This Classic Apple Tarte Tatin starts with slow-cooked, caramelized apples that are baked into a flaky, buttery puff then topped with a wonderfully spiced liqueur cream sauce. This Apple Tarte Tartin is a dessert that really sings Fall flavor praises!
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And just like that, Summer is over! Is it just me or was this the fastest Summer in the history of all Summers? I woke up this morning and BOOM, Fall is here. To be fair, I live in Dallas now and the extended warm-weather is an actual Godsend. But no matter where I am, I can’t seem to escape changing leaves, warm apple ciders, pumpkin-spiced lattes and flannel tops.
If there is one thing that triggers a bit of new-season excitement, its apples. From Braebrun to Fuji, I love ‘em all! There are endless possibilities when it comes to baking with Apples and, believe me, I’ve tried just about all of them.
Today’s recipe is a fave of mine: Apple Tarte Tatin! Now, this ain’t your mama’s tarte tatin. Made with Baileys Limited Edition Apple Pie, this tarte is unique, warm, decadent and oh-so tasty!
Perks and Highlights of the Best Apple Tarte Tatin
Cuisine Inspiration: French Indulge in a culinary journey to France without leaving your kitchen! The Apple Tarte Tatin is quintessentially French, offering a sweet escape to the rustic countryside with each caramelized bite.
Primary Cooking Method: Baking Put on your baker’s hat! We’re using the magic of oven-lovin’ to perfectly caramelize the apples and get that pastry flaky and golden.
Dietary Info: Vegetarian Hey, plant lovers and dessert devourers, this one’s for you! Our tarte is vegetarian-friendly, promising pure indulgence in every apple-layered slice.
Key Flavor: Caramelized Apple Goodness Savor the rich symphony of sweet, buttery, and slightly tangy notes. With apples this delicious, you’ll hear La Vie En Rose with every forkful.
Skill Level: Intermediate Roll up those sleeves and show your kitchen who’s boss! Some experience is helpful, but hey, we believe in you, tart(e) artist!
Special Perks:
- Crowd Pleaser: Sweet, caramelized, and oh-so-gorgeous, this dessert is sure to win hearts and taste buds.
- Insta-Worthy: Get those likes rolling in! This tarte isn’t just tasty; it’s a stunner, perfect for your foodie posts.
- Versatility Vibes: Serve it warm, serve it cool, top it with ice cream or a dollop of crème fraîche. Make it your own!
- Seasonal Star: Apples are the heralds of fall, making this the perfect dessert to celebrate the season’s crisp charm.
- Baker’s Delight: Not just a cooking adventure, it’s a skill honer. Master this, and you’re well on your way to pastry chef stardom!
What is Tarte Tatin?
The Tarte Tatin, named after the Tatin sisters who invented it, is basically French apple pie y’all! It is a pastry in which the fruit (usually apples) is caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked. In the 1880’s, the hotel Tatin opened its doors in the South of Paris. Run by two sisters, Stephanie and Caroline Tatin, the hotel attracted aristocrats and commoners alike.
Stephanie Tatin, who did most of the cooking, was overworked one day. She started to make a traditional apple pie but left the apples cooking in butter and sugar for too long. Smelling the burning, she attempted to save the dish by putting the pastry base on top of the apples and quickly baking the dish in the oven.
After turning the dish upside down, Stephanie was shocked by much she (and her hotel guests) enjoyed the dessert. Soon enough, the tart became the hotel’s signature dish and, soon after that, folks began creating variations of their very own!
Who knew your baking mistakes could turn into a masterpiece like this?
What Kind of Apples Should I use?
Plain old Honeycrisp apples are perfect for making a Tarte Tatin! They hold up well during the caramelization and baking process, and their tartness translates into very pure apple flavor that contrasts the rich caramel.
That being said, you should feel free to experiment with other apple varieties. Just be sure to use apples that hold up well during baking! Cutting the apples in quarters also helps them to hold their shape without turning into apple sauce.
Ingredients
What I love most about this recipe is its simplicity. All the benefits of a crisp, delicious apple pie without the tricky technical parts! In under 10 ingredients, you can have a buttery, apple-filled dessert that is sure to please this holiday season.
Here’s how we get it done:
- Honeycrisp Apples– a balanced content of sugar and acid gives Honeycrisp apples a pleasant sweet-tart flavor that varies in strength depending on the ripeness of the apple. I find that, when cooked, honeycrisp apples hold their shape well while also soaking in a crazy amount of flavor.
- Lemon– citrus helps to prevent the oxidation, meaning that it stops the slices from turning brown by providing a barrier between the apple’s flesh and air.
- Unsalted Butter– this is a simple recipe so be sure to use high-quality ingredients. Rich, creamy butter is a MUST.
- Baileys Apple Pie– Baileys’ latest and greatest is smooth and packed with cinnamon-spiced flavor. By incorporating it in both the apples and the cream sauce, we layer decadence and warmth into every part of this dessert.
- Puff Pastry– if you’ve ever made puff pastry from scratch, you know it is NOT EASY. Using store-bought is the way to go. Cutting time, saving money and lots of stress? Sounds like a win to me. I personally go with puff pastry that is made with just butter. The flavor is unmatched.
- Salt– Salt balances sugar. Always use kosher unless directed otherwise!
- Granulated Sugar– sugar will coat the apples, break them down and create that signature sweet, plump apple filling.
- Vanilla– floral, aromatic and woodsy, vanilla is what brings together that classic apple pie flavor.
How to Make Apple Tarte Tatin
For the Tarte:
- Prep Work: Crank your oven to 375°F. Peel, core, and quarter those apples. Drench ’em in lemon juice to keep things fresh, then let ’em chill in a bowl.
- Caramel Time: Over medium heat, melt sugar in a nonstick skillet until it’s smooth and amber. Keep that stir game strong! Blend in butter and Baileys, then invite the apples to the caramel party. Cook ’em for 15-20 mins, giving them a good caramel bath.
- Puff Pastry Magic: While apples get caramelized, sketch and cut a 9-inch puff pastry circle, slightly bigger than your pan. Pro-tip: use your cake pan as a guide.
- Assembly Love: Move those caramel-coated apples to a well-greased 9-inch skillet or baking pan, arranging them all pretty-like. Drizzle all that leftover caramel on top. Cap it with your pastry, tucking the edges cozy into the pan. Don’t forget those fork pokes on top!
- Bake it Beautiful: Send it into the oven for 45-50 minutes until the pastry is golden and firm. Let it cool for about 10, then flip it onto your fanciest plate.
For the Cream Sauce:
- Sauce Boss: Mix butter, Baileys Apple Pie, and sugar in a saucepan, simmering until sugar dissolves. Keep it on low, stirring for 10 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Take it off the heat, mix in vanilla, and then drizzle it over your tarte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to Flip Tarte Tatin
Don’t be intimidated by the flip! Honestly, it’s the least stressful part of making tarte tatin! To release the tarte, run a knife around the edge of the crust and then get a firm grip on the pan or skillet before flipping.
The tarte is still hot at this point, so it’s easy to nudge any apples back into place that fall out of line or stick to the pan. The best part? A Tarte Tatin will taste amazing no matter what happens during that flip.
Serving
A Tarte Tatin is best served warm, straight out of the oven! For a truly indulgent experience, top the tarte with hefty scoops of cool, creamy vanilla ice cream. Trust me, there’s no other way to eat a slice of this caramelly, spiced heaven!
Variations
Looking to add an extra bite? I like to change up this recipe by layering a rich, salty component. Add an extra half teaspoon of salt to the caramel as it cooks, then sprinkle the top of the finished tarte with crunchy sea salt. Voila! You’ve got something fun, new and super decadent.
Storage
Leftover Tarte Tatin can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. Because it’s best served warm, I suggest reheating before serving. Tarte Tatin makes for an excellent next-day breakfast!
Best Apple Recipes
Apples are arguably the best part of Fall! Crunchy, sweet, juicy and even better when baked, apples make for some of the most delicious recipes EVER!
Check out a few of my classic Autumn-inspired dishes:
- Apple Crisp French Toast
- Spiced Apple Cider Cake
- Apple Fritters
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Apple Brown Betty
- Apple Pie Bars
- Apple Cobbler
- Classic Apple Pie
- Baked Apples with Crumble Topping!
Apple Tarte Tatin
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Ingredients
For the Tartin
- 3 lbs Honeycrisp apples about 6-7 medium sized apples
- 1 large lemon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp Baileys Apple Pie
- pinch of salt
- 1 puff pastry sheet thawed
For the Cream Sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup Baileys Apple Pie
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
For the Tarte
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Peel, remove cores and quarter apples and add to a large bowl. Sprinkle the juice of the lemon over all of the apple slices and toss them to make sure they are coated. This will help them from turning brown.
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, add sugar and cook until nice and smooth and a nice amber color. Make sure to stir constantly. Stir in butter then Baileys and melt together completely then add the apple quarters, ensuring that they are coated with the caramel sauce.
- Cook for about 15-20 minutes while continuing to baste the apples and turn them in the caramel. Once caramel has mostly reduced, remove from heat.
- While apples cook, work on puff pastry. Using a 9 inch round cake pan, trace and cut a circle out from your sheet of puff pastry a little bigger than the edge of the pan.
- Transfer the apple slices to a 9 inch cast iron skillet or 9 inch baking pan that has been LIBERALLY non stick sprayed or greased and place in a decorated design to the bottom of a pan. Pour remaining caramel on top of those apples.
- Next carefully place the puff pastry circle on top of the apples and tuck the sides down into the pan. Poke fork holes on top.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and no longer soft. It should be pretty firm.
- Cool for about 10 minutes, go along the sides and then then invert onto a serving plate.
For the Cream Sauce
- Combine the butter, Baileys Apple Pie and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is combined. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla. Serve vanilla ice cream over tartin and top with cream sauce.
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The recipe says to quarter the apples, but later refers to the apple “slices”; the picture looks like they are somewhere between, more like thick slices. Can you be more specific? My guess is that if the slices are too thin the apple will break down, too thick and they won’t cook properly.
I quartered mine, then quarter sliced them–getting 16 slices per apple–with the recipe doing a wonderful job after it. No mush, breakdown, etc!