Caramelized Apple Flan Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray; unroll sheet onto cookie sheet. Press into 12x9-inch rectangle. If using crescent rolls, press seams together. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook butter, apples and sugar over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples are just tender.
• Spread 1/2 cup of the dulce de leche onto warm crescent crust, leaving 1/2-inch border; carefully arrange cooked apples in single layer over top. In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 1/4 cup dulce de leche uncovered on High 10 to 20 seconds or until thin enough to drizzle. Using fork, drizzle over apples. Serve warm.

Steps:

• For the caramelized sugar syrup: Place the sugar in a medium-size heavy skillet (not iron), set over moderately low heat, and allow to melt and caramelize to a rich golden brown. Do not stir the sugar as it melts but do shake the skillet from time to time. Add the boiling water, stirring briskly to dissolve the caramelized sugar. Simmer uncovered 8 to 10 minutes until the consistency of maple syrup. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the caramelized syrup for the flan; pour the balance into a chilled, well-buttered, shallow fluted 2-quart mold. Set the mold in the freezer while preparing the flan.
• For the flan: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the half-and-half, heavy cream, and sugar in a large heavy saucepan; add in the orange zest and bring to a simmer over moderately low heat, stirring now and then; blend in the 2 tablespoons of reserved caramelized syrup. Beat the egg yolks until frothy; blend 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into the yolks, stir back into pan, and heat, stirring constantly for 1 minute, until it lightly coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and mix in the Port. Strain all through a fine sieve, then pour into the prepared mold. Set the mold in a shallow baking pan and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the mold. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the flan comes out clean. Remove from the oven and the water bath; cool for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours until firm.
• To invert the flan, dip the mold quickly in hot water, then turn out on a dessert plate with a turned up rim; the caramel syrup will come cascading down over the flan. Don't worry if the flan cracks, it will still be creamy and luscious. Cut into slim wedges, if possible, or scoop out, and serve.
• Special Equipment: Portuguese flan mold or souffle dish.

Steps:

• To make the caramel: Have ready a 10-inch round cake pan with 3-inch sides. (Do not use a springform pan for this; it will leak!) In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is dark amber in color ¿ it's okay if there are a few sugar lumps remaining. When the caramel is done, carefully pour it into the cake pan. Don't touch the cake pan with unprotected hands ¿ it will be hot! Set the cake pan aside until caramel is cool. (The caramel-coated pan can be made up to 2 days in advance and left, covered, at room temperature.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Core the apples by cutting down, top to bottom, on all 4 sides around the core. You will have 2 apple halves and 2 smaller pieces. Arrange the first layer of apple halves, flat-side down, on top of the set caramel in the pan. (This will later become the top of the tart.) Arrange the remaining apple halves and pieces to form the second layer. Things will be a bit crowded at first, but the apples will shrink down when cooked. Place on a parchment paper-lined, sturdy baking sheet. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the apples are very tender.
• Meanwhile, on a lightly floured work surface, roll out the puff pastry dough into a round 1/4-inch thick. Cut out a 10-inch pastry circle and transfer it to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• When the apples are done, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer to a flat surface, taking care, as the caramel will be bubbling hot. Remove the pastry circle from the refrigerator and prick with a fork 15 times. Gently place on top of the cooked apples. Return tart to the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffy and golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 to 25 minutes.
• To serve, you will need a 12- to 14-inch diameter round serving platter and another sturdy baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet over the warm tatin pan. Using both hands, firmly grab both baking sheets and quickly flip over the pans ¿ doing this over the kitchen sink will cut down on any sticky mess. Remove the top baking sheet and carefully lift up the cake pan, using dry towels to avoid getting burned by the caramel. If any apples remain stuck to the pan, remove them with a metal spatula and place them back on the tart. This tart is best served warm.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, water, and melted butter on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Work quickly and do not overwork the dough. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, form it into a rough rectangle, enclose the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Meanwhile, put the remaining 14 ounces of butter between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and beat it with a rolling pin, turning as necessary, until softened. The butter should be malleable but not too soft. Set aside in a cool place ¿ the butter will later be spread on the dough as you start the folding process.
• Place the refrigerated dough on a well-floured work surface and dust the top of the dough lightly with flour. Using a rolling pin, push down on the dough to start flattening it, and then roll it into a 20 by 30 by 10-inch rectangle, 1/4 inch thick, with the long sides running from left to right. (It might feel that you're rolling sideways, and well, you are.) Carefully brush off any excess flour from the dough. Starting on the right side, and leaving a 1-inch border, slap and spread on the butter, using your fingers, over two-thirds of the rectangle. Fold the dough into thirds; starting with the left side, fold at the butter line as if closing a book, and then fold the right side up and over the top layer. You should end up with a stack of 3 thick layers of dough, each separated from the next by a layer of butter.
• As you prepare to make the first turn of the dough, keep in mind the importance of rolling the butter evenly along the length and width of the rectangle as you roll the dough. Adjust the pressure on the rolling pin as necessary, rolling harder or more evenly, to achieve a smoother, even, dough-enclosed butter sandwich. To begin your first turn, turn the dough 90 degrees on your work surface so the closed fold is at the top and, rolling lengthwise, roll It into a 20 by 10-inch rectangle. Brush off any excess flour and fold into thirds as above, starting with the left side and ending with the right. At this point, you have finished one turn. Rotate the dough 90 degrees so the closed fold is at the top, and repeat the rolling and folding process. The second turn is complete. After the second turn, or any time the dough is too soft to work with, transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate, covered in plastic wrap, for about 30 minutes, or until the dough is chilled and relaxed. Each time the dough is refrigerated, make an indentation in the dough with your fingertip for each turn completed. Repeat this rolling and folding process, rolling out the dough lengthwise every time, for more times for a total of 6 turns. After the sixth turn, let the dough rest a good hour in the refrigerator.
• Store the dough, as is, well wrapped in plastic wrap. The dough can be kept refrigerated up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 10 days. If frozen, thaw the dough, still wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator before using.

Steps:

• Prepare the pie crust according to package instructions. Roll the dough out between 2 pieces of waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Invert a heavy bottom 10-inch nonstick skillet over the dough, trace the outside edge of the pan and trim the excess. Put the pie dough on a sheet tray, cover it in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Slice each apple in 2 and place the halves in a bowl of water with a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice and the salt.
• Put the same skillet used to measure out the pie crust, over medium-high heat, and add the butter. Sprinkle 3/4 of the sugar mixture over the melted butter. Arrange the apple halves flat side down in the pan. Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the apples. Cook until the caramel syrup turns a deep golden brown color, about 15 minutes. Carefully arrange the chilled pie crust over the top of the cooked apples and use a spatula to tuck in the edges.
• Put the skillet in the oven and bake until the crust is cooked and is slightly brown in color, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven and let it stand for around 5 minutes, then invert the pie onto a serving platter.
• In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer on medium speed, whip the heavy cream with the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice until soft peaks form. Serve the warm tart on individual plates with a dollop of whipped cream.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 6. Roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface until just thicker than a £1 coin. Use to line a 23cm deep tart tin, allowing the spare pastry to hang over the edges. Line the tart with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then bake for 15 min until golden around the edges. Remove the beans and continue to cook for 5 mins until the base in golden brown. Remove the tart from the oven and leave to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 160C/ fan 14C/gas 3.
• Meanwhile, tip the sugar into a large frying pan over a high heat. Cook the sugar until it dissolves, bubbles and caramelises. Carefully tip the apple wedges into the caramel and toss until coated. Splash in the brandy, if using, then cook the apples for 2-3 mins until just starting soften and the caramel has dissolved in the apple juices.
• Turn off the heat and remove the apples to a bowl. Pour the cream into the pan then, holding a sieve over the pan, strain in any juices from the apples. Gradually whisk the caramel sauce into the beaten yolks. Arrange the apples over the base of the tart, pour over the custard, then bake for 40 mins until the custard is just set. Leave the tart to cool, then use a knife to cut away the spare pastry and neaten the edges.

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Arrange puff pastry sheets next to each other on parchment so that longer sides are touching. Pinch seam together and gently roll to an 18x13" rectangle. Transfer with parchment to a rimmed baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, lightly score a 1/2" border around pastry (for a decorative border, make small shallow diagonal cuts with a paring knife).
• Heat caramel in a small bowl in a microwave on high until smooth and pourable, about 30 seconds, or heat in a small pot over medium, stirring occasionally, until smooth and runny, about 5 minutes. Transfer 1 Tbsp. caramel to another small bowl; set aside.
• Toss apples and salt in a large bowl. Pour remaining caramel over and toss to combine.
• Arrange apple slices in 4 tight, overlapping rows on pastry, leaving a 1/2" border on all sides. Drizzle with any remaining caramel left in bowl.
• Bake tart until crust and edges of apples are golden brown, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
• Add 1 Tbsp. hot water to reserved caramel in small bowl, whisk to combine, and brush over apples with a pastry brush. Cut into pieces to serve.
• Do Ahead
• Tart can be made 6 hours ahead; store uncovered at room temperature and brush with glaze just before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the sugar in a saucepan, and moisten it with the water without stirring. Bring to a boil and cook until light golden brown. Immediately pour the caramel into an 8 to 9 cup mold (a cake pan will do) and swirl and tilt the mold to coat it with the caramel, including the walls. In a large skillet, melt the butter and let it foam. Add the apples and cook on medium low heat, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the brandy and flame it, then continue to cook, shaking the pan, for 2 minutes or so. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and cinnamon. Stir in the half-and-half and the apples. Pour this custard into the caramel-lined mold and bake in a water bath for 50 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Remove the flan from the oven and let cool to room temperature. Run a knife around the edge of the mold then turn the flan out onto a serving platter. Pour any caramel sauce from the mold over the flan.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water and vanilla, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 10-in. circle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Combine the filling ingredients; spoon over crust to within 2 in. of edges. Fold up edges of crust over filling, leaving center uncovered. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over filling. Whisk egg and water; brush over crust., Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbly, 25-30 minutes. Using parchment, slide tart onto a wire rack. Drizzle with caramel topping. Serve warm.