Classic French Tarte Aux Pommes Recipes

CLASSIC FRENCH TARTE AUX POMMES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients for the dough.
• In a small bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter , large-tined fork, or a food processor on pulse setting, cut the chilled butter into the flour until it resembles coarse sand with a few pea-sized pieces of butter still visible.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cold water onto the mixture and toss a few times gently, just until starts to hold together. Add another tablespoon of cold water if necessary; the dough should hold together when squeezed but not be so wet it's sticky.
• Gather the dough into a ball, flatten into a thick disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for several hours before working with it. Make the Frangipane
• Gather the ingredients for the frangipane.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a handheld mixer) and cream together.
• Add the almond meal and mix to combine.
• Add the egg yolk and vanilla, gently beating until all is mixed.
• Finish by adding the flour and combining until well mixed. Refrigerate until ready to use. Assemble and Bake
• Gather remaining ingredients along with the dough and frangipane. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough a circle large enough to fit a 9-inch or 10-inch fluted tart pan. It should be about 11 to 12 inches wide and 1/8 inch thick.
• Lay the dough into the tart pan and press it into the bottom and up the sides.
• Roll the rolling pin across the top of the pan to trim off the excess dough. Chill the pastry for 20 minutes.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet.
• Spread the frangipane evenly over the bottom of the chilled pastry shell, arrange the apple slices in a fan or spiral shape over the frangipane, and bake the tart for 12 to 15 minutes until the crust begins to turn golden brown.
• Reduce the heat to 350 F and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes until the apples are tender, but not overly soft, and the frangipane is cooked through and not sticky. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the apple tart to cool for 10 minutes.
• Brush the melted apricot jelly over the warm apples and serve the tart at room temperature.

CLASSIC FRENCH THIN APPLE TART (TARTE FINE AUX POMMES)

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 400°F (200°C) with a rack in the middle. Line up a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Step 1 - On a lightly floured working surface, roll out the sheet of puff pastry to a 13-inch (33cm) square. Then, cut out a 12-inch (30.5cm) circle from that dough - using a plate or a tart pan placed on top of the sheet as a guide if you want. Poke the circle all over with a fork. Transfer the puff pastry circle onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet and place in the fridge while you cut the apples.
• Step 2 -Peel and core the apples. Cut them in half or quarters, and slice them into very thin slices - by hand or using a mandoline.
• Step 3 -Remove the puff pastry from the fridge. Arrange the apple slices over the pastry in a circular pattern and overlapping - start with the largest apple slices for the outer circle and keep the smallest apple slices for the center. You do not need to leave a border all around.
• Step 4 -Melt the 1 tablespoon of butter and brush it onto the apples. Sprinkle the tart evenly with sugar.
• Step 5 -Bake the tart for 25 minutes or until the crust edges are dark brown and the apples look slightly caramelized. Let cool 2-3 minutes and transfer onto a cooling rack. Mix the apricot jam with 1 tbsp of water, and brush the glaze onto the apples.

FRENCH APPLE TART (TARTE DE POMMES A LA NORMANDE)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/3 cups of flour and salt. Add the butter, 1 egg yolk and water, and stir until the mixture forms large crumbs. If it is too dry to press a handful together, stir in more water. Press the dough into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten slightly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until firm. This part can be done up to three days in advance.
• To make the frangipane, cream together the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium bowl until light and soft. Gradually mix in the egg and the remaining egg yolk one at a time. Stir in the apple brandy. Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into the ground almonds, then mix into the batter. Set aside.
• Roll the pastry dough out to about a 12 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Fold loosely into quarters, and center the point in a 10 inch tart or pie pan. Unfold dough, and press into the bottom and up the sides. Prick with a fork all over, and flute the edges. Return pastry to the refrigerator to chill until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a baking sheet inside the oven while it preheats.
• Spoon the frangipane into the chilled pastry, and spread into an even layer. Arrange the apple slices in an overlapping spiral pattern. Each slice should have one edge pressed into the frangipane until it touches the pastry base, and then overlap the previous slice. Start at the outside edge, and work towards the center.
• Place the pie plate on top of the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the filling begins to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for another 10 minutes, then sprinkle sugar over the top of the tart. Return to the oven for 10 more minutes, or until the sugar caramelizes slightly.
• Cool the tart on a wire rack. A short time before serving, warm the apricot jelly. Add some water if necessary to make it a liquid consistency. Brush onto the tart for a nice shine.