Apple Tart With Creme Fraiche Recipes

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.

APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Quarter, peel and core the apples. Cut them in one-and-a-fourth-inch slices and toss in a bowl with sugar and Calvados.
• Fill the tart shell with apples, spreading them evenly over the surface and brush them with melted butter. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes pushing down with a fork any edges that brown too much. If the pastry starts to brown, cover the pie loosely with foil and reduce the oven temperature to 350. Serve warm.

DOUBLE APPLE TART

Steps:

• Pulse the flour, baking powder, salt and 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and process until pea-size pieces. Whisk together the cream and crème fraiche in a measuring cup or small bowl until smooth. Remove the top of the food processor and add the cream mixture (do not use the food processor feed tube). Secure the top and pulse until the dough just comes together. Transfer to a piece of plastic wrap, pat into a 12-by-8-inch rectangle and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• Cut 2 pieces of parchment to fit a baking sheet. Place the dough between the parchment and roll into a 12-by-18-inch rectangle. Transfer to the freezer to firm up, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel the apples and reserve the peels. Slice off the cheeks of each apple and reserve, leaving the core. Cut the cores in half and add to a medium pot along with the peels, 1 cup of the sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower to a strong simmer and cook, pushing down on the cores with a wooden spoon or potato masher to break them apart as they soften, until the liquid reduces to about 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing the solids with a wooden spoon to extract all of the liquid. Set aside the liquid and compost or discard the solids.
• Meanwhile, cut the apple cheeks into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Transfer the dough on the parchment to a rimmed baking sheet. Remove the top piece of parchment. Shingle the apple slices on the dough in 4 lengthwise rows, leaving a 1/2-inch border of dough all the way around. Sprinkle the apples and border with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until the dough is lightly golden around the edges, about 45 minutes.
• Drizzle the apples with half of the apple syrup and return the tart to the oven to bake until the dough is dark golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the tart with the remaining apple syrup. Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of crème fraiche.

APPLE TART 'MAMAN BLANC'

Steps:

• For the pastry, pulse together the flour, butter and a pinch of sea salt in a food processor until it reaches a sandy texture. Add the egg, 1 tsp cold water and pulse again briefly. If you over-mix the dough at this stage it will lose its flakiness. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with the palms of your hands for 30 secs, or until smooth and well combined. With the palm of your hand, flatten the dough slightly to 1cm thickness, then sandwich it between 2 large sheets of cling film. Place on a baking tray and chill for 30 mins.
• Roll the chilled dough, still sandwiched in cling film, to a 2mm thickness. Place a 22cm/3-4cm deep loose-bottomed cake tin on a baking tray. (Or use a 22cm/2-3cm deep tart ring and place on a greaseproof-lined baking tray.) Remove the top layer of cling film. Carefully pick up the dough and place it into the tin with the second layer of cling film facing up. Lift and tuck the dough into the edges of the tin and discard the cling film. By tucking in the base you minimise the shrinking of the dough during cooking. Trim off any excess with a rolling pin. Using your index finger and thumb, pinch and press the dough until it is 2mm above the tin all around the edge. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the filling, heat the butter, lemon juice and 15g of the caster sugar in a small saucepan until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the Calvados. Set aside. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place a baking sheet into the oven to pre-heat.
• Arrange the apple segments in concentric circles over the chilled base, overlapping the apple slices as you go. Brush the apples all over with the Calvados mixture. Slide the tin or tart ring (on its lining paper) onto the pre-heated baking sheet and bake for 10 mins. Reduce the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then continue to cook for 15-20 mins more.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the double cream, egg and the remaining 50g caster sugar until well combined. After the 15-20 mins baking - when the pastry is pale golden brown and the apples have started to caramelise - sprinkle the tart with the 1 tbsp caster sugar, then pour the custard mixture into the tart. Bake for a further 10 mins until the filling has just set.
• To serve, remove the tart from the oven and set aside for 1 hr to cool slightly. Carefully remove the tin or tart ring and serve immediately with crème fraîche.

GERMAN APPLE TART (APFEL TARTE)

Steps:

• Combine the ingredients for the dough until its smooth. Wrap in foil and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Peel, core, and cut the apples into quarters. With a sharp knife cut each quarter apple in its round side several times lengthwise. Don't cut the apple all the way through. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon juice and Calvados or apple cider. Pour over the apples and let them marinate for 1 hour.
• Roll 2/3-3/4 of the dough out into a 9 inch round. Set into a 9 inch springform pan. Use the rest of the dough to create a small edge along the inner walls of the form. Using a fork punch tiny holes into the bottom of the unbaked crust. Bake at 350° F for 10-12 minutes. Place the apples in a sieve or colander. Make sure to catch the escaping juice in a small bowl. Combine this juice with the Creme Fraiche and stir until smooth and consistent.
• Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the baked crust. Arrange the partially sliced apple quarters on the crust round side facing upwards. Pour the Creme Fraiche mixture over the apples. Bake at 350° F for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Garnish with chopped almonds or nuts if desired. Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream,sweet Creme Fraiche, or plain.
• Variations: substitute fresh peaches or pears. Instead of calvados or apple cider use peach or pear schnapps.

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.

APPLE AND QUINCE TART

Steps:

• Make the shell: in a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Using a pastry cutter, chop the butter into the flour mixture until pea-size and coated with flour. Add 4 to 5 tablespoons ice water and toss lightly with a fork. The dough will not come together at this point. Transfer the crumbly dough to the counter and, using the heel of your hand, smear the dough to marble the butter into it. Scrape up the dough and repeat this process one or two times until the dough comes together. Once the dough forms a ball, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and press into a flattened disk. Refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 2 days.
• On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll the dough into a 14-inch circle, 116-inch thick. Line an 1112-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom with the dough and place in the freezer.
• Prepare the filling by combining the quince, 4 tablespoons butter and 12 cup sugar in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan set over medium heat. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 3 to 5 minutes. Uncover, reduce the heat to low and cook until all the liquid has evaporated and the quince is tender and darker in color, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Adjust the rack to the bottom third of the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees. Peel, core and quarter the apples. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, slice the apples as thinly as possible and set aside.
• Remove the tart shell from the freezer. Scrape the cooked quince into the shell and distribute it evenly. Layer the apples over the quince around the outermost edge of the tart with about 15 of the apple hanging over the rim of the pan. Each slice should overlap the preceding by half. Once you have made a full circle of apples around the outer edge, make a new circle closer to the center, overlapping the outer circle with about 14 of the apple slice. Continue layering until the quince is completely covered with apples.
• Make a brown butter by melting the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden brown and nutty-smelling. Drizzle the brown butter over the apples and sprinkle with the remaining sugar.
• Place the tart on a sheet pan and cook for 70 minutes. Lower the oven to 350 degrees and bake until the apples have caramelized, the filling is bubbling and the crust is brown, another 20 minutes. Allow the tart to cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack; remove the tart pan. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche.

APPLE TART WITH FRANGIPANE (ALMOND) FILLING

Steps:

• To make frangipane: combine almonds and ¼ cup sugar in food processor and grind into a powder.
• Add 2 tblsps butter, vanilla, rum and egg and process thoroughly.
• On a floured surface, roll pate brisee into a very thin circle (about 1/16 of an inch thick).
• Brush top of dough lightly to remove flour, roll up on rolling pin and unroll over 10 inch flan ring set on top of a baking sheet.
• Lift up overhanging dough and press into position so that dough adheres well inside ring without being stretched.
• Press rolling pin across top of ring to cut away excess dough.
• Spread frangipane on dough.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel apples, cut in half, core, and cut into ¼ inch thick slices.
• Set aside the larger center pieces of apple.
• Coarsely chop end pieces (about 2 cups) and spread over frangipane.
• Arrange apple slices in concentric circles over chopped apples.
• Sprinkle top with 1 tblsp sugar and dot with butter.
• Bake for 1 hour.
• Remove ring and slide tart carefully onto serving platter while still hot.
• Cool slightly.
• Heat preserves, stirring constantly, over low heat.
• Push through a fine sieve.
• Add Calvados and combine.
• Using a pastry brush, spread glaze over tart, thickly.
• Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.
• Nice with a dollop of crème fraiche (in my recipes) or whipped cream.