French Apple Tart with Puff Pastry and Calvados Cream
Jill Colonna
Quick and easy apple tart recipe with ready-made puff pastry, 2 Granny Smith apples, butter and a little sugar. Add the extra Calvados cream for special occasions.
1250g packetready-made all-butter puff pastry or thawed if frozen
2Granny Smith applesorganic
1 tablespoonsugar
30g (2 tbsp)butter, unsaltedmelted
1tablespoonapricot jamoptional - to glaze
Calvados Cream
140ml (5oz/¾ cup)whipping creamno less than 30% fat
60ml (2oz/¼ cup)mascarpone cream
2tablespoonCalvados(or Pommeau de Normandie)*
Instructions
For the Apple Tart:
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/180°C fan/Gas 6.
If the puff pastry isn't already rolled, roll out the pastry to about 5mm (¼") thickness in either a rectangular or round shape. Place on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.
Peel and core the Granny Smith apples and slice them as thinly as possible using a good, sharp knife. Quickly arrange them in rows on the pastry, leaving a small space (1cm) in from the edge.(If you're worried about them browning, prepare a bowl of a little water with lemon juice and steep the slices in it first).
Melt the butter and brush on top of the apples. Scatter with a little sugar and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes until golden.Optional: if you like your apple tart to shine, melt a little apricot jam in the microwave and brush over once baked and still warm.
Calvados Cream:
In a chilled bowl, whisk the whipping cream with the mascarpone and add the Calvados or Pommeau towards the end, just as the cream thickens.
Notes
* Pommeau is a lighter apple wine from Normandy made with ⅓ Calvados and ⅔ non-fermented apple juice. If you can find this easily, this is fabulous to replace Calvados.To Serve: with a dollop of the Calvados (apple liqueur) or Pommeau cream - or, if you prefer Calvados ice cream, replace the Drambuie Whisky to make this no-churn Ice Cream recipe. Without alcohol: serve with a little (good quality - French full fat) crème fraîche or this no-churn plombières ice cream.Apple Tart Glaze: If you like an extra glaze on your apple tart, brush over some warmed apricot jam before serving.Variation: Also works well with pears - just replace with 2 medium-ripe pears and sprinkle with a handful of dark chocolate chips.Measures: Please note that all my recipes are best made using digital kitchen scales in precise metric grams. Both ounces (and cups) are given as an approximate guide.
Keyword french apple tart puff pastry, quick recipe apple tart