Benne Brown Butter Apple Tart Recipes

APPLE BROWN BUTTER TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Combine the butter, flour, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture looks like Parmesan cheese. Drizzle in half the cold water and pulse until the mixture forms a rough ball, adding the remaining water if needed. Remove the dough from the food processor, form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook it until it starts to brown and begins to smell like hazelnuts. Transfer the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a paddle. Add the sugar and beat together on medium speed. Gradually add the flour. Once the flour has combined, add the eggs one at a time. Beat in the vanilla bean seeds.
• For the apples: In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples and sugar and cook until the apples start to soften, 6 to7 minutes. Pull the pan off the burner and add in the brandy. Return to the fire and flambe, if desired, or just let the alcohol burn off. Toss in the raisins.
• To assemble: Remove the dough from the fridge 15 minutes before ready to use, this will allow the dough to soften and come to room temperature.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll the dough out 1/8-inch thick and lay it in the tart pan with lots of overhang on the sides. Schmear half the filling into the bottom of the tart pan and top with the apple mixture. Fold the extra dough over the top of the apples. Brush the dough with the egg wash.
• Bake the tart in the oven until the top is golden brown and slightly crispy, 45 to 50 minutes.

BENNE WAFERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• To toast the sesame seeds, spread them in a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool and leave the oven on.
• Meanwhile, place the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and beat on low speed until thoroughly combined. The dough will be wet and sticky. Fold in the toasted sesame seeds with a rubber spatula.
• Using a teaspoon, scoop and drop balls of the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. (They will spread a lot.) You should end up with about 24 balls per sheet. Bake until the edges of the wafers are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

BROWN BUTTER TART WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Dough: Combine flour, sugar, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until the butter and dry ingredients form a coarse cornmeal consistency, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, combine the flour, sugar, and butter in a large bowl and, with your fingertips or pastry cutter, crumble into a coarse cornmeal consistency.
• Whisk the egg yolks and cream together in a small bowl and add to the flour mixture; mix on low until large chunks form. Turn the dough onto a flat, clean work surface dusted with flour. Press the dough with the heel of your hand and gather the pieces together to bring the dough into a ball. Knead the dough a few more minutes, form it into a disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. This dough makes enough for two 10-inch tarts. (Note: The dough can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Before using, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.)
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon baking mat and butter the inside of the tart ring. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and cut it in half; reserve one half for later use. Cut the dough into large chunks. Pound the dough with a rolling pin and then knead it a few times to temper the dough to the consistency of Play-Doh. Dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour and pound the dough into a large disc, about ¼-inch thick. Roll the dough out to at least 2 inches larger than the ring to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Place the tart ring on top and trim the dough so that 2 inches remain around it. (Discard or reuse the excess dough scraps as cookie dough, etc.) Brush off the extra flour from the dough. Wrap the dough around the rolling pin and ease it into the tart ring. Dip the knuckle of your index finger in flour and press the dough into the crease with your knuckle so you have a straight edge, not sloping sides. Don''t stretch the dough to fit, because it will shrink during baking. Roll your rolling pin over the top of the tart ring to neatly cut off the excess dough; pull off the trimmed dough and discard. Place the tart shell in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes and up to one day.
• Custard: Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until smooth; then add the flour and whisk until thoroughly combined. Using a small, sharp knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape out the pulp and seeds and smear them on the butter. Add the butter, vanilla pulp and seeds, and vanilla bean to a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat over high heat until the butter is brown and foamy. Continue cooking the butter until it is dark brown and gives off a nutty aroma. Pour the butter in a slow, steady stream into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking constantly. Remove vanilla bean. (Note: The filling can be prepared up to 10 days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Just before using, bring it to room temperature until it is a spreadable consistency.)
• Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350 F. Remove the prepared tart shell from the refrigerator. Spoon the filling about halfway up the tart and spread evenly. Sprinkle ½ cup berries on top of the custard. Bake the tart until the top is golden brown, about 30-40 minutes if you are using an 8-inch ring or 45 minutes if you are using a 10-inch ring. Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to cool completely, or for at least 2 hours.
• To make the topping, set a colander inside a bowl; place 1½ cups blueberries into a second bowl. Bring sugar syrup to a boil, then pour over berries. Toss gently with a spoon to coat the berries, then immediately drain into the colander. To remove the tart from the baking sheet, slip a cardboard round under the crust and carefully slide the tart onto it, leaving the ring in place. Slide the tart onto a serving plate and remove the cardboard and the ring. Pile the blueberries on top of the tart. Immediately before serving, dust with confectioners sugar.

BENNE BROWN BUTTER APPLE TART

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, vanilla, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring and watching closely until the butter browns, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain the butter into a medium bowl; cool to room temperature. (Discard solids.)
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9 by 2-inch cake pan with parchment paper and pack the apples in a dish.
• Whisk the yolks and sugar in a large mixing bowl until thick and bright yellow. Gradually whisk in the butter until combined. Stir in the flour and sesame seeds until incorporated. Pour over the apples to cover completely and smooth the top. Bake 20 minutes, then rotate the dish from front to back. Bake 20 to 25 minutes more or until the top is golden and the filling is just set.

BROWN BUTTER APPLE CROSTATA WITH APPLE CIDER CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the crust: Combine the flour, butter and salt in a food processor, and pulse until the mixture looks like Parmesan. Drizzle in half the ice water and pulse until the mixture forms a rough ball, adding the remaining water if needed. Remove and form the dough into a disk, and then wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the vanilla bean. Cook until the butter starts to brown and begins to smell like hazelnuts, and then remove the vanilla bean pod and transfer the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a paddle. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed. Gradually add the flour. Once the flour has been incorporated, add the eggs one at a time.
• For the apples: Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the raisins, sugar and apples until the apples begin to soften, 6 to7 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour in the brandy, then return to the fire and flambe, letting the alcohol burn off.
• For assembly: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the dough from the fridge 15 minutes before using, allowing it to soften and come to room temperature. Dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll the dough 1/8-inch-thick and lay it into the tart molds with lots of overhang on the sides. Schmear half the filling into the bottom of the tart pans and top with the apples. Fold the extra dough over the top of the apples, and then brush the dough with the egg wash. Bake until the tops are golden brown and slightly crispy, about 25 minutes. Cool.
• Loosen the edges of the tart from the mold using a sharp paring knife. Gently remove the tart mold before plating. Serve with the Cinnamon Mascarpone and Apple Cider Caramel Sauce.
• Mix the mascarpone, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl until well incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook the apple cider and lemon juice in a large heavy-bottomed saute pan over medium heat until reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter, 2 pats at a time, allowing the butter to melt before adding more. Serve warm.