Frenchappletart Recipes

Steps:

• CRUST:.
• Place the butter in your mixer and beat until softened.
• Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Gradually add the beaten egg, beating just until incorporated.
• Don't overmix or butter will separate and lighten in color.
• Add the flour mixture all at once and mix just until it forms a ball.
• Don't overwork or pastry will be hard when baked.
• Roll out the pastry and fit it into a 8 or 9 inch (20 to 23 cm) tart pan (instructions for how to roll out the pastry are given in the recipe for the Sweet Pastry Crust). Prick the bottom of the shell and chill for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.
• Line the unbaked pastry shell with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Fill tart pan with pie weights or beans, making sure the weights are to the top of the pan and evenly distributed over the entire surface.
• Bake crust for 20 to 25 minutes until crust is dry and lightly browned. Remove weights and cool crust on wire rack.
• When cool, spread a thin layer of warm apricot glaze over the bottom and sides of the tart to seal the crust and prevent it from getting soggy.
• Let the glaze dry between 20 - 30 minutes.
• FOR APPLE TART:.
• For bottom layer of apples:
• Peel, core, and slice three of the apples.
• In a large skillet melt 1 tablespoon (13 grams) unsalted butter and stir in between 2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 grams) of the sugar, the lemon zest, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Add the apples and saute over moderate heat, stirring occasionally for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
• Gently mash the apples with the back of a spatula or spoon and stir the mixture until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• For top layer of apples:
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into slices 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick. Melt 1 tablespoon (13 grams) butter in a large skillet over medium heat and stir in the other 2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 grams) sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Add the apples and saute until they begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes.
• Set the cooked apples aside.
• Spoon the applesauce mixture into the cooled and glazed pre-baked tart shell.
• Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles over the applesauce, and brush with 1 - 2 tablespoons (13-26 grams) melted butter.
• Bake the tart on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven for 25-30 minutes or until the apples are nicely browned and soft. Remove from oven and sprinkle the tart with confectioners' sugar, cover the edges of tart with foil, and broil it under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat until the edges of the apples are golden brown and crisp. Once the tart has cooled lightly glaze the apple slices with warm apricot glaze.
• FOR APRICOT GLAZE:
• In a small saucepan heat the apricot preserves until boiling.
• Remove from heat and strain to get rid of lumps.
• Add the Cognac, Calvados, Rum or water.
• Use this glaze to seal the baked tart shell and to brush the top of the finished tart.

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 x 14 inches. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.
• Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. (I tend not to use the apple ends in order to make the arrangement beautiful.) Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Rotate the pan once during cooking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine! When the tart's done, heat the apricot jelly together with the Calvados and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Sift flour into a large mixing bowl.
• Add chilled pieces of butter and rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
• Add the 2 Tablespoons of sugar.
• Mix in the beaten egg yolk and enough of the 1-2 Tablespoons of cold water to make a ball of dough. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Peel, core and slice the cooking apples.
• In large skillet melt the 1 Tablespoon of butter and stir in sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon.
• Add the sliced apples and saute over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 7-10 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
• Gently mash the apples with the back of a spatula or spoon and continue to cook and stir til most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• Roll dough int a big circle, about 1 inch thick, on a floured board.
• Line an 8 inch tart pan with the pastry. Prick it with a fork and trim the edges with a knife. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Spoon the cooked apple into the pastry shell.
• Slice the eating apples and arrange them in circkles on top of the cooked apple.
• Mix the apricot preserves with the hot water and brush over the sliced apples to glaze them.
• Bake tart for 30 minutes.
• Serve slices of tart either hot or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Stir egg yolks and Calvados in small bowl to blend. Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter; cut in, using on/off turns, until butter is size of small peas. With machine running, add yolk mixture. Process until large moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Let soften slightly before rolling out.)
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 14-inch round. Transfer to 11-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Fold overhang in and press, forming double-thick sides. Chill while making filling.
• Make filling:
• Combine almonds, 3/4 cup sugar, eggs, 1 tablespoon Calvados, extracts and salt in processor. Blend until soft paste forms. Add 4 tablespoons butter; blend 10 seconds. Spread in crust. Chill until firm, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir apples, 1 tablespoon Calvados and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Drain apples; overlap in concentric circles atop filling. Melt 2 tablespoons butter; brush over apples. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake tart 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F. Bake until apples are tender, about 45 minutes. Transfer to rack. Stir preserves and 1 tablespoon Calvados in small saucepan over low heat until preserves melt. Strain into small bowl; brush over apples. Cool. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, sugar and salt; cover and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. While processing, gradually add water in a steady stream until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., Roll out pastry to a 14x10-in. rectangle; transfer pastry to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Beginning at one corner of the pastry, arrange overlapping apple slices diagonally to opposite corner. Repeat rows. Sprinkle with sugar; dot with butter., Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and apples are tender. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine preserves and brandy; microwave on high for 30 seconds or until blended. Brush over warm tart. Serve warm or at room temperature.