Apple Tarte Tatin

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Everything about this Apple Tarte Tatin is a good idea.

Everything except the scalding hot sugar, the super heavy 400 degree cast iron skillet… and the fact that you somehow have to flip that skillet and all of its contents out onto a serving platter.

Ok… maybe not eeeeeverything about this tart is a good idea  But!  The French have been doing this for an eternity and they know a thing or two about how to make butter and sugar delicious.

So, let’s just say that most things about this tart is a good idea.  I’m tellin’ ya… burning your mouth of super hot tarte tatin because you can’t wait to slice into the darn thing!?  Totally worth it.

Man I made this recipe tempting… didn’t it!?

 

Jill and I are at it again!  Do you see a video here?  I reallllly hope you do.

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Apples.  I used two sorts.  Granny Smith because they’re firm and tart (just like me… ew) and Fuji Apples because they hold up to baking and they taste like apple honey.

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Salted melted butter is combined with plain old sugar.

They’ll date for a while, get engaged, get in a giant freak-out fight, make up, buy a couch, get married… then turn into the most lovely, golden salted caramel you’ve ever seen.

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Did I mention that wedged and stacked apples are a part of the butter and sugar courtship?

Duh.

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Butter and sugar and apples.  The part of their relationship where they buy a couch.

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Puff pastry is the last addition to the apple and caramel marriage.  It the topper.  It’s time to shine is in the oven.

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What we have here is about 25 pounds of cast iron, baked apples, caramel and flaky crust.  It’s about a million degrees.  That’s super hot.

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Wait until the cast iron is about half a million degrees hot… then flip the apple tarte tatin onto the ugliest red plate you can find.

Actually… a pretty white plate would better.  Why didn’t anyone tell me that?

Awkward.

Apple Tarte Tatin

Print this Recipe!

1 sheet all-butter puff pastry, thawed but still cold

7 apples (I used Granny Smith and Fuji)

1 stick (4 ounces) salted butter

1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 374 degrees F.  Place a cookie sheet in the oven too.

Peel, core and quarter the apples.  You might be tempted to cut the apple pieces smaller that quarters.  Don’t.  The apples will cook down considerable when cooked so you’ll want to keep the pieces nice and big. Set aside.  If the apples brown just a bit while they’re waiting to be baked… that’s totally fine.

Melt butter in a 10-inch, heavy bottom… heavy all over… cast iron skillet.  Remove butter from the heat and whisk in the sugar.  The mixture will be thick.  Just spread it evenly over the bottom of the cast iron.

Arrange the apple quarters in the pan by stacking the pieces in a circle along the outside of the pan and working you way in.  Pack the apples in tight as they will cook down when they’re cooked on the stovetop.  Save any extra apple quarters to add to the tart as it cooks on the stove and more room frees up.

Return the pan to the stovetop and cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes.  Be sure to keep the flame at medium high, letting the sugar boil and caramelize.  The high heat will help the sugar caramelize and the apples cook at the correct rate.  A lower heat will break down the apples before caramelizing the sugar.  I know it’s scary… but medium high is the way to go.

While apples are cooking, remove and unfold puff pastry.  On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out puff pastry, extending it about 1/2 to 1-inch on all sides.  This won’t require a lot of rolling at all.  Find a dinner plate about the size of the 10-inch cast iron skillet.  Place the dinner plate on top of the puff pastry to use as a measuring guide to cut out a circle.  Cut the pastry about 1/2-inch bigger than the plate.  The extra dough you’ll just tuck into the cast iron.  Place the puff pastry in the fridge until the apples are done cooking.

Check apples after 10 minutes.  The caramel should be close.  Add any extra apple quarters if you find you have room. Let apples and caramel cook for another 5 minutes.  Keeping an eye on the caramel color.  There is no need to stir or otherwise disturb the caramel or apples… just watch.

After 15-18 minutes on the stovetop, remove the pan from heat.  Careful… this will be hot and heavy.

Carefully place the puff pastry over the hot apples, tucking into the edges of the puff pastry.  Don’t worry if it’s not smooth and perfect… it’ll bake up just fine.  Place the cast iron on top of the hot cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

Run a knife along the edges of the cast iron to make sure that none of the puff pastry edges are sticking to the pan.  Place a large plate on top of the cast iron and, using two giant pot holders, invert the plate and pan.  You should hear or feel a little drop as the tart falls onto the place.  Life the cast iron and you should have a gorgeous tarte tatin.

If any apple slices stuck to the cast iron, just remove them with a fork and place them right back in the tart.

Perfect!  This tart is best served warm but keeps for a day at room temperature.

 

 

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Questions

172 Responses

  1. Could you make this recipe with peaches somehow? I’d like to see how that turns out, pleeeeeeeeease. It looks wonderful, but I have a strong affection for all things peach related.

  2. I love tarte tatine! However, I usually use golden delicious apples, as I find that granny smith’s tend to get too soft and can make the tarte a bit “runny” :)

  3. the hot scalding sugar got me. i was placing the apples in and one slipped and splattered me…oy! other than that, this is one of my all time favorites. i combined your recipe and andrew zimmern’s version in his “cook like a parisian” series. the combo equals ecstasy. thank you.

  4. I just made this! Had some apprehension after reading how difficult it was on various websites, but figured what the hay.. peeled my 7 apples.. dropped my butter and sugar into the pan, started to arrange the apples.. OOPS! my cast iron skillet is 12″ not 10″, quick! double the recipe..peel more apples… ok.. so doubling the recipe wasn’t such a good idea.. smoke.. lots of smoke… but after the smoke cleared.. I have a beautiful Apple Tarte Tatin!. Will be serving at Christmas on Saturday! Thank you for the recipe!!!!!

  5. Joy, I just got my first cast iron skillet. Am planning to make this again in that rather than the All Clad skillet I used before. Do you first pre-heat the skillet (after coating with a bit of oil) before adding the butter? Or do you just stick the butter in and melt it without pre-heating the cast iron?

    Thanks!

    1. Although now that I compare mine to other people’s photos online it seems mine is too runny and the caramel a bit undercooked. I think next time I will cook the filling over high heat.

  6. I just made this fabulous dessert and it is currently sitting on my countertop waiting to be devoured. I’m sprawled on the couch icing a nasty burn courtesy of my devilish cast iron skillet while watching Marley and Me. Every few minutes (or possibly seconds) I glance towards the kitchen wondering if the tarte is finally cooled enough to eat. Ahhh I can’t wait to try this, it just looks so delicious! I don’t even care about the calories, plus I’m already planning on going to the gym twice tomorrow (but who are we kidding?) (:

  7. This looks so yummy! Couple questions: I watched the video and you say you bake at 425 degrees whereas recipe says 375. Which do you suggest? Also do you let it stand 10 min (per video) or 30 (per recipe) before inverting? Really want to try this!

  8. I wanted to make this tarte tatin, but I don’t own a cast iron skillet or an oven-safe metal pan. I found a Martha Stewart recipe in which she makes caramel on the stove, pours it into a buttered pie dish, and then tops it with apples and pastry before baking the whole thing. It was a SUCCESS! Joy’s recipe + Martha’s pie-dish technique = delicious apple caramel goodness :-)

  9. I am making this for dessert tonight!!! I can’t wait to try it! I have a pretty new cast iron skillet. I have been trying to use it as much as I can to season it (it was pre-seasoned too), but stuff still sticks to it (i’m sure I have a few more years till it is good and non-stick), so hoping that my apples don’t stick too bad!!

  10. I made this twice over Thanksgiving weekend. Once exactly as you described, and a second time modified for a smaller pan and a very strict diet. For the second tarte I made an olive oil crust (it’s no puff pastry, but it’s not bad) and I used 2 Tb. of butter in with the sugar. I used the proven combination of Granny Smiths and Fujis. My grandparents (who for medical reasons, follow a rigid diet that all but eliminates animal fat) really never get to eat dessert and couldn’t have been more delighted!

  11. I made this apple tart for friends last week for a 30th bday party, and everybody loved it, Great Recipe! I have to say that I did not flip it over, because it did not drop, guess I overcooked it a bit, but that did not affect the taste, it was delicious! I’m so not a baker, but Joy definitely helps!

  12. Was sent here from natalielloyd.blogspot about your apple tarte tatin. Love the video, love the dessert more!

    Gretta

  13. this apple tart is amazing! i am in the process of creating my second one!!!
    literally, the apples are caramelizing as i putting my fingers to the pad.
    yes!!!!!!
    sooooo freaking good!!!!

  14. Now I know why they call you Joy. Your recipes are a JOY to make and enJOY! I made this today and was amazed at how simple and easy it was. Everyone just loved it and it was gone in about 3 minutes! Thanks so much and look forward to another great recipe.

  15. I loove, love your video, It was so cute and funny, especially the part where you warn us not to take a second bite of the hot tart and then you do it yourself. Hahahaha! :P The Apple tart looks super good and I cant wait to try it. Thanks for posting.

  16. Aww… your video was adorable! :)
    I thought the recipe turned out really nicely, and I love anything I can cook using my cast iron skillet. Lower dish death toll that way. I’m wondering… would this work using half brown sugar? I was a little tempted to try it, but wanted to follow your recipe first.

    1. Yes brown sugar works just as well … Find it more flavourful too … I also dust my fruits with cinnamon and nutmeg.

  17. I just made this and it was an enormous hit! My entire family said it was the best thing they’ve ever tasted. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with just apples and butter and sugar, but this recipe is perfect! JOY YOU ARE AMAZING!

  18. This was delicious! My 13yr old daughter and I made this for my 15yr old daughter’s family b’day party. Grandparents were literally licking their plates clean!!! Your posts always seem to put a smile on my face….thank you!

  19. Joy,
    Is there an alternative to using a cast iron skillet? I know they work wonders, but they’re too heavy for me to lift. Any suggestions? Thanks!
    Cheers! Leslie
    PS This Apple Tarte Tatin looks fantastic!

    1. I’m currently experimenting with making a pear tart tartin, based on this recipe. I don’t have a cast iron, so I’m just using an all metal, oven safe pan. I’ll let you know how the results turn out.

      1. It was a great success! (And everyone was very impressed, thank you Joy!) I was expecting a lot of sticking, but it flipped beautifully and all in one piece. If you have some sort of oven safe metal pan, I say go for it!

  20. Just found your blog yesterday….so totally enjoying reading it!! Love your video! I am definitely going to be trying this out!! A cast iron skillet is definitely on my Christmas list this year! :)

  21. DEFINITELY making this Apple Tarte Tatin as a celebration when midterms are over. I’ve even bought all of the ingredients already…and, yes, I bought the GOOD puff pastry…with butter =)

  22. I made this last weekend for a friend’s birthday dinner (a birthday tatin, if you will) and while it tasted divine, the caramel was a bit runny/soupy. i mean, whatever, we still ate the entire thing, but i was wondering if i just need to bake it longer next time (caramel was pretty dark from the stovetop cooking)? thanks!

  23. I am super impressed! What an elegant dessert, but rustic at the same time! This looks so so so delicious! So few ingredients made such a wonderful dish! Thank you so much for making this recipe and making the video. When you make the videos, your recipes just come to life and make me want to make your recipes even more! I am so happy that I have a cast iron skillet…that I have only used once….cause now I have a new recipe to make in it! Happy, happy, happy!

  24. Hi-ya Joy!!
    Love the video! I love my cast iron skillet. It’s amazing, and how awesome to use for a tart?!? So, I just made the tart. The carmel was a little overcooked where the burner was (totally my fault), but it was still delish. It was so simple and easy. Plus, I used puff pastry for the first time. This stuff is amazing. Thanks for the idea!

  25. Lol, “how to make butter and sugar delicious”. They already are delicious!
    The Tarte looks even more delicious though, well done on not scalding yourself! I end up with a blister nearly every time I make that.

  26. Joy, I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and now I’ve finally “met” you in this great video! If you go to France with Gill I’d love to join you and bake Tarte Tatin in the French countryside ;-). Or you can come to Italy, if you want! I once made Tarte Tatin with homemade pastry but I only baked it, without putting it on the stove first. It didn’t caramelize properly, probably because of that. I’ll try again, in the traditional way! Thanks for sharing!

  27. What a great video! I avoid videos — reading a recipe is so much faster and easier, and so many how-to videos are really sad — and so I missed (until now) discovering how great BakeOut is!

    The two of you are wonderful!

  28. Hello!
    Ilove your site, and even though I’ve never commented before I thought of you right away when i saw this NYTimes post for a new chocolate flavor of Dafour’s Puff Pastry Dough. I haven’t seen it in my Whole Foods in NYC yet, but I’m sure we’ll get them soon and they will be out in LA in no time at all…

    Dafour Chocolate Puff Pastry Dough
    https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/dining/29pastry.html?ref=dining

    Keep up the great baking!
    -Rachael

  29. I made it tonight, at 7h30 pm, instead of doing the chores I usually do… And it was sooo easy and then so good to eat !! But I made mine a little paler than yours (the caramel I mean) cause I heard a French chef say not to cook entirely the caramel on the stove, as it will still continue to cook in the oven… and many thanks to you to show in your video how fun and simple it is to make ! Sometimes, some bakers or cooks complicate things for no reasons !
    And it was delicious !! Another recipe to go in my kitchen book !

  30. Awesome place called Fig in Charleston has a tomato tarte tatin. Epicurious has a couple that I modified. Same idea as apple, but tomato. With a splash of balsamic and serve with a dollop of goat cheese and basil garnish!!!

  31. ok, my son & I just sat here and watched your entire video :) What an easy recipe. I totally want to make this, and I’m definitely officially on the lookout for the good Puff Pastry!! See you at BlogHerFood this year?

  32. If this didn’t seem like a trip to the emergency room waiting to happen, I would totallyyy make it. Combining apples and puff pastry, yes please!
    Maybe, I’ll e-mail this recipe to my less klutzy and amazing baker friend to make for our potluck ;)

  33. Yum, Tarte Tatin. Looks lovely.
    Just one thing, though…it should read “reeeeeeeally”, not “reallllly”. Write it like you say it…you’re elongating the vowel not the consonent.

  34. I used to make these at the french restaurant where I worked in Chicago. Very yummy but it took patience placing the apple slices perfectly overlapping. I could use a nice warm piece of that with vanilla ice cream right about now.

  35. I’m going to have to try this…I would love to give it a whirl using King Arthur Flours “blitz puff pastry” recipe….you know, since i’m challenged with using anything store-bought…
    Even when it doesn’t even make sense to make it from scratch… :)
    Cathy B, @ brightbakes

  36. Another cast iron skillet recipe!!! I love it – since my make-shift temporary kitchen pretty much only has my one cast iron pan and nothing else. I’m so making this for my dinner party next week (yes, I have dinner parties!)

  37. This looks delicious. I made a similar Tarte Tatin a few weeks ago, but used pie crust rather than puff pastry. I have read several times that you shouldn’t use a cast iron skillet because the apples will burn, but that’s what I used also and it turned out fine. Happy cooking!

  38. This looks awesome. All of the recipes I have tried of yours have been great :)

    It’s super awesome that you were able to stand that baking in this heat in the LA area!
    I had to bake stuff for a friends event and was dying with the oven on, so you must have been with that 400 degree cast iron.

    :)
    Becca

  39. i noticed on the recipe it says pre-heat oven to 374 and on the video you said 425 to bake it. is it 425?
    thank you it looks so wonderful. ;)

  40. That looks so easy to do!! Can’t wait to try this with apples from our yard when they ripen.

    Oh, been meaning to tell you, I love the intro music to your videos. It’s got a teeny bit of a “Walk Like an Egyptian” sound to it.

    TJ

  41. Joy…sorry to say… but you burned your tart tatin!
    It doesn’t look good at all… half of the apples are black!
    Don’t teach things that you can’t do well, leave the difficult recipes for the french or people that can cook/bake and continue making cookies….

    1. Obviously your mother didn’t teach you good manners… If you don’t have anything nice to say you should just keep to yourself. Or maybe you should just go write in your own blog about your utterly perfect desserts and leave other people alone. Seriously.

      Joy, I love your site and your tatin look delicious! Mine turned out like a charm :)

    2. Black? Or extra delicious! Yummm…I dibs the super caramel part :) Oh and some people should probably stop reading blogs to attend an etiquette class. No names mentioned >cough cough The cookie shop cough cough<

      1. I thought it was amazing! You guys are so super cute.. I was jealous that I wasnt right there with you baking and burning my mouth on the NON-BURNT tart tatin! It looks FABULOUS!

        Oh, and Eric’s comment was halairous! Down with the Cookie Shop!!

  42. I’ve seen so many versions of the Tarte Tatin, but the basic is the same… One baker even turned the apples one at a time with a fork when it was caramelising… (meaning when it’s cooking on top of the oven), to make sure they’d be all coated with caramel, but I guess it’s more complicated this way !
    By the way, the sound of the Canon when you take your pictures, is just awesome !!! I want one for my food pics ! :))) Nice video !

  43. Joy, joy, joy… you’ve read my mind once again!! I have 15 kgs of pears and apples we hand pick in a farm a little week ago, and I couldn’t find a recipe of “tatin” I could trust… and I TRUST you!!! I think I will be using pears instead, as the apples sort of turned into chutneys…
    You are the Madonna of the Baking world! You Rock & Pop!!
    Thanks!!

  44. I watched your video then looked at the recipe, what should the temp of the oven be? 425 or 374? Looking for Dufour pastry online, not available in Utah, talked to the company and I said they should send you free product for all the free PR! Love your blog, you make me smile and laugh at your quirky sense of humor. Perfect!

  45. You guys are nuts! I’m sitting at my desk at work watching this on Monday morning and people
    are wondering why I’m laughing out loud. You two are delightfully zany together.

    Ron Merlin

  46. Love the bake-out videos they are so cute.
    And this sugar, apple, puff pastry love fest is going on the list for my group to make in my baking class today! hah

  47. I’m not a big fan of apple pie and the dough-ey crust but I might approve of the apple and the puff pastry relationship. I would really like to try it. Now to persuade my mother to let me use her cast iron skillet. Thanks for the recipe. and YAY for another Bake Out episode! Keep those coming! I love ’em! I love you two!

  48. This is amazing! As in, econ-midterm-in-half-an-hour-but-instead-of-cramming-I’m-sitting-at-my-computer-drooling-over-butter-sugar-apples-and-puff-pastry-with-more-butter-deliciousness-instead-of-cramming amazing.

    Maybe when I fail my midterm I can bribe my econ professor with this tart. Sound like a good plan? I think so.

  49. I love making these! So satisfying when flipping it over works… not so satisfying (but more exciting!) when it doesn’t. I just use pie crust, but I’ll give the puff pastry a try!

  50. WOW! This looks incredibly delicious with all the pictures, but then I watched the video and now I can not wait to make this, you made it look totally doable …..I am going to order a cast iron skillet right now.

  51. Hi Joy,

    Recipe looks delicious! I can’t use my cast iron pan on my new glass-top stove, so what type of pan would you recommend?

    Thanks!

      1. You can use a copper pan, a deep one that goes in the oven too. I’ve seen it on a cooking show… the results seem to be the same. I think copper pans are allowed on glass-top stove.

      2. Yes, as far as i know a cast iron pan shouldn’t be used on this stove. I do use my Le Creuset dutch oven all the time, but that’s enamel coated so it’s ok. I sometimes just want to try it with my old cast iron skillet, but I’m nervous I’ll ruin the stove?

        1. I think they tell you not to use it because the cast iron gets so hot and the pan is so heavy that it may break the glass or scratch it? But I’ve used the enamel coated cast iron pots and they have been fine. Maybe I’ll break the rules??!! haha.

  52. I’m so glad that butter and sugar are officially together, despite all the ups and downs. AND while the French sure do know things, I know that I’d have a hard time flipping that! Once I set my pizza stone on a pot holder and burnt it, so I don’t know about my skillz.

  53. Joy of Joy’s…. this is the first time that my laptop has allowed me to see your lovely photos, and just in time for tarte tatin – an all time favourite of mine. Does this mean I need to buy a cast-iron skillet now…? I second the idea of a ‘Bake Out’ DVD:-)

  54. 1. Joy, you inspire me.
    2. If Bake Out were a DVD I would buy it.
    3. I don’t often buy DVDs.
    4. Where do I find Dufour puff pastry? I really want to try making puff pastry but I’m scared and the fact that you buy it sort of makes it ok to buy it.
    5. I want to go apple picking.

  55. Your tarte looks lovely but I’m so depressed because I cannot see your video with Jill, my mac is not updated enough and it will never be… I could see the previous videos, what changed now?
    Please help…

  56. Jamie Oliver made this last night on the television! It certainly looks good.
    At least if you had smashed the plate you wouldn’t have minded :)
    Seems like the most scary recipe ever for someone who forgets pans on the stove are hot sometimes (aka me)

  57. in the video you said 425 degrees for the oven…your post says 374 degrees…
    which one is right?
    THANK YOU…it looks delicious :) can’t wait to make it…

  58. I love desserts that seem fancier/more difficult to make than they really are (case in point). I haven’t quite made it into fall baking mode yet (it’s been sweaty here lately!), but when I do…

    Thanks, Joy.

  59. I made my first caramel apple tarte tatin a couple weeks ago. I didn’t come out so well (it tasted pretty good though). I put it on a pretty white plate, but it still didn’t look real pretty. Anyway…. i think i might have to try one more time.

    Thanks Joy for all your fantastic inspiration!

  60. Hi Joy!
    I could almost smell the caramel…and I’ve always wondered how people flip all of that hot madness over without going to the ER after. Congrats on your (almost) injury free bake sesh (:
    Besos,
    Roxy
    ps i love your blog, im always procrastinating doing my homework checking out what shenanegans you’ve been up to

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