Tarte Tatin Recipes

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, place the flours, sugar and butter. Pulse 5 or 6 times in 1/2-second bursts to break up the butter. Add the shortening, turn on the machine and immediately add the ice water, pulsing 2 or 3 times. The dough should look like a mass of smallish lumps and should just hold together in a mass when a handful is pressed together. If the mixture is too dry, pulse in more water by droplets.
• Turn the dough out onto the work surface and with the heel of your hand, rapidly and roughly push egg-size blobs into a 6-inch smear. Gather the dough into a relatively smooth cake, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Slice the halved apples into 4 lengthwise wedges each, and toss in a large bowl with the lemon juice and zest and 1/2 cup sugar. Drain the apples after macerating 20 minutes.
• In a 9-inch skillet melt the butter over high heat. Stir in the remaining sugar and cook until the syrup bubbles and caramelizes, and turns a brown color. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange a layer of apple slices in a neat pattern on the caramel in the skillet, then arrange the remaining apples neatly on top.
• Return the pan to moderately high heat and cook for about 25 minutes, covering the pan after 10 minutes. Every few minutes press down on the apples and baste them with the exuded juices. When the juices are thick and syrupy, remove the pan from the heat.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a circle, 3/16-inch thick and 1-inch larger than the top of the pan. Drape the dough over the apples, pressing the edge of the dough between the apples and the inside of the pan. Cut 4 small steam holes on the top of the dough. Bake until the pastry has browned and crisped, about 20 minutes.
• Unmold the tart onto a serving dish (so the pastry is on the bottom), and serve warm or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, as desired.

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Coarsely grate 2 sticks (1 cup) of the butter on the large holes of a box grater onto one of the prepared baking sheets. Toss the butter with a sprinkle of flour and arrange the butter in an even layer on the prepared sheet. Freeze until rock solid, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk together the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Fold in the frozen butter pieces. Slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup ice water, whisking with a fork until small pieces form and the dough just starts to come together, being careful not to overwork it. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out into a 12-by-1/4-inch-thick circle. Transfer to the other prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, peel, core and halve the apples. Cut all but one of the apple halves in half again. Put the lemon juice in a large bowl and toss the apple pieces with the lemon juice; set aside. Cut the remaining 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter into small cubes; set aside.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the bottom of a large ovenproof skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until melted and amber brown, about 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and whisk in the cubed butter until melted and smooth (the sugar will start to bubble as the butter cools it down).
• Place the apple half in the center of the skillet rounded-side down. Arrange the remaining apple quarters rounded-side down in a tight circle around the center apple, making sure there is as little space between the apples as possible (any space left between apples will cause the tart to collapse when flipped out of the skillet).
• Place the pastry round on top and carefully tuck the edges down around the apples. Poke the pastry all over with a fork. Bake until the apples are cooked through and the pastry is golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool for 5 minutes in the skillet; any longer will cause the caramel to harden and make it very hard to get the tart out of the skillet. Place a serving dish or cake stand upside down on top of the skillet. Using oven mitts, carefully flip the skillet over to invert the tart onto the serving dish. Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To make the pastry, let the butter soften to room temperature and put it into a mixer on low speed. Pulse for 2 seconds before adding the egg followed by the water. Mix for a few seconds and then add the salt and the flour, keeping 2 tablespoons aside to add later in case the dough is too sticky. Work fast because the gluten in the flour makes the dough go elastic.
• Stop the mixer before the dough turns into a ball. Flatten the pastry and shape a circle about 6 inches wide. Place the pastry on a plate, wrap it in plastic wrap and leave in the refrigerator for 1 hour minimum to 24 hours. This lets the gluten relax and when you roll out the pastry it stays flat.
• Caramel Apple Filling: Cut the butter into little bits and scatter on a 10-inch baking dish. Shake the sugar over it and add 2 tablespoons of water to keep it from crystallizing. Caramelize the sugar by placing the dish on a medium heat. Meanwhile, peel the apples, cut in 2 and remove the core. Cut them into 4 big pieces. Once the butter and sugar have caramelized take the pan off the heat. Place the pieces of apple vertically on top of the caramel in the baking tin, taking care to fill the gaps with more pieces so they stick together in a solid mass. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the apples. Put the dish back on a heat diffuser for 15 minutes at a medium heat until the caramel starts bubbling up through the apples.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the pastry out and place over the apples folding it in at the edges. Make 3 or 4 holes with a knife and 1 in the middle to let steam out when baking. Bake for 20 minutes and then let it rest for 15 minutes. It is important that you do this otherwise the apples will fall apart when you turn it over. Take a dinner plate and put it over the baking tin. Turn it over. Slowly remove the baking tin.
• Serve lukewarm with vanilla ice cream, heavy cream or whipped cream.

Steps:

• Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet, then cover and freeze while preparing the apples.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that's starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.
• To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.
• Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top - it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
• Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Cut butter into little chunks and keep cold to work into pastry. Whisk flour, sugar, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add butter and work into the flour until coarsely distributed. Whisk in egg, water, and vanilla; work together with 2 forks until it just barely holds together. Use a piece of plastic wrap to ball up the dough and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the dough is refrigerating, make the filling:
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt the butter and sugar together in a 12-inch nonstick oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apple slices and stir to coat with melted butter mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cook until apples have softened slightly and take on some color, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Smooth the apples out into an even layer in the pan.
• Roll out the refrigerated dough on a floured countertop into a 13-inch disk and lay over the top of the apples, trimming any excess. Prick with a fork in several places to let steam release. Brush the egg all over the top of the dough and bake for 40 minutes or until golden browned.
• Allow to cool nearly fully before inverting onto a serving platter. Serve with vanilla ice cream or custard.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Peel and core the apples, then cut them into quarters.
• Spread the butter on the bottom of a 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet. Mix the sugar, salt and vanilla together to evenly distribute the caviar. Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the butter. Squeeze over the lemon juice.
• Place the apple quarters cut-side up on top. Remember, the bottom will become the top so make it look pretty. Put the pan over medium heat and cook until the sugar melts, caramelizes and begins to thicken. The apples will release their juices during this process, so it could take 10 to 15 minutes. If the juices start getting too dark, lower the heat a little.
• While the apples are cooking, take the puff pastry out of the fridge. Use a knife to cut a circle just big enough to fit over the top of the apples in the skillet. Keep chilled.
• When the sugar has caramelized, place the pastry circle over the apples, gently tucking in the sides. Transfer to the oven and bake until the pastry is risen and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes.
• Carefully turn the tarte tatin out onto a serving plate. Serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll puff pastry until it's 1/8 inch thick. Using a bowl as a template, use the tip of a sharp knife cut out a 10 1/2 inch circle of puff pastry.
• Over medium-high heat, melt butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably non-stick or cast-iron. Stirring frequently, add grapes and cook until many have burst and are golden in places, about 15 minutes. Stir in the sugar, lemon, and salt and simmer 1 minute longer or until liquid has thickened slightly.
• Push grapes into a single layer and cover with puff pastry. Bake until puffed and brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a round plate. Serve warm and cut into wedges. Top with whipped cream if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Melt butter in 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet on medium-low heat. Remove from heat. Add dry gelatin mix, cornstarch and cinnamon; stir 2 min. until gelatin is completely dissolved. Arrange single layer of apples, cut sides down, in skillet. Top with any remaining apples.
• Cook on medium-low heat 8 min.; top with pie crust. Cut several slits in crust with sharp knife. Place in oven.
• Bake 20 min. or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Cool 3 min. Using oven mitts, place large serving plate on top of skillet. Carefully turn skillet over onto plate. Remove skillet. Slice tart while still warm. Serve topped with COOL WHIP.

Steps:

• Core the pears, then peel as neatly as possible and halve. If you like, they can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge, uncovered, so that they dry out.
• Tip the sugar, butter, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon into an ovenproof frying pan, about 20cm wide, and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour.
• Lay the pears in the pan, then cook in the sauce for 10-12 mins, tossing occasionally, until completely caramelised. Don't worry about them burning - they won't - but you want to caramelise them as much as possible. Splash in the brandy and let it flambé, then set the pears aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a plate slightly larger than the top of the pan, cut out a circle, then press the edges of the circle of pastry to thin them out.
• When the pears have cooled slightly, arrange them in the pan, cut side up, in a floral shape, with the pears around the edge pointing inwards. Rest the cinnamon stick on the top in the centre, with the cardamom pods scattered around.
• Drape the pastry over the pears, then tuck the edges down the pan sides and under the fruit (see Gordon's guide). Pierce the pastry a few times, then bake for 15 mins. If a lot of juice bubbles up the side of the pan, pour it off at this stage (see guide). Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 15 mins more until the pastry is golden. Leave the tart to stand for 10 mins, then invert it carefully onto a serving dish.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Coat a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly over the top of the butter.
• Place apple quarters, rounded sides down, on top of the butter and sugar in a circular pattern.
• Place skillet over medium-high heat and cook until butter melts and sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize. Continue to cook until apples soften and caramel begins to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle work surface with flour and roll pie dough into an 11-inch circle. Pinch edge to create a ruffle around crust.
• Place crust on top of apples and tuck in edges around apples.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Place a plate over the top of the pan and carefully invert to release tarte from the pan. Scrape any remaining apples stuck to the pan back on top of crust.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut 1 nectarine in half. Quarter one nectarine half and the remaining 6 nectarines.
• Combine sugar, water and juice in a 12-inch stainless steel skillet. Cook for 2 minutes or until sugar is golden (do not stir). Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Let stand 3 minutes.
• Place nectarine half, cut side down, in center of sugar mixture; arrange nectarine quarters, cut side down, around center. Return pan to medium heat.
• Cook for 10 minutes or until bubbly (do not stir). Remove from heat; let stand 3 minutes.
• Roll pie dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Place dough over nectarine mixture, fitting dough over nectarine mixture, fitting dough between nectarines and skillet.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully invert tart onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges.
• 183 calories per serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll pastry sheet into a 101/2-inch square on a floured work surface with a floured rolling pin. Brush off excess flour and cut out a 10-inch round with a sharp knife, using a plate as a guide. Transfer round to a baking sheet and chill.
• Spread butter thickly on bottom and side of skillet and pour sugar evenly over bottom. Arrange as many apples as will fit vertically on sugar, packing them tightly in concentric circles. Apples will stick up above rim of skillet.
• Cook apples over moderately high heat, undisturbed, until juices are deep golden and bubbling, 18 to 25 minutes. (Don't worry if juices color unevenly.)
• Put skillet in middle of oven over a piece of foil to catch any drips. Bake 20 minutes (apples will settle slightly), then remove from oven and lay pastry round over apples.
• Bake tart until pastry is browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer skillet to a rack and cool at least 10 minutes.
• Just before serving, invert a platter with lip over skillet and, using potholders to hold skillet and plate tightly together, invert tart onto platter. Replace any apples that stick to skillet. (Don't worry if there are black spots; they won't affect the flavor of the tart.) Brush any excess caramel from skillet over apples. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Peel the apples, cut them in half and remove the cores. Sprinkle the fruit with lemon juice. Spread the butter evenly over the base of a tatin mould or a heavy ovenproof frying pan (22-24cm diameter, 6cm deep) to form a thick layer. Sprinkle on the sugar and arrange the apples rounded side-down in the pan.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round, about 3mm thick and 2cm wider than the diameter of the mould or frying pan. Prick the pastry in 8-10 places with a fork. Roll it loosely onto the rolling pin, then unroll it over the apples. Cut off any excess pastry with scissors, leaving a 1cm border all round the edge. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Place the frying pan over a medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the butter and sugar have amalgamated and bubbled to a lovely pale amber caramel. Use a small palette knife to lift the edge of the pastry all round to check that the butter and sugar have caramelised evenly. Place in the oven for about 25 minutes until the pastry is cooked.
• Take the tart from the oven and quickly invert it onto a serving plate, taking care not to burn yourself. The pastry will now be underneath and the fruit on top. The apples may have moved slightly - use the tip of a small knife to re-position them if necessary. Serve at once, taking care as the caramel topping will be very hot. Delicious with cinnamon ice cream or creme fraiche.

Steps:

• Cut one half cup of butter into small chunks and chill thoroughly.
• Combine the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in the food processor. Add the chilled butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and pulse for several seconds until the dough comes together. Turn out onto the counter and shape into a disc. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate thirty minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining half cup of butter in 9-inch skillet with the granulated sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the caramel begins to brown and turn amber gold. Increase the heat to medium high and add the apple slices. Saute until slightly transparent, about five minutes. Remove from the heat and arrange the apples in a rosette pattern in the skillet (it may be easiest to transfer most of the slices to a bowl and add them back in as the rosette is formed.) Set aside and preheat the oven to 425°.
• Unwrap the chilled dough and sprinkle generously with granulated sugar. Gently roll into a ten to twelve inch circle, using sugar liberally on the work surface to prevent the pastry from sticking. Carefully roll the dough around the rolling pin and transfer to the top of the caramelized apples. Tuck the crust around the edges of the skillet to seal in the apples, folding the excess over.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown, about twenty to twenty five minutes. Let the skillet cool for an additional twenty minutes before carefully running a knife around the edge to loosen the pastry. Place the serving plate over the top of the skillet, invert and remove the skillet. Gently rearrange any apples stuck to the skillet back into the pastry. Serve the tarte tatin warm with vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Mix sugar and melted butter and press evenly into greased 8" or 9" round cake pan.
• Put apples on their sides in rows decoratively around pan, packing closely together and filling small spaces with broken segments of apples.
• Sprinkle tops of apples lightly with cinnamon if desired.
• Bake uncovered at 425F about 1-1 ½ hours.
• If apples start to burn, they can be covered toward the end of the baking time.
• Meanwhile, unfold pastry sheet and cut to fit pan. Use another pan to trace shape if necessary.
• Poke fork holes into both sides of puff pastry sheet to allow air to escape while baking.
• Press pastry on top of baked apples, pushing edges down. Bake another 20 minutes.
• Cool partially, then invert to a platter. Serve warm.

Steps:

• You will need a small, shallow, circular oven-proof dish for each diner.
• Roll out the pastry (or buy ready-rolled sheets) and cut out circles just larger than the oven-proof dishes.
• Meanwhile heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions until they just start to caramalise and then add the mushrooms and garlic.
• Cook for 2 or 3 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked through.
• Remove the pan from the heat.
• Lightly oil the oven-proof dishes.
• Place some of the onion-mushroom mixture in each dish and scatter with the Feta, tomatoes and olives.
• Place the pastry on top tucking the edges down the sides of the dishes.
• Brush the pastry with milk or beaten egg and bake in a medium oven 200°C for 20 minutes until the pastry is well risen and browned.
• To serve, run a sharp knife around the edge of the pastry to loosen it, put a plate on top of the dish and quickly turn it over.
• Remove the dish (carefully--it's hot) so that the pastry top now becomes a tart bottom.
• Add a few drops of Balsamic vinegar to each Tarte just before serving.

Steps:

• Blend flour, sugar and salt in large bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add butter and beat at medium-low speed until butter is size of small lima beans, about 3 minutes. Ad d sour cream and beat until moist clumps form, about 1 minute. Gather dough into smooth ball; flatten into 6-inch-diameter disk. Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly before rolling out.)
• Spread butter over bottom of 12-inch-diameter ovenproof nonstick skillet with sloping sides (skillet should be at least 1 3/4 inches deep). Reserve 2 tablespoons sugar; sprinkle remaining sugar over butter. Place skillet over medium-low heat and cook until butter melts, sugar begins to dissolve and mixture starts to bubble, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Arrange apples on their sides around edge of skillet, placing tightly together. Arrange as many of remaining apples as will fit, pointed ends up, in 2 circles in center of skillet. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Set skillet over medium-high heat; boil until thick peanut butter-color syrup forms, repositioning skillet often for even cooking and adding remaining apples as space permits, about 45 minutes (syrup will continue to darken during baking). Remove from heat; wrap handle several times with heavy-duty foil.
• Meanwhile, position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425 °F.
• Roll out pastry on floured surface to 12-inch round; place over apples. Cut four 2-inch slits in top of pastry. Press pastry down around apples at edge of skillet; brush pastry with some of egg glaze.
• Bake tart until pastry is deep golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer to work surface; cool 1 minute. Cut around edge of skillet to loosen pastry. Place large platter over skillet. Using oven mitts as aid, hold skillet and platter together tightly and invert, allowing tart to fall onto platter. Carefully lift off skillet. Rearrange any apples that may have become dislodged. Cool tart 30 minutes.
• Cut warm tart into wedges. Serve with crème fraîche.