This is for fans of both the apple tart and the custard tart. Put them both together and what do you get? A French Apple Custard Tart from Alsace, sheer bliss with a touch of grated nutmeg or cinnamon. It's so easy to make - especially if you cheat with (oh-là-là) ready-made pastry.
I made this for Christmas Eve, a very special and collaborative meal with my 'household' family this year...What a delicious and not too sweet way to end the meal. My 92 year-old Mother-in-law, who spent time in France as a teenager, thought it was simply divine. Thank you. - Jenn
French Apple Custard Tart Recipe
Scouring through my all-time favourite coffee-table book, France the Beautiful Cookbook (1989) by the Scotto Sisters (which is now well and truly covered in splatters and its tattered cover is ripped, bless it), I first made the 'Tarte aux Pommes à l'Alsacienne' and loved its scrumptious simplicity.
Over time, I adapted this French Apple Custard Tart by reducing the sugar and alternating between the cinnamon and nutmeg.
It's a real family pleaser for dessert and great at any time of year - I discovered recently that many of you love making this for Thanksgiving too!
An Egg Yolk Recipe to Save Egg Whites
Ever since I became literally 'Mad About Macarons', and was making these confections like some kind of mad woman for friends, dinner parties, our greedy selves and for the books, I found myself hunting down recipes for egg yolks.
If you're a home baker and love making Parisian macarons, financier teacakes, tuiles, lemon meringue tarts and this light chocolate mousse without cream, you'll know the eggs-act delicious problem. What do these recipes have in common? They all need egg whites, not whole eggs.
So, I need recipes that use up just the egg yolks. This one is perfect for my growing collection of egg yolk recipes: it uses 4 yolks! It's a never-ending delicious cycle.
Easy Tart Pastry Crust
This recipe is made easier if you buy ready-made shortcrust pastry. I wouldn't recommend ready-made puff pastry. If you love puff, then it's better with this quick French apple tart.
However, I urge you to make your own pâte sucrée (sweet pastry dough) if you have time. This means you can add that extra touch of vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon in the pastry shell. Even my cinnamon-avoiding husband asks for a THIRD slice. This is praise indeed -from a Frenchman, as he's careful about his dessert intake!
An Easy Way to Blind-Bake the Pastry - with Apples
Another reason I love this recipe? The classic technique of blind-baking the pastry beforehand isn't needed. Instead just lay out the apples and bake them with the pastry before adding the filling. It's a lazy way of blind-baking the tart first.
The filling couldn't be simpler: just whisk the whole lot together, pour on top of the apples then bake further until the topping looks beautifully brown and custardy.
Add a good pinch of ground nutmeg, either in the pastry base or in the filling - or both! Nutmeg is delicious with our best loved custard tarts I grew up with in Scotland. Personally, nutmeg does the toe-curling for me, giving it that je ne sais quoi to a custard tart with apples. If you prefer cinnamon, sprinkle generously like in these Portuguese Custard Tarts.
One Large Apple Custard Tart, 2 Medium Tarts or 8 Tartlets
The recipe below makes one large tart using a 28cm (11 inches) tart tin (with a removable bottom). It also makes 2x16cm (6.5 inches) tarts with one extra tartlet - handy if you're giving away one - or even 2 - as a present. Otherwise it makes enough for 8 tartlets.
I use non-stick tart tins and tart rings but if you have regular tins, then grease first with a little butter.
How to Make a French Apple Custard Tart
Recipe adapted from 'France the Beautiful Cookbook' by the Scotto Sisters - I added nutmeg and reduced the sugar in the custard filling. PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW.
What I love about this recipe is the crisp pastry and the creaminess of the custard with the apples shining through.
First make the pâte sucrée, following steps 1-5 but add a good pinch of cinnamon to the dough. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F.
Roll out the pastry dough larger than the tart tin (about 3-4cm larger) and press into the tart tin or pastry ring. Chill in the fridge.
Peel the apples, cut into quarters and remove the cores. Cut each quarter into 4 slices and arrange them evenly over the pastry.
Start from the outside and arrange the slices in the form of a flower then make a smaller 2nd layer to fill in the gaps and pour over the custard. Bake for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, using a hand whisk or fork, beat the egg yolks, sugar, nutmeg (or cinnamon), vanilla and cream.
Pour over the apples and bake for about a further 30 minutes or until the topping is deliciously custardy with typical brown patches.
How Best to Serve
We enjoy this tart on its own, simply served warm or at room temperature for the perfect teatime treat, dessert or even breakfast. If you prefer something with it, then this is good with vanilla ice cream or
- chestnut and vanilla ice cream
- no-churn plombières (candied fruit) ice cream
- light crème anglaise (French custard) infused with chai tea
- dollop of Calvados cream for adults only.
To decorate, dust with a little icing/confectioner's sugar, top with grapes or an edible flower.
French Apple Custard Tart
Equipment
Ingredients
- 275 g (10oz) sweet pastry with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2-3 apples (Golden Delicious)
- 4 medium egg yolks (organic)
- 75 g (2.5oz/ ⅓ cup) sugar (about ⅓ cup)
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg or cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla powder or few drops extract
- 200 ml (7floz/¾ cup) crème fleurette (30% fat) (or heavy cream)
Instructions
- Follow the recipe steps 1-5 for pâte sucrée. (No need to blind bake.)Butter a 28cm/11" tart tin (no need to butter if using non-stick moulds or tart ring. Roll out the pastry dough evenly, larger than the tart tin (about 3-4cm larger) and press well into the tin. Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan/gas 7).
- Peel the apples, cut into quarters and core them. Cut each quarter into 4 slices and arrange them evenly over the pastry, starting from the outside and arrange the slices in the form of a flower. Make a second smaller layer to fill in any gaps. Bake for 15 minutes. (This is a quick way to blind bake).
- Meanwhile, using a hand whisk or fork, beat the egg yolks, sugar, nutmeg (or cinnamon), vanilla and cream. Pour the custard over the apples and bake for a further 30 minutes (20-25 minutes for tartlets) or until the top has delicious custardy brown patches.
Notes
This post was originally published on 25 October 2015 but now completely updated.
A Baking Nurse
I've been loads of backyard apple 'falls'! Came across this recipe, as wanted to do 'apple & custard' tarts, but mini ones. Silly question, I'm assuming when I roll out the pastry, I assume I for mini tarts- I should cut a little wider than the tins as well as? Before lining and blind baking? Hope that makes sense.
Jill Colonna
Hello, not a silly question at all but yes, you're cutting a little wider so that the pastry goes right up to the top of your tartlet tins. See the 6th image of the main post: the fun part is there's no need to line your tart/lets as the apple slices do all the work of blind baking so it's easier. Have fun and enjoy them. Jill x
Deb A Baking Nurse
So, followed the recipe, made the pastry as instructed. Sliced the apples, tossed in some cinnamon and nutmeg before putting in 8 tartlet tins- worked well to this point, baked well. Didn't have cream to make the custard, did have a carton of shop bought custard! Which wasn't a great idea- my bad. But will still be eaten, no waste! Will try again, this time making the custard as instructed, so it will get in between the apples.
Jill Colonna
Hi Deb,
Well I sincerely hope you make this again, this time using all the ingredients. The beauty is making that delicious custard filling from scratch. Here's to your next custard tart!
Deb
Agreed!
Holly
Hi Can you freeze the finished baked tart as well?
Thank!
Jill Colonna
Hi Holly - of course you can freeze it. Ideally we prefer it fresh, as freezing this tart does lose some of its custardy flavours but it can freeze no problem.
holly
Thanks so much for your fast response! Looking forward to trying your recipe!
Jill Colonna
It's a pleasure, Holly. Have fun baking and let me know how you like it.
Denny
This turned out to be a great dessert, everyone loved it. Will be doing this one again. I did find the pastry started to get too brown before the filling had fully set, so covered the edges with tin foil. I guess all our ovens are different and we have to make adjustments accordingly, but certainly a stunning tart.
Jill Colonna
So thrilled you loved this tart, Denny. You're right about all ovens being different - I'll update this to remind bakers. Thanks for your feedback x
Thomasina
I love an apple tart and an apple custard tart is a bonus. I like the idea it has reduced sugar. So many tarts bought from upmarket bakeries here in the UK are far too sweet.
Jill Colonna
Thanks, Thomasina. Agreed that it's such a shame when bakeries make tarts too sweet - another delicious reason to make our own!
Rena Lorida
A classic and beautiful interpretation!
Jill Colonna
Thanks Rena. I'm so happy you like this. Bon weekend.
Jackie
This looks so yummy. Can I substitute bird’s eye custard for the egg yolks?
Jill Colonna
Hi Jackie. I daresay you can, although I have never tried it and prefer using egg yolks. If you do use a packet mix, then please let me know how you got on.
Jenn
I made this for Christmas Eve, a very special and collaborative meal with my ‘household’ family this year. It was easy enough to make while helping my teenagers cook their dishes. What a delicious and not too sweet way to end the meal. I added a sprinkle of nutmeg to give it a festive touch. My 92 year-old Mother-in-law, who spent time in France as a teenager, thought it was simply divine. Thank you.
Jill Colonna
What a most lovely thing to say. Thank you, Jenn. I am thrilled you enjoyed this as a special family dessert over Christmas and thank you for the biggest compliment from your Mother-in-Law too! Wishing you all a deliciously healthy 2021 x
Tall Tim
I used a Linzer Crust with this custard recipe for Thanksgiving Dessert. Bellissimo!
Jill Colonna
How lovely to hear, 'Tall Tim' - so happy you enjoyed your Thanksgiving dessert. You've made my day!