Apple tart...the rematch

Not so long ago, I tried and failed to make a French apple tart.  Everything went wrong....the apples weren't sliced very well, the crust wouldn't stick together, and the tart literally fell apart once I turned it over onto my serving plate. And, yes, I did read the directions--it just wasn't meant to be. I gave up.

Until?

I discovered a marvelous cooking show hosted by Laura Calder called "French Food at Home." Ironically enough, she had an episode entitled, "Confidence Builders"--and her confidence building menu included an apple tart for dessert.

"Easy apple tart, Laura? I doubt it." I said to the TV. (Don't you talk to your TV...and to imaginary apple tarts?)

She made the tart recipe look so simple. I decided to put my tart anxieties aside and try it out.

And?

She was right. The apple tart was easy to prepare.

Here's how.

First, select fresh apples. I prefer the sharp flavor of Granny Smith apples, so that's what I chose to use.

 

The apples should be peeled, cored, and sliced. If you're like me and own lots of dull knives for some reason, you might want to invest in an apple peeler/corer machine. It's quite possibly the best invention of ALL TIME.

 

This best invention of ALL TIME will give you apple slices that will inevitably make you look far more talented than you might actually be (and by "you," I, of course, mean ME):

 

Here's the best part: the crust is one of the simplest crust recipes I've ever come across. All you do is take 1/2 cup of butter, creamed, 1 cup flour (I used gluten free flour), vanilla extract, and mix it together. Instead of letting the dough rest in the refrigerator, you will place it in the tart pan. Cook in the oven for 15 minutes until golden at 400 degrees F.

Meanwhile, take cream cheese, softened, an egg, vanilla extract, sugar and mix it together. Put the mixture in the crust. Top with apples that have been pre-coated with cinnamon and almonds. Bake for 40 minutes.

The results?

A beautiful apple tart and a little more confidence in the kitchen.

 

Take THAT, tart.

Easy Pastry Shop Apple Tart

Recipe by Laura Calder 

Ingredients

For the crust

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

For the cream filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the top

3 apples, peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup slivered almonds or chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make the crust: Cream the butter and sugar. Stir in the vanilla. Finally, mix in the flour to make a smooth dough. Press into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan, giving it about a 1-inch rim. Bake 15 minute, or until lightly golden. Remove the tart shell from the oven.

While the crust bakes, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla for the cream filling until smooth. Make the topping by tossing the apple slices with the cinnamon, sugar, and nuts.

Remove the tart shell from the oven. Spread over the cream mixture. Arrange the apple slices on top, and then scatter over the nuts. Bake until the apples are tender and golden, about 40 minutes.