Tarte Tatin

Recipe courtesy Julia Child, Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom, Alfred A. Knopf, 2000

Picture of Tarte Tatin Recipe Photo: Tarte Tatin Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Total Time:
2 hr 55 min
Prep
2 hr 30 min
Cook
25 min
Yield:
6 servings
Level:
--
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Ingredients

For the Tart Dough:

  • 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup cake flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 6 tablespoons chilled butter, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 cup ice water, or as needed

For the Tart Tatin:

  • 6 Golden Delicious apples, cored, peeled and halved
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 11/2 cups sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, as accompaniment

Directions

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.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 8 reviews

  • on August 21, 2011

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    This is a truly a beautiful and elegant dessert. However, it’s not especially decadent or luxurious-tasting. I expected something more flavorful from a somewhat advanced recipe. The cake was light and the lemon zest gave it a very fresh flavor, but it wasn’t at all sweet. The apples cook perfectly with the caramel syrup, but again, not very sweet. If you’re an apple purist, this might be perfect for you. I just like something a little sweeter, a true dessert, after a meal.

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  • on August 01, 2010

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    followed all the directions and used another commentor's baking instructions. i dont have an oven proof skillet so i just transferred the apples and its juices to my baking dish and it worked out just fine! i just came back from paris and really didnt find a tarte tatin that was as good as mine using this recipe!!

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  • on July 06, 2010

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    In making this recipe, the type of apples you use are important.

    if you watch the French Chef episode where Julia makes Tarte Tatin, you will note she tells you to use an apple that will not turn to mush. In this recipe she suggests Golden Delicious apples, which she also suggests on the show, since some of the other varieties she recommends are more obscure.

    Last I checked, you could watch the Tarte Tatin episode online at the PBS website.

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