Doornikse Appeltaart (Tournai Apple Tart)
A rich and custardy Belgian apple tart with a simple shortcrust pastry, based on a 16th-century recipe from Tournai (Doornik). It features tart apples baked with a sweet, spiced filling.
🧂 Ingredients
- 275 g Strong flour(for the pastry)
- 50 g Icing sugar(for the pastry)
- 1 pinch Salt(for the pastry)
- 150 g Unsalted butter(chilled and cubed, for the pastry)
- 1 large Egg yolk(for the pastry)
- 1 tbsp Cold water(for the pastry)
- 550 g Dessert apples(e.g., Cox, Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and sliced)
- 30 g Icing sugar(for the filling)
- 115 g Unsalted butter(melted, for the filling)
- 5 large Egg yolks(for the filling)
- 1 large Whole egg(for the filling)
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon(for the filling)
- 1 tbsp Rice flour(for the filling)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
For the pastry: Combine flour, icing sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add chilled butter and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and cold water, and process until the dough just comes together.
💡 Tip: Do not overmix the pastry dough. - 2
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 30 minutes💡 Tip: Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll and prevents shrinkage during baking. - 3
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and flour a 27 cm (10.5 inch) tart tin.
💡 Tip: Ensure the tart tin is well-greased to prevent sticking. - 4
Roll out the pastry to about 3mm thickness and line the prepared tart tin. Trim any excess pastry.
💡 Tip: Roll the pastry evenly to ensure consistent thickness. - 5
For the filling: In a bowl, whisk together melted butter and icing sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks and whole egg, then stir in the cinnamon and rice flour.
💡 Tip: Ensure all ingredients are well combined for a smooth filling. - 6
Toss the sliced apples with the filling mixture until evenly coated. Arrange the apples in the pastry-lined tin.
💡 Tip: Layer the apples attractively for a beautiful presentation. - 7
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is set and lightly golden.
⏱️ 45 minutes💡 Tip: Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean. - 8
Let the tart cool in the tin for at least 15 minutes before serving.
💡 Tip: Allowing the tart to cool helps it set properly.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use slightly tart apples for the best flavor balance.
- ✓Serve warm or at room temperature.
- ✓A dusting of icing sugar before serving adds a nice finish.
🔄 Variations
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the filling for extra spice.
- Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.