The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (2024)

Posted by Maria | Nov 2, 2017 | Desserts Recipes, | 4 |

This Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin recipe is a pure pleasure to enjoy during apple season. Despite the scary name it is very easy to make, requires only one pan, simple ingredients and a tiny portion of your day. Enjoy this golden caramelized treat with the fragrant vanilla bean ice cream.

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (1)

I made many apple tarte tatins before and was happy with the results. Until I discovered a new completely different Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe. Without the doubt, it became my favorite apple dessert.

I discovered this recipe in a new book of Mimi Thorisson “French Country Cooking.” This is her second book about French cooking. The most calming, charming and elegant cookbook I’ve ever owned. Fast enough it became one of my favorite cookbook in my collection.

I made many recipes from it from easy to more time consuming, and so far loved almost all. There is one recipe that I’m very grateful for and so glad Mimi included it is Apple Tarte Tatin. Thank you, Mimi, so much for sharing this special recipe.

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (2)

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (3)

Despite the fancy French name, this is a very easy dessert to make. By bad luck, this is one of the desserts full of myths on how hard and scary it is to make. It is nothing more than caramelized apples and tart crust. The “hardest” part of this recipe is the tart dough. And even this part you can skip by buying store-bought puff pastry or pie dough. Yet, I encourage you to make a homemade tart dough because it makes a significant difference in taste. Also much cheaper to make your own rather than buy.

For some reason, the tart dough recipe from this book didn’t work out for me, and I changed it to my favorite one. Maybe the quality of ingredients is different. Or maybe I’ve done countless tarts and figured out my best tart dough recipe and use it ever since.

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (4)

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (5)

Use only the best seasonal apples for this classic french apple tarte tatin recipe. I always favored the Golden Delicious apples for Tarte Tatin. They give an extra depth of taste and magnificent smell to it.

Mimi’s method is to caramelize apples along with butter and vanilla bean in one pan. This method eliminates making the dry caramel, which is harder and time-consuming process. You simply arrange all ingredients in a skillet and let bubbling and sizzling do the magic. Meanwhile, let the aroma of apples caramelized in browned butter fill your home.

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (6)

Only a month ago I discovered this recipe and already made it three times. With all the confidence I can tell you this is a foolproof Apple Tarte Tatin recipe. It is easy to make and requires only ONE skillet. Your tiny effort will be rewarded with a delightful classic French dessert.

I encourage you to conquer this classic french apple tarte tatin recipe. Make it once, and you will crave for more every time you finish it.

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (7)

Tips and Tricks for Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin recipe:

  • A straight-sided stainless steel skillet is the best option.
  • For my 8.5-inch stainless steel skillet, I used 9 medium Golden Delicious apples.
  • Use only the highest quality unsalted butter. It makes a huge difference in taste, smell and color of your apple tarte tatin.
  • I find Golden Delicious to be the best option for the Apple Tarte Tatin recipes. However, Jonagold, Honey Crisp, Cameo, and Cortland are good options as well.
  • I included both instructions on how to make the tart dough (shortcrust pastry) by hand and in a food processor. For a deeper look watch this 2 useful videos on How To Make Sweet Shortcrust Pastry by Jamie Oliver and Pie Crust Tutorial: Food Processor Method.
  • Serve this deep golden brown Tarte Tatin as it is. Or my favorite way with the whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream.

Maria

Yields: 8-9 inch tart

Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe

30 minPrep Time

1 hrCook Time

1 hr, 30 Total Time

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Ingredients:

    For the tart dough:

  • 1 ½ cups (200 gr.) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup (50 gr.) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 113 gr.) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1 large egg, lightly whisked
  • For the apples:

  • ½ cup (100 gr.) granulated sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seed scraped and reserved
  • 6 ½ tbsp. (90 gr.) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces + more for greasing
  • About 2 pounds (8-10 medium sized) apples (preferable golden delicious), peeled, cored, and quartered
  • For serving:

  • Whipped cream
  • Vanilla ice cream

Instructions:

To make the tart dough (shortcrust pastry) by hand:

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, and salt. Using your hands mix the cold butter into flour mixture until you see small pea-sized chunks. Add an egg and mix by hand until the dough comes together and looks smooth. Shape the dough into a disc. Wrap tightly in a plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

To make tart dough (shortcrust pastry) in a food processor:

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse couple of time to aerate the mixture. Add cold cubed butter. Pulse a couple of times until you see coarse pea-sized crumbs. Add an egg and pulse until everything just comes together. Invert the dough onto the surface. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Shape into a flat disc. Wrap tightly in a plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

To make caramelized apples:

Butter the 8.5 inches straight sided ovenproof pan generously. In a medium bowl mix sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Distribute sugar mixture evenly in the pan. Divide the butter on top of the sugar. Arrange apple slices with one cut side down in a circle motion pressing down the slices slightly.

On the stovetop heat the pan over the medium-high heat. Cook apples until you see bubbles. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the liquid turns beautiful golden brown (caramel) color, about 10 minutes. Immediately remove from heat.

To make apple tarte tatin:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Generously flour the surface. Hit the dough couple of times with the rolling pin in different directions. This keeps the dough from cracking. Roll out the dough. With the sharp knife cut the circle slightly bigger in diameter than the pan. Arrange the dough over the caramelized apples. !Carefully tuck the edges of the dough between the apples and the pan on all sides.

Bake tatin in the oven until the dough turns golden brown color, about 45-50 minutes.

Remove from oven and let it cool slightly about 5 minutes.

Prepare the large plate or cake stand you wish to serve apple tarte Tatin. Place the plate on top of the pan. Using oven mitts flip the pan.

Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or ice cream.

Enjoy 😉


Adapted from French Country Cooking

Notes:

Please note, the total time does not include dough resting time, which is at least 2 hours.

Nutrition

Calories

3869 cal

Fat

215 g

Carbs

475 g

Protein

31 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

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Maria | The Pure Taste

Disclosure:This post contains some affiliate links.If you purchase a product through one of my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love myself. Thank you in advance for your support! It means a lot!

Products used in this post:

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (10)

French Country Cooking

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Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

The Best Classic French Apple Tarte Tatin Recipe | The Pure Taste (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a galette and a tart tatin? ›

Whereas pies and tarts are baked in a mould or dish, galettes are freeform; laid on a flat sheet, its edges are turned up and folded inward by hand, producing a rustic appeal and a distinct shape—while tarts and pies have crusts that are wither straight or widen at the mouth, the mouths of galettes are smaller than its ...

What is the best pan for tatin? ›

This French upside-down apple pie, tarte tatin, is baked in a skillet—not a pie pan—with the bottom crust on top. The key to a successful tarte lies in the type of skillet you use. Cast iron, enameled cast iron, or a special tarte tatin mold, available at many kitchenware shops, are best.

Why is my Tarte Tatin soggy? ›

This may be more of an issue with apples than with pears. Some bakers suggest cutting the fruit and placing it in the refrigerator overnight to dry out and prevent this. Another reason the dessert may become soggy is if it sits out too long. Tarte tatin is best enjoyed warm as the crust will get soggy as it cools.

What is unusual about Tarte Tatin? ›

Named after the woman who invented it, the Tarte Tatin (tart tah-TAN) is a famous French "upside-down" caramelized apple tart or Tarte aux pommes (caramélisé). Basically, the apples are underneath the dough – topsy-turvy indeed.

Which is the most famous galette in France? ›

The galette des rois is a cake traditionally shared at Epiphany, on 6 January. It celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Composed of a puff pastry cake, with a small charm, the fève, hidden inside, it is usually filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs and sugar.

What fruit is traditionally used in tarte tatin? ›

The tarte Tatin (French pronunciation: [taʁt tatɛ̃]), named after the Tatin sisters who invented it and served it in their hotel as its signature dish, is a pastry in which the fruit (usually apples) is caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked.

Does a Tarte Tatin need to be served immediately? ›

For best results, cook a day or two ahead and keep in its pan or dish in the fridge, then reheat in the oven for 20 mins at 150C/130C fan/gas 2 an hour before serving. Turn out to serve as above.

When to flip a Tarte Tatin? ›

Bake for about 30 minutes until the pastry is golden, then remove from the oven. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then place a plate, slightly larger than the pan, on top and then, very carefully, using oven gloves, invert the tart on to the plate. Best served warm, with crème fraîche.

Why is Tarte Tatin upside down? ›

Because she was running out of time, she put the dough on top of the pie instead. After she flipped the pie over, she discovered that the apples had caramelized perfectly and the pie was an instant hit with the guests. Thus was born one of the most classic desserts in French cuisine.

What does tatin mean in English? ›

adjective. caramelized and baked in the manner of an upside-down cake: an apple tart Tatin.

How do you keep tarte tatin from sticking? ›

Quickly arrange the apples, flat-side upwards, in the pan and keep over a medium heat, shaking it from time to time to ensure that the apples don't stick to the bottom. Don't worry if you can't fit in all the apples initially; they will shrink a little as they cook and you will be able to squeeze in more as necessary.

What can you use instead of a tarte tatin pan? ›

Choose a pan: a copper tarte tatin mold will be perfect (here's a link to a good one), but you can also use an iron skillet (as long as it doesn't smell like salmon or something) or even a heavy stainless steel (like All-Clad) or non-stick sauté pan.

What are the three different types of galette? ›

The three most common types of galette are galette Breton, galette de rois, and fruit galette. A galette Breton is a buckwheat crepe. A galette de rois is a type of flat cake made with pastry dough. Finally, a fruit galette is a freeform pie shaped around the filling.

What is the Italian version of galette? ›

Crostata is an Italian term, and galette is French; however, by definition, you can use these terms interchangeably. They're referring to the same, easy and distinctly elegant dessert.

Why is it called a galette? ›

The word 'galette' comes from the Norman word 'gale', meaning flat cake, and is often used in French cuisine to talk about cakes that don't require a tin, although it can also refer to round, flat cakes and the cheesy Breton galettes described below.

What is the difference between a French galette and a crepe? ›

The simple answer is that a galette is a savoury crêpe. Galettes are made with buckwheat flour instead of usual flour varieties. This gives them a slightly stronger flavour than a normal crêpe or pancake and also means they're gluten free.

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