Apple tart is my family's favorite dessert. I love it because it makes the house smell amazing and the tart looks so polished and beautiful (taking a few extra minutes to fan out the apples makes it look like it came from a bakery!). This is a French-style apple tart, not an apple pie, meaning a wedge of the tart is thinner and neater than a slice of all-American apple pie. Try it topped with ice cream for that delicious a la mode taste. Rolling the dough for the tart makes for a finer-textured crust, but on many occasions I have simply pressed the crust into place with great results.
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into1-inch cubes, plus 1 tablespoon, melted
- 11/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 Granny Smith apples
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Set the cubed butter on a plate and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Fill a cup with ice and water and set aside. Place 1 1/2 of the flour, 1 8 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Take the butter out of the freezer and add it to the flour. Pulse the mixture until it looks like wet sand, about 10 seconds. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together into a ball.
Lightly flour your work surface and place the dough on top. Then lightly flour the top of the dough and roll to about a 10- to 11-inch circle, sprinkling more flour under and on top of the dough as necessary. Gently drape the dough over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 9- or 9 1/2-inch fluted tart pan (ideally one with a removable bottom). Fit the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan as evenly as possible and press off excess dough from the fluted rim. Set the tart pan on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350degreesF. Peel, core, and quarter the apples and then thinly slice them lengthwise. Place the apples in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice, the cinnamon, and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 8 teaspoon salt. Remove the baking sheet with the tart shell from the refrigerator. Arrange the apples in concentric circles so they overlap slightly. Brush the edges of the crust with the melted butter and then bake until the edges are golden and the apples have cooked down, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Photo: Classic Apple Tart Recipe

















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By fishanyone007
North Carolina
on February 15, 2013
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First of all, I used a premade/roll out dough for crust.
I followed remaining recipe to the letter. I love it but will add an extra tsp of sugar next time...needed just a little more. Its great for a dessert but also just perfect for brunch.
Thanks Melissa for another great recipe.
By happyhealthyhorny
Carlsbad, CA
on December 31, 2012
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LOVED that it didn't use a ton of sugar and butter. I didn't miss the unneeded calories. But I did find it dry. I'd love a suggestion on how to get this recipe more moist without adding butter/sugar. I used a store bought Organic Wheat pie pastry instead and thought it was great.
By wanabeone_12363301
Phoenix OR
on November 14, 2012
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This is such a simple recipe, especially if you use a store bought crust. Since it is so simple, the taste is OK but not fantastic like apple tarts that have more filling, glaze and takes a little more time. Also, when you use Granny Smith apples (I used two and one of a sweeter nature, you will need to increase the sugar. All in all, less effort = less results.
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