples as uniformly as possible to create an attractive and symmetrical design on the tart.
- Be gentle while brushing the melted butter over the apple slices to avoid disrupting their arrangement.
- After baking, let the tart cool slightly before glazing it with the apricot glaze, as this will give it a glossy finish.
Indulge in this beautiful and flavorful French apple tart as a delightful finale to any meal or as a treat for special occasions. The combination of tender apples, buttery crust, and the glossy glaze makes this tart a true work of art that will impress and delight all who have the pleasure of enjoying it. Bon appétit!
