Apple Brioche Tart Recipes

APPLE BRIOCHE TART

Steps:

• Make the brioche dough:
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, mix the flour, granulated sugar, and salt on low speed to combine. Add the yeast and mix to combine, 10 to 15 seconds more. Add the eggs and milk and mix for 4 minutes. The dough should form a sticky, shaggy ball around the hook.
• Increase the speed to medium and slowly add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time, being careful to incorporate each addition before adding the next; the entire process should take about 3 minutes. (If you add the butter too quickly, it can create a greasy disaster in the bowl, so pace it out.) Scrape the bowl down once or twice to make sure everything is homogeneous. (This mixing period is called intense mixing-and it is! Don't be alarmed if the mixing is noisy or difficult in the early to mid-stages, it will come together.) Then knead the dough until it is smooth and uniform, 1 minute more.
• Grease a large bowl with nonstick spray. Transfer the dough to the bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
• Make the tart:
• Use the butter to generously grease an 18-by-13-inch baking sheet, including the rim.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle a little larger than the pan (about 1 inch on all sides), so that the dough will come up the sides of the pan.
• Roll up the dough around the rolling pin and transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Use a pastry wheel to trim the edges so they are flush with the edges of the pan. Cover the baking sheet with greased plastic wrap (I use nonstick spray) and let the dough rise in a warm place for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C, with a rack in the middle.
• Meanwhile, peel, quarter, and core the apples, then slice crosswise 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick (see Pro Tip).
• In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Uncover the dough and sprinkle it evenly with half the cinnamon sugar. Arrange the apple slices across the dough (see Pro Tip). Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar evenly over the apples. Finish with the salt.
• Bake the tart until the edges of the crust are golden brown, the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, and the sugar has caramelized, 32 to 36 minutes. Cool the tart for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving, warm or at room temperature.
• Make Ahead and Storage
• This tart is best the same day it's made. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

FRESH APPLE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour but not more than 1 day.
• While the dough is chilling, prepare the apple filling.
• In a medium bowl, toss diced apples with sugar and cinnamon. Mix in walnuts.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 16 3-inch tart pans. Remove tart dough from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out.
• Knead dough briefly on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 16 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 6-inch circle, and carefully fit one circle into each tart pan.
• Spoon an equal amount of apple mixture into each tart pan. Fold pastry over filling. Place filled tarts on a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Melt apricot jam and brush over finished tarts, if desired.

APPLE TART WITH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 10-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper.
• Combine butter, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Turn out onto a clean work surface and quickly form into a ball. Dust a large piece of plastic wrap with flour and place pastry on top. Cover with a second piece of plastic wrap and roll out between the wrap to fit the 9-inch springform pan.
• Place pastry into the bottom and the sides of the prepared springform and prick numerous times with a fork. Line pastry with parchment paper and a layer of pie weights or dried beans. Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry crust is firm but not hard, about 15 minutes. Let the pastry cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment paper and weights; continue baking until the crust sets, about 5 minutes more.
• Layer thinly sliced apples evenly over the pre-baked pastry crust.
• Whisk creme fraiche, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Pour over apples.
• Bake tart in the preheated oven on top of a baking sheet (in case some filling spills) until tart is set and the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. The filling should still be a little wobbly, as it firms up while cooling.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Strain apricot jam through a sieve. Combine apricot jam and water in a saucepan and heat until runny, about 3 minutes. Brush the jam over the top of the tart. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle over tart.
• Place tart under the broiler until the top is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST WITH APPLES AND MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Whisk together yolks with cream, add remaining ingredients. Set aside. Saute apple slices in 3 tablespoons butter until just tender, about 3 to 4 minutes, sprinkle with sugar and grated lemon zest. Cut Brioche into 2-inch slices. Cut each slice sideways 2/3 of the way through to create a pocket. Spread mascarpone mixture on top and bottom of pocket. Put 1/6 of the apples in pocket and press to close. Submerge each slice stuffed brioche in the custard. Saute in butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Place in 400-degree oven for 3 minutes. Serve with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST WITH APPLES

Steps:

• Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet. Add the apples and three tablespoons sugar and cook over very high heat until the apples are lightly caramelized and tender but still hold their shape. Sprinkle with lemon juice and set aside.
• Beat the eggs and milk together in a shallow bowl. Add the brioche slices one at a time, leaving each in the bowl long enough to become saturated. As the slices are soaked, transfer them to a foil-lined baking pan big enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Scatter half the almonds over the slices and lightly press them in. Sprinkle with half a tablespoon of sugar.
• Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet or a griddle. Put the slices, almond-side down, in the skillet and cook over medium heat until lightly browned. While the slices are cooking, scatter the remaining almonds and sugar on them, lightly pressing the almonds in. Turn the slices when they have browned, to brown the second side.
• Serve the slices while still warm, dusted with sifted confectioners' sugar, with the apples on the side. If desired, the French toast and apples can be made in advance and reheated in a 200-degree oven.