Apple Tarts With Vanilla Ice Cream Recipes

APPLE TARTS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Peel apples, reserving skins. Stir together water and 6 tablespoons sugar in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then scrape in seeds from vanilla bean and add pod. Add reserved apple skins and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Pour through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids.
• Roll out 1 pastry sheet into a 10-inch square on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, then cut in half and transfer to 1 of baking sheets. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet, transferring to second baking sheet.
• Halve apples lengthwise, then core with a melon-ball cutter or a small spoon and cut crosswise into very thin slices (1/8 inch thick or less), keeping apple halves intact. Fan apple slices slightly, keeping apple shape, then arrange 3 halves in a row on each piece of pastry, leaving a 2/3-inch border on all sides.
• Brush border lightly with syrup and fold over about 1/3 inch to touch edges of apples. Crimp edges with a fork, then brush apples and edges of pastry with syrup (reserve remaining syrup). Brush apples completely with melted butter, then sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake tarts in upper and lower thirds of oven 20 minutes, then switch position of sheets and reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake tarts until edges are golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. (If pastry edges aren't browning evenly, rotate tarts 180 degrees on sheets halfway through baking.)
• While tarts bake, boil remaining syrup over moderate heat until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Let tarts stand 5 minutes, then brush warm apples with remaining syrup.

FLAT APPLE AND VANILLA TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220C/425°F.
• Roll out the pastry and trim to a round about 35cm (14 inches) across. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Peel, core and thinly slice the apples, then toss in the lemon juice and vanilla.
• Spread over the pastry to within 2cm (3/4 inch) of the edge. Curl up the edges slightly to stop the juices running off.
• Dot with butter and sprinkle with caster sugar.
• Bake 15-20 minutes until the apples are tender and the pastry crisp.
• Warm the jam and brush over the apples and pastry edge.
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche.