Tarte Tatin With Brandied Caramel Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Poaching liquid: In a 5-quart pot, bring water, sugar, and butter to a boil, whisking occasionally. Use a paring knife to split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise; scrape the seeds from the pod and reserve for caramel. (Chef Boulud wipes the seeds onto the butter reserved for the caramel.) Add the scraped vanilla pod and the lemon juice to the poaching liquid.While the poaching liquid comes to a boil, prep the apples.
• Prep apples: Peel apples, then cut each into 4 wedges. Trim the top and bottom of each wedge and cut away the core. Set apple wedges aside.
• Make caramel: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a 8 x 2¼-inch sauté pan over medium heat, add sugar. Stir slowly and gently, keeping a close eye on it; when a little over half the sugar has melted, reduce heat to low and continue stirring. After a total of 6-7 minutes, sugar should be caramelized, brown, and 350 F on an instant-read thermometer. Turn off the heat and add the reserved vanilla seeds and butter. Stir vigorously to combine; then allow caramel cool, 10-15 minutes.
• Poach apples: Once the poaching liquid is at a boil, reduce to a simmer and add the apples. Raise the heat to bring the liquid back to a simmer. Gently stir the apples every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking, rotating the apples from the top of the pot to the bottom. (White foam may form on the surface, which is normal; it does not need to be removed.) Simmer until apples are tender and a knife can easily pierce through, 15-20 minutes. Set a colander over a bowl and use a strainer to very gently transfer apples to the colander. Discard poaching liquid.
• Spread poached apples on a parchment-lined baking sheet to stop the cooking. (Optional: Allow apples to cool for 10 minutes for easier handling.) Begin placing apples around the perimeter of the sauté pan on top of the caramel, upright and nesting inside one another. Continue wedging apples into the pan in concentric circles, as tightly as possible; nearly every piece should fit into the pan. (If one or two remain, that's the chef's snack!) Once the pan is tightly packed, use the back of a spoon to gently press the apples down, to remove any air pockets. Discard vanilla bean.Place pan over low heat until caramel is bubbly around the apples, 5 minutes. Use a spoon to baste the apples with the caramel, then place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. (Total baking time will be 60-75 minutes.) Note: Caramel may bubble out of the pan and onto the baking sheet, which is normal!
• While the apples are baking, wrap the bottom and outside of the slightly smaller pot in aluminum foil. After the apples have been baking for 20-25 minutes, remove from oven. Place sauté pan on a rack fitted over a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Gently press the bottom of the wrapped pot on the apples to fully submerge them into the caramel and flatten the top. (Some caramel may overflow onto the baking sheet.) Set aside the smaller pot and place the apples back into the oven for 30-35 more minutes, removing to press the apples every 15 minutes.
• After a total of about 60 minutes of baking, the apples will have absorbed most of the caramel and be concentrated in the sauté pan. Remove from the oven and increase oven temperature to 400 F. Roll pastry: Remove puff pastry from refrigerator. Dust a work surface with flour and roll pastry to a ¼-inch thickness, rotating the pastry as you roll; dust with additional flour as needed. Cut the flattened pastry into a circle just a little larger than the diameter of the sauté pan, using the lid as a guide. Use a fork to poke holes all over the pastry: this is called "docking" and will keep the pastry from over-puffing. Place docked pastry on top of the apples; it's fine if the pastry is at the edge of the pot, since it will shrink slightly as it bakes. Bake until pastry is lightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Remove tarte Tatin from oven and let cool completely, at least 1 hour; cooling overnight at room temperature is recommended. (Unmolding the tarte when it is still warm may cause it to fall apart.) Once cool, warm the pan over medium heat for 1 minute; this will help the tarte Tatin come out of the pan more easily. Remove from heat and run a paring knife around the outer edge of the tarte to gently release the apples from the side of the pan. Place a serving platter over the pan; holding the platter firmly to the pan with a kitchen towel, quickly and carefully invert to flip the tarte Tatin onto the platter. Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche (optional).

Steps:

• Lightly flour a work surface. Roll the puff pastry out so it is slightly larger than the top of a 10-inch cast-iron pan. Turn the pan over on top of the pastry and cut around the outside edge of the pan to remove excess. Place the puff pastry round onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Add the sugar, apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon water to the cast-iron pan. Turn to medium-high heat and stir the ingredients together so that the sugar is completely wet. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sugar turns a deep amber, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter and sea salt flakes; the mixture will bubble up slightly. Stir the caramel until the butter is completely melted and evenly incorporated. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the apples, then cut each into thirds around the core, leaving you three rounded discs per apple. At this point, the caramel will have cooled and perhaps even hardened; that's ok. Place the apple pieces rounded-side down into the pan on top of the caramel, overlapping the edges slightly so you have an outside circle of apples and an inside circle of apples. Turn the pan back up to medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once at a boil, turn the heat to medium low and simmer until the apples have softened and the excess juice from the apples has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the puff pastry round on top of the apples. Use a mini offset spatula or butter knife to tuck the edges of the puff pastry into the pan towards the apples, all along the edge. Whisk the egg together with a splash of water in a small bowl and then brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Bake until the puff pastry is a deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Using a serving platter that is at least 2 inches wider than the pan and has a small lip on it to catch excess caramel, place it over the top of the cooled tarte. Place a kitchen towel on top of the platter and then fold it down over the cast iron. Get a firm grip of the platter and cast iron in both hands before flipping the cast iron over, away from yourself. Remove the cast iron.
• Serve the tarte tatin immediately with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, place the flours, sugar and butter. Pulse 5 or 6 times in 1/2-second bursts to break up the butter. Add the shortening, turn on the machine and immediately add the ice water, pulsing 2 or 3 times. The dough should look like a mass of smallish lumps and should just hold together in a mass when a handful is pressed together. If the mixture is too dry, pulse in more water by droplets.
• Turn the dough out onto the work surface and with the heel of your hand, rapidly and roughly push egg-size blobs into a 6-inch smear. Gather the dough into a relatively smooth cake, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Slice the halved apples into 4 lengthwise wedges each, and toss in a large bowl with the lemon juice and zest and 1/2 cup sugar. Drain the apples after macerating 20 minutes.
• In a 9-inch skillet melt the butter over high heat. Stir in the remaining sugar and cook until the syrup bubbles and caramelizes, and turns a brown color. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange a layer of apple slices in a neat pattern on the caramel in the skillet, then arrange the remaining apples neatly on top.
• Return the pan to moderately high heat and cook for about 25 minutes, covering the pan after 10 minutes. Every few minutes press down on the apples and baste them with the exuded juices. When the juices are thick and syrupy, remove the pan from the heat.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a circle, 3/16-inch thick and 1-inch larger than the top of the pan. Drape the dough over the apples, pressing the edge of the dough between the apples and the inside of the pan. Cut 4 small steam holes on the top of the dough. Bake until the pastry has browned and crisped, about 20 minutes.
• Unmold the tart onto a serving dish (so the pastry is on the bottom), and serve warm or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, as desired.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Peel and core the apples, then cut them into quarters.
• Spread the butter on the bottom of a 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet. Mix the sugar, salt and vanilla together to evenly distribute the caviar. Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the butter. Squeeze over the lemon juice.
• Place the apple quarters cut-side up on top. Remember, the bottom will become the top so make it look pretty. Put the pan over medium heat and cook until the sugar melts, caramelizes and begins to thicken. The apples will release their juices during this process, so it could take 10 to 15 minutes. If the juices start getting too dark, lower the heat a little.
• While the apples are cooking, take the puff pastry out of the fridge. Use a knife to cut a circle just big enough to fit over the top of the apples in the skillet. Keep chilled.
• When the sugar has caramelized, place the pastry circle over the apples, gently tucking in the sides. Transfer to the oven and bake until the pastry is risen and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes.
• Carefully turn the tarte tatin out onto a serving plate. Serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• At least one day before you plan to cook the tart, prepare the apples: Slice off the bottom of each apple so it has a flat base. Peel and quarter the apples. Use a small sharp knife to trim the hard cores and seeds from the center of each quarter; don't worry about being too neat. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, lightly covered, for at least one day or up to three days. (This key step reduces the amount of liquid in the tart. Don't worry if the apples turn brown; they will be browned during the cooking anyway.)
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 375 degrees (or 350 if using convection). Thickly coat the bottom of a 10-inch heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick metal, with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly on top.
• Cut one piece of apple into a thick round disk and place in the center of the skillet to serve as the "button." Arrange the remaining apple pieces, each one standing on its flat end, in concentric circles around the button. Keep the pieces close together so that they support one another, standing upright. They will look like the petals of a flower.
• On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry about 1/8-inch thick. Place an upside-down bowl or pan on the pastry and use the tip of a sharp knife to cut out a circle about the same size as the top of your skillet. Lift out the circle and drape gently over the apples. Use your hands to tuck the pastry around the apple pieces, hugging them together firmly.
• Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until golden-brown juice begins to bubble around the edges, 3 minutes (if the juices keep rising, spoon out as needed to remain level with pastry). If necessary, raise the heat so that the juices are at a boil. Keep cooking until the juices are turning darker brown and smell caramelized, no longer than 10 minutes more.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until puff pastry is browned and firm.
• Let cool 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a round serving plate. (Or, if not serving immediately, let cool completely in the pan; when ready to serve, rewarm for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven before turning out.) If any apples remain stuck in the pan, gently use your fingers or a spatula to retrieve them, and rearrange on the pastry shell. Cut in wedges and serve warm with heavy cream, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Stir sugar and 2/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice. Increase heat and boil until deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup water (mixture will bubble vigorously). Cool 5 minutes. Mix in brandy. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; refrigerate. Rewarm before serving.)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Dissolve the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is clear, about 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the heat to high and cook without stirring until the caramel turns a honeybrown color, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat immediately and cool while you prepare the apples.
• Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Melt the butter in the skillet. Arrange a fan of apple slices in a circle around the perimeter and fill in the center with the remaining slices. Cover and cook on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the apples begin to soften. While the apples cook, carefully stir the sour cream into the cooled caramel (it may sputter if the caramel is still very hot). When the apples are becoming tender, sprinkle on the lemon juice and salt and pour the caramel evenly over the apples.
• Trim the corners from the pastry to make a rough circle about 10 inches in diameter. Fit the dough over the apples, tucking in the edges around the inside of the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Cover with a plate larger than the skillet and invert very carefully to unmold the tart onto the plate. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Make pastry:
• Blend flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter; cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 1/2 tablespoons water and blend until moist clumps form, adding more water by 1/2 tablespoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap dough in plastic; chill until firm enough to roll, at least 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
• Make apple filling:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Fill large skillet with ice cubes; set aside. Combine sugar and butter in 10-inch-diameter, 2-inch-deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until mixture is deep amber and smooth, stirring often and almost constantly the last 3 minutes, about 16 minutes (after about 12 minutes, butter and sugar will separate and sugar will begin to melt and darken). Immediately place skillet onto ice to stop color from deepening. When caramel is cold and brittle, transfer skillet to work surface.
• Arrange apple wedges close together, rounded side down, in concentric circles atop caramel in pan. Press remaining apples, rounded side up, atop first layer. Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Place pastry atop apples, tucking in edges around apples. Bake until pastry is golden brown and juices are bubbling at sides of pan, about 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Place platter over skillet. Using oven mitts as aid, hold platter and skillet together and invert tart onto platter. Rearrange any apples that may have become dislodged. Let stand up to 30 minutes.
• Brush apples generously with some warm Brandied Caramel Sauce. Serve tart, passing remaining sauce separately.