French Apple Tart (Tarte de Pommes a la Normande)

Description

My mother used to cook this for us all, usually to go with Sunday dinner. I was hooked. Haven’t had it in ages and I was wanting to bake something special for a special someone so I asked mum for the recipe. Tried it out today, and it’s just as I remember. The thing that makes it for me is the frangipane. Hope you like it as much as me.

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons cold water, or as needed
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon apple brandy
  • ⅔ cup ground almonds
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 medium sweet apples – peeled, cored, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar for decoration
  • ¼ cup apricot jelly

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl
  2. stir together 1 1/3 cups of flour and salt. Add the butter
  3. 1 egg yolk and water
  4. and stir until the mixture forms large crumbs. If it is too dry to press a handful together
  5. stir in more water. Press the dough into a ball
  6. and wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten slightly
  7. and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
  8. or until firm. This part can be done up to three days in advance.
  9. To make the frangipane
  10. cream together the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium bowl until light and soft. Gradually mix in the egg and the remaining egg yolk one at a time. Stir in the apple brandy. Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into the ground almonds
  11. then mix into the batter. Set aside.
  12. Roll the pastry dough out to about a 12 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Fold loosely into quarters
  13. and center the point in a 10 inch tart or pie pan. Unfold dough
  14. and press into the bottom and up the sides. Prick with a fork all over
  15. and flute the edges. Return pastry to the refrigerator to chill until firm.
  16. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a baking sheet inside the oven while it preheats.
  17. Spoon the frangipane into the chilled pastry
  18. and spread into an even layer. Arrange the apple slices in an overlapping spiral pattern. Each slice should have one edge pressed into the frangipane until it touches the pastry base
  19. and then overlap the previous slice. Start at the outside edge
  20. and work towards the center.
  21. Place the pie plate on top of the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes
  22. or until the filling begins to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for another 10 minutes
  23. then sprinkle sugar over the top of the tart. Return to the oven for 10 more minutes
  24. or until the sugar caramelizes slightly.
  25. Cool the tart on a wire rack. A short time before serving
  26. warm the apricot jelly. Add some water if necessary to make it a liquid consistency. Brush onto the tart for a nice shine.

Prep Time: 1 hr

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Servings: 8

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