The Best Apple Tart Recipe for Fall
Fall is the perfect time to indulge in the comforting flavors of apple tart. This classic dessert features a buttery, flaky crust filled with sweet and tangy apples. It’s a simple yet elegant treat that’s sure to impress your loved ones.
The key to a delicious apple tart is using fresh, in-season apples. The tartness of the apples complements the sweetness of the pastry and the glaze. This recipe keeps the apples simple, allowing their natural flavors to shine.
Apple Pie vs. Apple Tart: A Sweet Comparison
Apple pie and apple tart are both delicious desserts featuring apples, but they have some key differences:
- Crust:
- Apple pie: Typically has a double crust, with a top and bottom crust.
- Apple tart: Often has a single crust, with the filling exposed.
- Filling:
- Apple pie: The filling is usually made with a combination of apples, sugar, spices, and sometimes cornstarch or tapioca to thicken it.
- Apple tart: The filling is often made with a similar mixture, but it may also include other ingredients like almond cream or frangipane.
- Shape:
- Apple pie: Usually round or rectangular.
- Apple tart: Often round or oval, with a fluted edge.
- Serving:
- Apple pie: Typically served in slices.
- Apple tart: Can be served in slices or whole.
Both apple pie and apple tart are classic desserts that are perfect for fall. The choice between the two often comes down to personal preference.
Ingredient Breakdown for Apple Tart
This delightful apple tart is not only delicious but also easy on your wallet. With readily available ingredients and simple preparation, it’s a perfect dessert for any occasion. Enjoy it warm or cold to savor the sweet and tart flavors.
For the Pastry Crust:
- All-purpose flour: The base for the flaky crust.
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness, flakiness, and tenderness.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to brown the crust.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Cold water: Binds the ingredients together.
For the Apple Filling:
- Medium-sized apples: The main component of the tart. Golden Delicious apples are a popular choice for their sweet and slightly tart flavor.
- Water: Helps to create a moist filling.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the tartness of the apples.
- Lemon juice: Prevents browning and adds a bright flavor.
- Ground nutmeg and cinnamon: Classic spices that complement the flavor of apples.
- Apricot preserves: Provides a sweet and tangy glaze.
- Orange liqueur: Adds a touch of citrus flavor and aroma.
Tips for the Perfect Apple Tart
- Apple Variety: For a richer flavor, experiment with a combination of different apple varieties. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious are all excellent choices.
- Homemade Crust: If you prefer a homemade crust, you can follow your favorite pie crust recipe.
- Lattice Crust: For a decorative touch, try making a lattice crust by cutting the dough into strips and weaving them over the top of the tart.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve the warm apple tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare the tart crust in advance and refrigerate it until ready to fill and bake. This will save you time on the day you want to serve it.
- Storage: Leftover apple tart can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it gently in the oven or microwave before serving.
A Show-Stopping Apple Tart
Impress Your Guests This Fall
This apple tart is a delightful centerpiece for any fall gathering. Its beautiful presentation, combined with its delicious taste, is sure to be a hit. With a few simple tips, you can create a perfect apple tart that will have your guests asking for seconds.
Key Tips:
- Tart Apples: Use tart apples like Granny Smith to balance the sweetness of the crust and filling.
- Gentle Handling: Avoid overmixing the apples to prevent them from becoming mushy and breaking.
- Golden Brown Perfection: Bake the tart until it’s golden brown but not too dark.
- Let It Cool: Allow the tart to cool slightly before serving to help the filling set and make slicing easier.
Extra Flaky: This recipe features a double crust for an extra flaky and delicious texture.
Flavorful Combination: The tart showcases a combination of tart and sweet apples, such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
Optional Glaze: For an added touch of sweetness and acidity, consider using apricot jelly as a glaze.
Serving Options: Enjoy the tart warm or cold, and pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or crème fraîche for a decadent dessert.
A Simple Delight: This apple tart recipe is easy to follow, making it a great addition to your fall baking repertoire.
My Favorite Apple Tart
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cold water and more if needed
- 6 medium-sized apples baking apples: golden delicious preferred
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/3 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/3 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 – 12 ounce jar apricot preserves
- 1/8 tsp orange liqueur
Instructions
- To prepare the pastry dough: In a medium bowl, add flour, butter, salt, sugar and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Mix all ingredients with fingertips until just blended, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if needed. Press dough onto the bottom and up side of a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Make sure dough is evenly distributed. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
- To make the filling: Peel and core 3 apples, and cut in chunks. In a blender, gradually combine chunks with 1/4 cup water until pureed. Mixture should be smooth. Pour pureed apples into a saucepan with 1/2 cup apricot preserves and 1 tbsp sugar. Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat and cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes and until mixture is very thick, stirring frequently.
- Peel remaining apples and cut each lengthwise into quarters and remove cores. Cut each apple quarter lengthwise into 1/8 inch-thick slices. Add slices into a large bowl and gently toss with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Preheat oven to 400 degree F. Remove tart shell from refrigerator. Evenly spread applesauce into tart shell. Arrange apple slices closely overlapping, in small circles. Start from the center of the applesauce filling and form circle. Arrange remaining apple slices, closely overlapping in large circle over the applesauce filling. Place tart in a large baking sheet and bake 45 minutes or until apples slices are tender and browned. Remove pan and let cook on a wire rack.
- Add remaining apricot preserves into a small saucepan. Add 1/8 tsp orange liquor and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let cook for 2 – 3 minutes or until mixture is thicker. Remove from heat. Using a pastry brush, brush apricot mixture evenly over apple slices. Before serving, carefully remove pan.
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
Corn Allergy:
Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.
Originally published May 14, 2014. Revised September 2023 and updated.
Omg this looks to good to eat
Thanks Lana. Thank you for the visit as well.