Apple Crème Brûlée Tart

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Decadent Fusion: Marries the best elements of apple tart and crème brûlée into a single, luxurious dessert.
• Textural Delight: Features a crisp tart shell, tender caramelized apples, and a silky custard topping.
• Elegant Presentation: The caramelized sugar crust adds a touch of sophistication, making it perfect for special occasions.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• All-purpose flour
• Sea salt
• Baking powder
• Unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• Cold water
• Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
• Granulated sugar
• Orange zest
• Whole cloves
• Ground cinnamon
• Heavy cream
• Large egg yolk
• Honey
• Vanilla extract

Directions

1. Prepare the Dough:

   • In a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
   • Add the butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
   • With the processor running, gradually add cold water until the dough forms a loose ball.
   • Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

2. Roll Out the Dough:

   • On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a 12-inch circle.
   • Transfer the dough to a tart pan, pressing it into the corners and edges.
   • Refrigerate the tart shell for 1 hour.

3. Caramelize the Apples:

   • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
   • In an ovenproof skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until foamy.
   • Add the granulated sugar and cook until it begins to caramelize and turn light brown, about 5 minutes.
   • Stir in the apple slices, orange zest, cloves, and cinnamon, ensuring the apples are well coated.
   • Cook until the apples start to brown, approximately 10 minutes.

4. Blind Bake the Tart Shell:

   • Remove the tart shell from the refrigerator.
   • Line it with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
   • Bake for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned.
   • Remove from the oven and discard the parchment and weights.

5. Assemble the Tart:

   • Arrange the caramelized apple slices in a circular pattern within the pre-baked tart shell.
   • Remove and discard the whole cloves.

6. Prepare the Custard:

   • In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg yolk, honey, and vanilla extract until well combined.

7. Bake the Tart:

   • Pour the custard mixture over the arranged apples in the tart shell.
   • Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the custard is set.

8. Caramelize the Top (Optional):

   • Once the tart has cooled slightly, sprinkle a thin layer of superfine sugar over the top.
   • Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it forms a crisp, golden crust.

9. Serve:

   • Allow the tart to cool to room temperature before serving.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: This tart serves approximately 6 people.
• Preparation Time: About 1 hour.
• Cooking Time: Approximately 40 minutes.
• Resting Time: The dough should rest for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Variations

• Fruit Substitutions: Swap out apples for pears or stone fruits like peaches or plums for a seasonal twist.
• Spice Adjustments: Experiment with adding nutmeg or cardamom to the apple mixture for additional warmth.
• Nutty Addition: Incorporate a layer of finely chopped nuts, such as almonds or hazelnuts, beneath the apples for added texture.

Storage/Reheating

• Storage: Store any leftover tart in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: To enjoy warm, gently reheat individual slices in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.

FAQs

How can I prevent the tart crust from becoming soggy?

Blind baking the tart shell before adding the filling helps maintain a crisp crust.

Can I make the dough in advance?

Yes, the dough can be prepared and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance

Apple Crème Brûlée Tart

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Indulge in the exquisite fusion of apple tart and crème brûlée with this elegant Apple Crème Brûlée Tart. A buttery, flaky tart crust is filled with caramelized apples and silky custard, then topped with a signature caramelized sugar crust. This show-stopping dessert is perfect for special occasions, offering a rich blend of textures and flavors.

• Author: Ava
• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

For the Tart Dough:

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 2–3 tbsp cold water

For the Caramelized Apples:

• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 3 whole cloves
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

For the Custard Filling:

• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Crème Brûlée Topping:

• 2 tbsp superfine sugar

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Instructions

Prepare the Dough:

1. In a food processor, pulse together flour, salt, and baking powder.
2. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Slowly add cold water until the dough forms a loose ball.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

2. Roll Out the Dough:

1. On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12-inch circle.
2. Transfer to a tart pan, pressing into edges.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

3. Caramelize the Apples:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In an ovenproof skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
3. Add sugar and cook until lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in apple slices, orange zest, cloves, and cinnamon.
5. Cook for 10 minutes until apples are tender and golden.

4. Blind Bake the Tart Shell:

1. Remove tart shell from refrigerator.
2. Line with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
3. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.
4. Remove from oven and discard parchment and weights.

5. Assemble the Tart:

1. Arrange caramelized apple slices in a circular pattern inside the tart shell.
2. Remove and discard whole cloves.

6. Prepare the Custard:

1. In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, egg yolk, honey, and vanilla extract.

7. Bake the Tart:

1. Pour custard over arranged apples.
2. Bake for 15 minutes or until custard is set.

8. Caramelize the Top (Optional):

1. Once slightly cooled, sprinkle superfine sugar over the top.
2. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize until a crisp, golden crust forms.

9. Serve:

• Allow tart to cool to room temperature before serving.

Notes

• Fruit Swap: Substitute apples with pears or peaches for a seasonal twist.
• Spice It Up: Add nutmeg or cardamom for extra warmth.
• Nutty Addition: Sprinkle finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts beneath the apples for added crunch.