Tarte Tatin
The iconic French upside-down apple tart, featuring tender, caramelized apples nestled under a crisp, buttery puff pastry. A delightful dessert born from a happy accident.
🧂 Ingredients
- 8-10 Firm, tart apples(Such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith. Aim for apples that hold their shape when cooked.)
- 100 g Unsalted butter(Cold, cut into cubes.)
- 200 g Granulated sugar
- 1 sheet Puff pastry(Thawed according to package directions.)
- for serving Crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream(Optional, but highly recommended.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the apples: Peel the apples, cut them into quarters, and carefully remove the core from each quarter. If the apples are very large, you can cut each quarter in half again. Set aside.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 2
Make the caramel: In a 23-25 cm (9-10 inch) oven-safe skillet (cast iron or heavy-bottomed stainless steel works well), melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle the sugar evenly over the butter. Cook, without stirring, until the sugar dissolves and begins to turn an amber color. This can take about 8-10 minutes. Swirl the pan gently if needed to ensure even caramelization. Be careful not to burn it; a deep amber is ideal.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Arrange the apples: Once the caramel is ready, remove the skillet from the heat. Tightly pack the apple quarters, cut-side down, into the caramel. Pack them as snugly as possible, as they will shrink during cooking. You can arrange them in concentric circles for a beautiful presentation.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Cook the apples: Return the skillet to medium-low heat on the stovetop. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the apples have softened slightly and released some of their juices, and the caramel has thickened and deepened in color. Watch carefully to prevent the caramel from burning.
⏱️ 15-20 minutes - 5
Prepare the pastry: While the apples are cooking, lightly flour a clean surface and unfold the puff pastry sheet. If it's a large sheet, you may need to trim it to fit the diameter of your skillet. Place the pastry over the apples in the skillet, tucking the edges down around the apples and into the sides of the pan.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 6
Bake the Tarte Tatin: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the skillet on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed, golden brown, and cooked through. The caramel should be bubbling around the edges.
⏱️ 25-30 minutes - 7
Invert the tart: This is the crucial step! Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let it rest for just 5 minutes (no longer, or the caramel will harden and stick). Place a large serving plate or a flat baking sheet over the skillet. With oven mitts, confidently and quickly flip the skillet and plate together. Lift off the skillet. If any apples have stuck to the pan, gently reposition them. Let the tart cool slightly before serving.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use firm apples that hold their shape well. Overly soft apples will turn to mush.
- ✓Pack the apples very tightly; they shrink significantly during cooking.
- ✓The caramel should be a deep, rich amber color. If it's too pale, it will be too sweet; if it's too dark, it will be bitter. Watch it closely!
- ✓When inverting the tart, do so decisively. If you hesitate, the caramel can set and make it difficult to release.
- ✓Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Substitute pears or quince for apples.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the caramel mixture.
- Drizzle with a little Calvados (apple brandy) before serving.