Apple Tart
Recently I made an apple tart that I really liked. It wasn’t too sweet and the thin layer of apples made for a great balance of crust and filling. Another reason why I like the tart format is because it is less indulgent than a piece of pie, because there is a little less crust and filling. Aside from the time it takes to peel the apples, the tart came together very quickly. This is a pretty adaptable recipe so if you want it more or less sweet, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar.
Ingredients
Crust
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 c butter (1 stick), cubed
1/4 c cold water
Filling
4-5 Granny Smith or other Tart Apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tbl of brown sugar
1 tbl of butter, cut in pieces
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Topping
4 tbl butter, cubbed
3/4 c flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Flakey sea salt
Method
Start with the crust. I cube the butter first, then, put it in a bowl and stick it in the freezer while I measure out the other ingredients. It won’t freeze while it hangs out there for a few minutes, but it will stay nicely chilled. Next, mix the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the butter and either with your hands, a mixer, a pastry blender, a food processor, etc. incorporate the butter until the mixture is course, but some pea-sized pieces of butter remain. Add the water and mix until it holds together. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and pop it into the fridge for about an hour to chill.
In the same bowl that I use to make the crust, I will start to make the topping. The topping recipe is pretty… open to interpretation. The key elements are flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt, but I add to the crumble until it looks, feels, and tastes right. Sometimes I add oatmeal, different spices (maybe some cardamom, or cloves?), nuts, etc. In this case, I think walnuts work really well. The end result is sort of like wet sand. If it’s too wet, add flour, and if it’s too floury, add butter. I use a similar method to the pie crust – first add all the dry ingredients and mix well, then incorporate the butter. Once a good consistency and taste is achieved, cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge.
Peeling and prepping the apples is probably the most time consuming task. I really think it is worth it to put effort into slicing the apples into reasonably equal pieces and arranging them in the tart, even though it will be covered with topping. After peeling the apples, I cut 1/4” slices. I piled all the slices into a bowl and doused them with brown sugar, pieces of butter, cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of salt. After stirring to incorporate, I let the apples macerate for at least 30 minute, stirring occasionally.
Finally, it’s time to assemble the pie. Start by pre-heating the oven to 350F. Roll out the dough into a disc about two inches larger than the pan. Then, roll it back onto the rolling pin and slowly unfurl it over the pan. I gently lift the overhang and use my fingers to make sure the dough is nestled in the fluted edges of the pan, and finish by trimming the excess. Arrange the apples. I think of the tart like the face of a clock and start by putting a few at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and then filling in the gaps. Repeat with the inner circle. This also makes it really easy to cut and serve. Drizzle the apples with the juices left from maceration and add crumble topping. Bakes at 350F for 45-55 minutes.
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