Salted Caramel Apple Tart Tatin Recipes

SALTED CARAMEL APPLE TART TATIN

Steps:

• Position the oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Spray an 8 by 3-inch round cake pan with nonstick spray.
• Combine the sugar and 6 tablespoons water in a heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. You will not stir the sugar after this point. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Do not stir. Cook until the syrup is a deep amber color, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Carefully add the butter (the caramel will bubble vigorously). Stir to blend, then add the flaked sea salt. Pour the caramel into the prepared cake pan. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Peel, quarter and core the apples. Cut into 1/2-inch thick slices. You don't want to cut the slices too thin because they will fall apart or break down when cooked - the 1/2-inch slices will hold their shape. Fill a large bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Place the apple slices in the acidulated water and set aside. This will keep the apples white.
• Place the cake pan over a stovetop burner, but don't turn the burner on. Lay 2 apple slices in the center of the pan on top of the caramel. Arrange the remaining apple slices in a circle, overlapping one another so that the end result looks similar to a rose. While layering, occasionally press down on the apples to make sure they all fit into the pan. If the caramel starts to set, turn the heat on very low to help loosen it up.
• With an oven mitt (the pan may be hot), pop the pan into the oven. Bake until the apples are tender and the caramel bubbles thickly, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface. Using a clean 9-inch round cake pan bottom as an aid, trace and cut out a 9-inch round from the pastry.
• Remove the pan from the oven. Top the apples with the pastry round, pressing down and tucking in the edges. Pierce or dock the pastry all over with a fork. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the pastry is golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool the tart completely in the pan.
• Invert a platter or cake stand over the cake pan. Hold the platter and the pan and invert. The tart will fall out onto the platter. If the tart does not cooperate, run the edge with a knife and place over medium heat until slightly warmed, then invert the pan onto the platter. Cut into wedges and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

CARAMELIZED APPLE TART: TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• To make the caramel: Have ready a 10-inch round cake pan with 3-inch sides. (Do not use a springform pan for this; it will leak!) In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is dark amber in color ¿ it's okay if there are a few sugar lumps remaining. When the caramel is done, carefully pour it into the cake pan. Don't touch the cake pan with unprotected hands ¿ it will be hot! Set the cake pan aside until caramel is cool. (The caramel-coated pan can be made up to 2 days in advance and left, covered, at room temperature.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Core the apples by cutting down, top to bottom, on all 4 sides around the core. You will have 2 apple halves and 2 smaller pieces. Arrange the first layer of apple halves, flat-side down, on top of the set caramel in the pan. (This will later become the top of the tart.) Arrange the remaining apple halves and pieces to form the second layer. Things will be a bit crowded at first, but the apples will shrink down when cooked. Place on a parchment paper-lined, sturdy baking sheet. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the apples are very tender.
• Meanwhile, on a lightly floured work surface, roll out the puff pastry dough into a round 1/4-inch thick. Cut out a 10-inch pastry circle and transfer it to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• When the apples are done, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer to a flat surface, taking care, as the caramel will be bubbling hot. Remove the pastry circle from the refrigerator and prick with a fork 15 times. Gently place on top of the cooked apples. Return tart to the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffy and golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 to 25 minutes.
• To serve, you will need a 12- to 14-inch diameter round serving platter and another sturdy baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet over the warm tatin pan. Using both hands, firmly grab both baking sheets and quickly flip over the pans ¿ doing this over the kitchen sink will cut down on any sticky mess. Remove the top baking sheet and carefully lift up the cake pan, using dry towels to avoid getting burned by the caramel. If any apples remain stuck to the pan, remove them with a metal spatula and place them back on the tart. This tart is best served warm.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, water, and melted butter on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Work quickly and do not overwork the dough. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, form it into a rough rectangle, enclose the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Meanwhile, put the remaining 14 ounces of butter between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and beat it with a rolling pin, turning as necessary, until softened. The butter should be malleable but not too soft. Set aside in a cool place ¿ the butter will later be spread on the dough as you start the folding process.
• Place the refrigerated dough on a well-floured work surface and dust the top of the dough lightly with flour. Using a rolling pin, push down on the dough to start flattening it, and then roll it into a 20 by 30 by 10-inch rectangle, 1/4 inch thick, with the long sides running from left to right. (It might feel that you're rolling sideways, and well, you are.) Carefully brush off any excess flour from the dough. Starting on the right side, and leaving a 1-inch border, slap and spread on the butter, using your fingers, over two-thirds of the rectangle. Fold the dough into thirds; starting with the left side, fold at the butter line as if closing a book, and then fold the right side up and over the top layer. You should end up with a stack of 3 thick layers of dough, each separated from the next by a layer of butter.
• As you prepare to make the first turn of the dough, keep in mind the importance of rolling the butter evenly along the length and width of the rectangle as you roll the dough. Adjust the pressure on the rolling pin as necessary, rolling harder or more evenly, to achieve a smoother, even, dough-enclosed butter sandwich. To begin your first turn, turn the dough 90 degrees on your work surface so the closed fold is at the top and, rolling lengthwise, roll It into a 20 by 10-inch rectangle. Brush off any excess flour and fold into thirds as above, starting with the left side and ending with the right. At this point, you have finished one turn. Rotate the dough 90 degrees so the closed fold is at the top, and repeat the rolling and folding process. The second turn is complete. After the second turn, or any time the dough is too soft to work with, transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate, covered in plastic wrap, for about 30 minutes, or until the dough is chilled and relaxed. Each time the dough is refrigerated, make an indentation in the dough with your fingertip for each turn completed. Repeat this rolling and folding process, rolling out the dough lengthwise every time, for more times for a total of 6 turns. After the sixth turn, let the dough rest a good hour in the refrigerator.
• Store the dough, as is, well wrapped in plastic wrap. The dough can be kept refrigerated up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 10 days. If frozen, thaw the dough, still wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator before using.

TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet, then cover and freeze while preparing the apples.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that's starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.
• To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.
• Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top - it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
• Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

CARAMEL APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Lightly flour a work surface. Roll the puff pastry out so it is slightly larger than the top of a 10-inch cast-iron pan. Turn the pan over on top of the pastry and cut around the outside edge of the pan to remove excess. Place the puff pastry round onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Add the sugar, apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon water to the cast-iron pan. Turn to medium-high heat and stir the ingredients together so that the sugar is completely wet. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sugar turns a deep amber, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter and sea salt flakes; the mixture will bubble up slightly. Stir the caramel until the butter is completely melted and evenly incorporated. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the apples, then cut each into thirds around the core, leaving you three rounded discs per apple. At this point, the caramel will have cooled and perhaps even hardened; that's ok. Place the apple pieces rounded-side down into the pan on top of the caramel, overlapping the edges slightly so you have an outside circle of apples and an inside circle of apples. Turn the pan back up to medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once at a boil, turn the heat to medium low and simmer until the apples have softened and the excess juice from the apples has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the puff pastry round on top of the apples. Use a mini offset spatula or butter knife to tuck the edges of the puff pastry into the pan towards the apples, all along the edge. Whisk the egg together with a splash of water in a small bowl and then brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Bake until the puff pastry is a deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Using a serving platter that is at least 2 inches wider than the pan and has a small lip on it to catch excess caramel, place it over the top of the cooled tarte. Place a kitchen towel on top of the platter and then fold it down over the cast iron. Get a firm grip of the platter and cast iron in both hands before flipping the cast iron over, away from yourself. Remove the cast iron.
• Serve the tarte tatin immediately with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

APPLE TART TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven 425 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter until slightly bubbly. Add the sugar and stir in with a wooden spoon. Once blended, add the vanilla and cinnamon stick and stir to combine and bring out the vanilla caviar. Continue simmering to make a caramel. Stir in the brandy and orange juice to deglaze the pan and continue cooking until it becomes a smooth caramel. Pour 2 ounces into the bottom of each of 6 ramekins, then place 4 pieces of apple in each 8-ounce ramekin. Top off with a little more caramel and bake 15 to 20 minutes until almost tender. Top with rounds of puff pastry and bake another 10 to 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let cool and turn upside down onto a plate to remove from ramekins.

CARAMEL APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Dissolve the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is clear, about 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the heat to high and cook without stirring until the caramel turns a honeybrown color, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat immediately and cool while you prepare the apples.
• Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Melt the butter in the skillet. Arrange a fan of apple slices in a circle around the perimeter and fill in the center with the remaining slices. Cover and cook on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the apples begin to soften. While the apples cook, carefully stir the sour cream into the cooled caramel (it may sputter if the caramel is still very hot). When the apples are becoming tender, sprinkle on the lemon juice and salt and pour the caramel evenly over the apples.
• Trim the corners from the pastry to make a rough circle about 10 inches in diameter. Fit the dough over the apples, tucking in the edges around the inside of the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Cover with a plate larger than the skillet and invert very carefully to unmold the tart onto the plate. Serve warm.