Tarte Taten

This is an excellent recipe for those that like apples. I borrowed this recipe from the very well known blogger in the Russian community, Nika. I like baked apples and we all know about my love for all things caramel. It would be hard not to notice, since more then half of my desserts include caramel as one of the components :) But the problem with baked apples, is that they’re not very pretty once baked and don’t make for a pretty dessert. This tart takes care of that problem and the addition of caramel is just wonderful, combined with pastry crust. So give this tart a try.

For this tart you will need:

• 220 gr. sugar (about 1 cup)
  100 gr. unsalted butter
  2 lbs. sweet and juicy apples
  1 sheet of puff pastry
  1 vanilla bean

Peel and core the apples. Cut in half.
In a deep sauté pan (with metal handle), about 20 cm in diameter, put the sugar and turn the heat to medium.
Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape the seeds with a knife and add into the sugar.
Watch the sugar and as soon as the sugar becomes amber color, take the sauté pan aside. Take care not to burn the sugar and take the pan off the stove a little before the desired color, as the heat of the pan will continue to cook the sugar after the pan has been taken off the stove.
Mix the vanilla bean into the caramel.
Put the apples into the pan, placing them as tight inside the pan as possible, sticking them to the caramel.
Dust the apples with a little bit of sugar.
Cut the butter into small pieces and put in between the the apples.
Cut the puff pastry to the size of the pan. Prick with a fork all over.
Lay over the apples, pressing tightly against the apples and sealing around the edges.
Bake in the oven at 360F, for about 40 min.
Let cool to room temperature.
Pressing against the puff pastry with your hand to hold the cake from falling out, pour out the caramel.
Put a serving plate on top of the sauté pan, and flip the tart onto the serving plate.
Heat up the caramel and let it thicken.
Pour over the tart.

Serve the tarte Tatin with Vanilla ice cream or heavy cream.

 

*The apples with caramel are so good that you can eat them on their own, with no puff pastry.
*Do follow the link and check out Nika’s photos of step by step preparation.

Bon Appétit!