Apple Financier Tart Recipes

CHEF FRANCOIS PAYARD'S APPLE AND HONEY FINANCIER TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the butter until it begins to brown and has a nutty fragrance, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Put the slivered almonds in a food processor and process until finely ground, about 45 seconds. Transfer the ground almonds to a medium bowl. Sift the confectioners sugar over the almonds. Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt, and gently whisk to combine.
• Combine the cooled browned butter, cream, honey, and egg whites in another medium bowl. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean (reserve the pod for another use) into the bowl and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. Set aside.
• Sift together the flour, confectioners sugar, and salt into a bowl.
• Place the butter in a food processor and process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Scatter the flour mixture over the butter, add the egg, and process just until the dough forms a mass; do not over-mix. Turn the dough out onto the counter and divide it in two. Shape each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Half of the dough may be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Let the dough stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften. Lightly butter two 9½-inch fluted tart pans with removable bottoms.
• Dust a work surface lightly with flour. Dust one of the discs lightly with flour and, using a floured rolling pin, roll it out into a roughly 12-inch circle. Lift the dough often, making sure that the work surface and dough are lightly floured at all times. Roll the dough up onto the rolling pin and gently unroll it over one of the prepared tart pans. Press the dough into the pan and roll the pin over the top of the pan to remove the excess dough. Prick the bottom of the tart shell all over with a fork. Chill the tart shell for 20 minutes. (The tart shell can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a pieces of aluminum foil large enough to generously line the tart pan. Line the tart shell with the foil, buttered-side down, and fill with dried beans, rice, or pie weights.
• Bake the tart shell for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and continue baking for 8 to 10 minutes longer, until evenly golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the diced apples, honey, and calvados, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Carefully light it with a match, and cook until the flame dies. Drain the apples in a strainer set over a bowl, reserving ¼ cup of the cooking liquid. Stir the reserved liquid back into the diced apples.
• Pour the apple mixture into the tart shell and spread in an even layer. Scrape the financier batter over the apples, covering them completely.
• Bake the tart until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Place the tart on a wire rack.
• Put the honey in a heatproof glass measure and microwave on high until hot, 10 to 15 seconds. (Or, heat in a small saucepan.) Brush the honey over the top of the hot tart. Cool the tart completely before serving.

APPLE AND HONEY FINANCIER TART

Steps:

• Sift together the confectioners' sugar, flour, and salt into a bowl.
• Place the butter in a food processor and process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Scatter the flour mixture over the butter, add the egg, and process just until the dough forms a mass; do not overmix. Turn the dough out onto the counter and shape into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. The dough may be well wrapped and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Let the dough stand at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften. Flour 2 pieces of parchment paper. Dust the disc of dough lightly with flour and place in between the parchment sheets. Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. Lift the dough in the parchment, remove 1 sheet, and flip to transfer the dough into the tart pan. Press the dough into the pan and roll the pin over the top of the pan to remove excess dough. Prick the bottom of the tart shell all over with a fork. Chill the tart shell for 20 minutes. (The tart shell can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 350° F. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the butter until it begins to brown and has a nutty fragrance, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a food processor, pulse the slivered almonds until finely ground, about 45 seconds. Transfer the ground almonds to a medium bowl. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the almonds. Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt and gently whisk to combine.
• In another medium bowl, combine the cooled browned butter, egg whites, honey, and cream. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean (reserve the pod for another use) into the bowl and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. Set aside.
• and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the diced apples, honey, and Calvados and cook, stirring occasionally, until it no longer tastes of alcohol, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain the apples in a strainer set over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid. Transfer the apples to a bowl and stir in the 1/4 cup reserved liquid.
• Place the dough-lined tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread the apple filling evenly in the tart shell. Scrape the financier batter over the apples, covering them completely.
• Bake the tart until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean 45 to 50 minutes,. Place the tart on a wire rack.
• Put the honey in a heatproof glass bowl and microwave on high until hot, 10 to 15 seconds (or heat in a small saucepan). Brush the honey over the top of the hot tart. Cool the tart completely before serving.

FRENCH APPLE TART

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 by 14-inches. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.
• Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. (I tend not to use the apple ends in order to make the arrangement beautiful.) Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Rotate the pan once during cooking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine! When the tart's done, heat the apricot jelly together with the Calvados and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.