Apple Tarte Tatin
Lately I’ve been on a caramel kick, dosuing any and all desserts with a heavy handed scoop of homemade salted caramel sauce, or creating desserts that are based around caramel-y flavors. When I was home last weekend, I made pumpkin cupcakes with a caramel buttercream (recipe coming soon!), and I also made this Apple Tarte Tatin. My mom loves fruit upside-down cakes, so whenever I’m home that’s what she wants. Generally though, I’m hesitant to make a tarte tatin, because mostly every recipe I’ve ever encountered calls for puff pastry and I never have any lying around. Plus, I prefer to make every component of my baked goods, so when I finally found this recipe I was sold.
The dough in this recipe is simple to make, and very reminiscent of a pie dough. It just needs an hour in the fridge then it’s good to go. The caramel part is trickier, but if you watch it carefully it comes together beautifully. The caramel in this recipe is very rich and intense, but I personally thought it added a suitable depth of flavor for such a dessert.
My only critique would be the lemon used in the crust – it was pretty strong. I should’ve followed my gut when I thought that the zest from a whole lemon seemed to be too much, but I threw it in and hoped for the best. Given that the caramel flavor is so intense, I think the lemon balances it will, but after sitting overnight the lemon flavor was borderping on overpowering. But fortunately, that’s an easy fix! Next time, I’ll probably only use the zest of half a lemon.
Overall though, I found a winner here. I served this warm with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, and it was really divine. The crust is buttery while the apples are tender and sticky, and there’s a pleasant balance of flavors. One thing’s for sure, I won’t ever be tempted to try it with puff pastry, unless that puff pastry was made in my very own kitchen. Maybe’s that’s a challenge I should take on?!
Apple Tart Tatin
adapted from Food Network
Crust ingredients
1 stick butter, cut into pea size pieces
1 cup all purpose flour, plus extra for rolling (I used a mix of white and wheat)
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch salt
zest of 1 lemon
1 egg yolk
2 to 3 tablespoons ice water
Filling ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
1 stick butter, cut into pats
6 apples, such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh or your favorite baking apple, peeled, cored and quartered
To make the crust:
1) In a food processor combine the butter, flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Pulse until it looks like finely grated Parmigiano. Add the egg yolk and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the water. Pulse until the mixture comes together. If it seems a bit dry add a little more water and pulse, pulse, pulse. The mixture should come together into a ball.
2) Dump the whole thing out onto a clean lightly floured work surface. Knead the mixture 1 or 2 times only to make it a smooth ball. Using a rolling pin or your fingers roll or press the dough out to an even circle about 11 to 12 inches in diameter. Transfer to a cookie sheet lined with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight, covered with plastic wrap.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
To make the filling:
3) While dough is chilling, place the sugar, apple cider, lemon juice and vanilla bean seeds in a 10-inch nonstick ovenproof pan. Stir to combine. Over high heat bring the mixture to a boil brushing down the sides of the pan occasionally with a pastry brush dipped in water, if necessary.
4) After 6 to 7 minutes the mixture will eventually begin to turn light brown. Swish the pan around gently to promote even cooking. Cook the mixture for another minute or so until the mixture becomes a much deeper amber color. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, 2 pats at a time. The mixture will bubble up. That is okay, just be VERY CAREFUL not to get any of this on you. When all of the butter has been incorporated, begin to arrange the apples rounded side down in circles. Try to do this neatly and in a pretty way. Remember, the bottom will be the top!
5) Return the pan to the burner and cook over medium for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
6) Retrieve the chilled pastry from the refrigerator and place it on top of the apples. Tuck the pastry in around the edges of the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and crispy. Let the tart cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a serving platter upside down on top of the pastry and CAREFULLY flip the platter and the pan over. Let the tart fall gently out of the pan.
Slice tart into individual pieces andgarnish with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.
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http://freefoodboston.wordpress.com Elizabeth
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http://megan-deliciousdishings.blogspot.com Megan
