Apple Custard Tart Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Roll out the pastry to the thickness of £1 coin and use it to line a 23cm tart tin. Cut a round of baking paper bigger than the tin and place in the tin with baking beans on top. Bake blind for 15 mins, then remove the beans and bake for a further 10-15 mins until lightly golden. Remove the tart from the oven and turn the oven down to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• While the tart is in the oven, prepare the filling. Gently heat the rhubarb, apple, caster sugar and orange juice in a small pan for 10 mins until fruit is soft, but still holding its shape. Once cooked, remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly while you make the custard.
• Heat the cream, milk and vanilla pod in a small pan and bring to the boil. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl. When the cream mix has reached boiling point, pour this over the eggs while still whisking, then pour the mix through a sieve into a clean bowl or jug and add the orange zest.
• Once the tart case is cooked, scatter the fruit over the bottom of the case and pour the custard on top. Place the tart in the oven and cook for 30-35 mins until the custard is just set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely before cutting into slices.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 6. Roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface until just thicker than a £1 coin. Use to line a 23cm deep tart tin, allowing the spare pastry to hang over the edges. Line the tart with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then bake for 15 min until golden around the edges. Remove the beans and continue to cook for 5 mins until the base in golden brown. Remove the tart from the oven and leave to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 160C/ fan 14C/gas 3.
• Meanwhile, tip the sugar into a large frying pan over a high heat. Cook the sugar until it dissolves, bubbles and caramelises. Carefully tip the apple wedges into the caramel and toss until coated. Splash in the brandy, if using, then cook the apples for 2-3 mins until just starting soften and the caramel has dissolved in the apple juices.
• Turn off the heat and remove the apples to a bowl. Pour the cream into the pan then, holding a sieve over the pan, strain in any juices from the apples. Gradually whisk the caramel sauce into the beaten yolks. Arrange the apples over the base of the tart, pour over the custard, then bake for 40 mins until the custard is just set. Leave the tart to cool, then use a knife to cut away the spare pastry and neaten the edges.

Steps:

• Prick the bottom of the shell and chill for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• Line the unbaked pastry shell with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Fill tart pan with pie weights or beans, making sure the weights are to the top of the pan and evenly distributed over the entire surface.
• Bake crust for 20 to 25 minutes until crust is dry and lightly browned.
• Remove weights and cool crust on wire rack.
• In a small saucepan heat the apricot preserves until boiling.
• Remove from heat and strain to get rid of lumps. Add the Cognac
• When cool, spread a thin layer of warm apricot glaze over the bottom and sides of the tart.
• Let the glaze dry between 20 - 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl whisk the flour and sugar together.
• Mix in the eggs and stir with a wooden spoon to make a smooth paste.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half until it just starts to boil and the cream foams up.
• Remove from heat and gradually whisk into the egg mixture, stirring constantly.
• Whisk in the Apple Brandy.
• Add vanilla now and set this mixture aside while you prepare the apples.
• Peel, core, and slice the apples into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat and stir in the 2 - 4 tablespoons sugar.
• Add the apples and sauté until they begin to soften, approximately 5 - 10 minutes. Set the cooked apples aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Arrange the apple wedges in concentric circles on top of the cooled and glazed tart shell. Carefully pour the custard over the apples to just below the top of the tart pan
• Sprinkle lightly with the Cinnamon Sugar.
• Place tart pan on a larger baking sheet to make it easier to remove from oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the custard has set.
• Place the tart under the broiler in the oven just long enough to caramelize the sugar. To prevent the edges of the tart shell from over-browning, you can cover them with a thin piece of aluminum foil or pie shields.
• Serve with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. pie plate. Arrange apples over the crust. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. , For custard, whisk milk, egg and sugar in another small bowl until smooth; pour over apples. Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• For crust: Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface turning it constantly so that it does not stick; add more flour as needed (the dough might crack around the edges, most of the cracks don't matter since the edges will be trimmed after the tart is in the pan, if there are some big ones that will show when the tart is in the pan, patch them with pieces of dough before fitting the) when the dough is rolled out, flip it over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom; fit it into the tart pan without stretching; roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart to cut off the dough hanging over the pan's edge; refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Place the tart pan on shallow baking sheet; fit the tart pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, fill with beans or pie weights, and bake in the middle of preheated oven for 15 minutes; carefully remove the foil with beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
• For filling: Turn the heat down to 375F; quarter, core, and peel the apples; cut into 1/4" lengthwise slices; toss them in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon, then arrange them in the crust in concentric circles; bake in the upper third of preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they start to color and are almost tender; remove from oven and let cool while preparing the custard.
• For custard: Beat the egg and sugar together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick, pale yellow, and falls back on itself forming a slowly dissolving ribbon; beat in the flour, then the cream, and finally the cognac; pour the mixture over the apples; it should come almost to the top of the pastry shell; return to oven for 10 minutes, or until cream begins to puff.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar (placed in a sieve and sprinkled evenly over) and return to oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Tart is done when top has browned and a knife plunged into the custard comes out clean; unmold the tart; cool 10 minutes and serve.

Steps:

• Put the plain flour and butter in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until they resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the icing sugar and a pinch of salt, followed by the egg yolk. If the pastry feels too dry to form a dough, add 1-2 tbsp water.
• Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking parchment until it forms an approximately 28cm circle. Put in the fridge for 20 mins to firm up, then rest over a buttered 23cm tart tin. Push down into the corners and trim the top so there's a 1-2cm overhang of pastry. Don't worry if it breaks slightly, just patch up any tears with the offcuts. Prick the base several times with a fork, then chill in the fridge for 45 mins. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Lay a sheet of baking parchment over the chilled tart case and fill to the top with baking beans. Blind bake for 15 mins. Remove the baking beans and parchment and bake for another 10-15 mins until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin, then trim off the excess pastry around the top with a small knife.
• Meanwhile, bring the milk and vanilla to the boil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Beat together the egg yolks, caster sugar and custard powder until well combined.
• Pour the hot milk over the egg and sugar mixture, whisking continuously, until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Return the mixture to the pan over a medium-low heat. Stir continuously for 2-3 mins until the mixture is very thick. Leave to cool slightly, giving a whisk occasionally so it doesn't go lumpy.
• Pour the custard mixture into the cooked pastry case, spreading to level it out. Put it in the fridge for 2 hrs to set completely.
• Pour half the lemon juice into a medium bowl of water, then finely slice the apples into the bowl, using a mandolin if you like. Sprinkle with the caster sugar and microwave for 3-4 mins on high, then transfer into a bowl of cold water with the remaining lemon juice.
• Wrap 3-4 slices of apple around each other to form a rose shape - rolling up the first one, then wrapping the other slices around it. Press the apple flowers into the custard, working your way around until the whole tart is covered.