Thinfrenchappletart Recipes

APPLE TART

Steps:

• To make the quick puff pastry, in a medium bowl mix the flour and salt. (You can also make this part of the recipe in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.) Add the cubes of butter and mix quickly with a pastry blender, or your clean hands, until the butter is in just slightly smaller pieces, about 25% smaller than they originally were. Add the water and mix (and knead a little bit), until the dough forms a cohesive mass, which will still be a bit shaggy. On a lightly floured countertop, pat the dough out into a rough rectangle.
• With a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rough rectangle approximately 10 x 5-inches (25x12cm.)
• Fold the dough over in thirds, starting with one side being folded over the center.
• Then fold the other end over the center.
• Now turn the dough so that the short ends of the rectangle are back on the left and the right. You've done one "turn."
• Repeat that process of rolling out the dough again as you just did, folding left over the center, then right over the center. That is your second "turn." Repeat during two more "turns" until you've done a total of four turns. Wrap the dough and chill it at least 2 hours.
• Do two more turns of the rough, rolling and folding (at this point, you will have done a total of six turns), then wrap the pastry and chill it for at least an hour, until ready to use.
• When ready to prepare and bake the tart, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured countertop roll the pastry into a 14-inch (35cm) circle. Use a tart ring or round cake pan as a guide, trim the dough with a paring knife so it's a 12-inch (30cm) circle. If you don't have a similar-sized ring or pan, you can eyeball it. Fold the dough in half, which makes it easier to handle, then transfer it to the baking sheet and unfold it. Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator while you peel and core the apples.
• To assemble and bake the tart, preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC.)
• Peel and slice the apples as thinly as possible either by hand or with a mandoline. (Here I used a chef's knife.) Remove the dough from the refrigerator and arrange the nicest slices of apples in concentric circles over the pastry, leaving a small border of dough around them. (You can snack on the less-attractive apple bits.) Brush or drizzle the melted butter over the apples, as well as on the crust making the border, then sprinkle the sugar over the apples and exposed crust. Bake the tart until the apples and the crust are deep golden-brown, about 25 to 30 minutes, but rely more on how it looks rather than a kitchen timer since apples (and ovens) can vary. Let cool for a few minutes, then brush with the glaze.

THIN FRENCH APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Place dough on a lighlty floured surface; roll into a 12 circle. Place on a 12 inch pizza pan. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 1 T sugar mixture over dough. Arrange apple slices spokelike on top of dough, working from outside edge of dough to the center. Sprinkle apple slices with remaining sugar mixture. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes.
• Combine honey and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at High 40 seconds. Brush honey mixture over warm tart.
• Serve warm.

FRENCH APPLE TART

Steps:

• CRUST:.
• Place the butter in your mixer and beat until softened.
• Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Gradually add the beaten egg, beating just until incorporated.
• Don't overmix or butter will separate and lighten in color.
• Add the flour mixture all at once and mix just until it forms a ball.
• Don't overwork or pastry will be hard when baked.
• Roll out the pastry and fit it into a 8 or 9 inch (20 to 23 cm) tart pan (instructions for how to roll out the pastry are given in the recipe for the Sweet Pastry Crust). Prick the bottom of the shell and chill for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.
• Line the unbaked pastry shell with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Fill tart pan with pie weights or beans, making sure the weights are to the top of the pan and evenly distributed over the entire surface.
• Bake crust for 20 to 25 minutes until crust is dry and lightly browned. Remove weights and cool crust on wire rack.
• When cool, spread a thin layer of warm apricot glaze over the bottom and sides of the tart to seal the crust and prevent it from getting soggy.
• Let the glaze dry between 20 - 30 minutes.
• FOR APPLE TART:.
• For bottom layer of apples:
• Peel, core, and slice three of the apples.
• In a large skillet melt 1 tablespoon (13 grams) unsalted butter and stir in between 2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 grams) of the sugar, the lemon zest, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Add the apples and saute over moderate heat, stirring occasionally for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
• Gently mash the apples with the back of a spatula or spoon and stir the mixture until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• For top layer of apples:
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into slices 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick. Melt 1 tablespoon (13 grams) butter in a large skillet over medium heat and stir in the other 2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 grams) sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Add the apples and saute until they begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes.
• Set the cooked apples aside.
• Spoon the applesauce mixture into the cooled and glazed pre-baked tart shell.
• Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles over the applesauce, and brush with 1 - 2 tablespoons (13-26 grams) melted butter.
• Bake the tart on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven for 25-30 minutes or until the apples are nicely browned and soft. Remove from oven and sprinkle the tart with confectioners' sugar, cover the edges of tart with foil, and broil it under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat until the edges of the apples are golden brown and crisp. Once the tart has cooled lightly glaze the apple slices with warm apricot glaze.
• FOR APRICOT GLAZE:
• In a small saucepan heat the apricot preserves until boiling.
• Remove from heat and strain to get rid of lumps.
• Add the Cognac, Calvados, Rum or water.
• Use this glaze to seal the baked tart shell and to brush the top of the finished tart.

THIN APPLE TART

Steps:

• To make the tart dough, whisk together the sour cream and egg yolk in a small bowl.
• Put the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Scatter the butter over the top of the flour and pulse 6 to 8 times, until the butter resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sour cream mixture and pulse until the dough just comes together. Scrape the dough onto a flat surface, flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until the dough is cold, at least 1 hour and up to 2 weeks.
• Spread the sugar over a flat surface. Place the disk of dough on the sugar and turn to coat in the sugar. Roll the dough out to a 14-inch circle that's 1/8 inch thick, flipping the dough once in the sugar during the rolling. Using a 12-inch plate as your guide, cut out the dough into a 12-inch round. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• To prepare the apples, combine the apple juice, lemon juice, sugars, and cinnamon in a small saucepan and cook, whisking occasionally, over high heat until slightly thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Cover the glaze and keep warm.
• Slice the apple halves crosswise into paper-thin (about 1/16-inch) slices. Arrange the slices, overlapping them slightly, on the pastry round. Brush the tops of the apples with some of the warm glaze. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake the tart until the apples are soft and the pastry is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and immediately brush the tops of the apples with more of the warm apple glaze. Using a large metal spatula, carefully transfer the tart to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• Ladle some of the cinnamon crème anglaise onto large dinner plates and top with a slice of the apple tart.
• CINNAMON CRÈME ANGLAISE
• Prepare an ice bath by placing a medium bowl inside a larger bowl filled half full with ice water.
• Put the milk, cream, cinnamon, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean and seeds in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Remove from the heat.
• Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the hot milk mixture. Remove the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean, and return the entire mixture to the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, over medium-low heat until the custard thickens and leaves a path on the back of the spoon when you draw your finger across, about 2 minutes.
• Strain the custard into the bowl set in the ice bath and stir until chilled. Cover and refrigerate until cold, 3 hours or overnight.

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.