Rustic Apple Tarts With Calvados Whipped Cream Recipes

APPLE AND CALVADOS TART (GALETTE DE POMMES AU CALVADOS)

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• While pastry is chilling, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Toss slices with lemon juice and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
• Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat. Spread applesauce over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border, and top sauce with sliced apples, mounding slightly. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering apples (center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary. Dot apples with butter, then brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake galette in middle of oven until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
• While galette is baking, melt apple jelly in a very small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring.
• Slide baked galette on parchment onto a rack, then brush with melted jelly and cool galette until warm or room temperature.
• Beat together cream and confectioners sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until cream just holds soft peaks, then beat in Calvados. Serve galette topped with dollops of Calvados cream.

RUSTIC APPLE TART WITH RICH CREAM CHEESE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING: Peel the apples and cut them in half.
• Remove the cores with a paring knife.
• Cutting from blossom end to stem end, slice each half into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Combine the apple slices with the lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and the cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
• Stir to combine.
• Let the apples stand until the sugar is dissolved, about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice.
• Place a shaped large dough round on a baking sheet.
• Arrange the apples slices in 2 concentric circles on the large dough round or in one circle on the small rounds, overlapping the apple slices slightly.
• Brush the rim of the crust with the egg yolk.
• Sprinkle the apples with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with Vanilla Whipped Cream or ice cream on the side.
• Rustic Apple Tart is best served on the day it is made.
• TO MAKE THE CHEESE TART DOUGH: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the cream cheese, butter, 1 cup flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor.
• Process until the dough just comes together.
• It will be sticky.
• Sprinkle the parchment paper with flour.
• Turn the dough out onto the sheet and, with floured hands, press the dough into a rough 10-inch circle or four 5-inch circles.
• Roll about 1/2 inch of the edge of the circle inward to create a lip to catch the juices.
• Refrigerate the crust for 1 hour or wrap the baking sheet in plastic and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours until you are ready to use it.
• Shaped Rich Cream Cheese Tart Dough, wrapped in plastic, may be frozen for up to 2 months and used directly from the freezer.
• TO MAKE VANILLA WIHPPED CREAM: Combine the cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
• With an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip on high speed until the cream just holds stiff peaks.
• Do not over whip.
• Use immediately, or refrigerate it, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 6 hours.
• Whisk it again for a couple of seconds before using.
• NOTE: If you are having eight or fewer people for Thanksgiving, double this recipe and make eight individual tarts.
• The dough can be made and shaped weeks ahead of time, and the rest of the prep is minimal, leaving lots of time to prepare the rest of the meal.

RUSTIC APPLE TARTS

Steps:

• Dough: Combine the flour, sugar, and butter in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until the butter and dry ingredients form a coarse cornmeal consistency, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix on medium speed until the dough is smooth, 2-3 minutes. Dust a flat work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Knead the dough for a few minutes until it comes together. Bring the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. (The dough can also be frozen for 2 months; when you're ready to use it, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.)
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Dust a flat work surface with flour, cut the dough into chunks, and pound with a rolling pin on the countertop to soften until it is the texture of Play-Doh. Then knead it to make it pliable. Do not overwork the dough. Lightly dust the rolling pin with flour and roll the dough out to an even ¼-inch thickness. With a 5-inch cookie cutter, cut circles from the dough as close together as possible. Carefully place the circles of dough on a lined baking sheet, flouring each one to prevent sticking, and chill. (You can only re-roll the dough once. Discard the remaining scraps.)
• Apple filling: Put apples in a large mixing bowl. Make the vanilla brown butter: Split and scrape the vanilla pod and combine both pod and its seeds with the butter in a small saucepan over high heat. Swirl as the butter becomes foamy. Pour the browned butter over the apples and stir to coat. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and stir to combine. Set aside for 30 minutes to bring out the juices in the apples. Stir in the cornstarch, then the crème fraîche.
• Streusel topping: Combine flour and sugar in a medium bowl and toss in the butter. Using your fingertips, break up the butter in the flour to make pea-size lumps.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. To assemble the tarts, warm the discs of dough between your fingertips so that they are pliable enough to fold. Spoon 1 tablespoon of applesauce and ¼ cup apple filling into the center of each disc. Pleat the dough to seal, and transfer each tart onto a lined baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of streusel topping onto each tart. Bake the tarts until golden-brown, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, about 30 minutes. Let them cool while you make the whipped cream.
• Whipped cream: Pour cream into the chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, and mix on medium until soft peaks form. Add the crème fraîche and beat on medium until mixture is thick and mousse-like. Add more crème fraîche to make it softer and shinier, if you like. Dollop onto the apple tarts, and serve.