Jonathan Waxman Maple Apple Cake Food

APPLE, PEAR AND MACADAMIA TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with a handle over medium heat. Cook, swirling the skillet as needed to even out the color, until it is evenly very light amber, about 10 minutes. Add the butter and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and stir to combine, allowing the butter to melt. Carefully add the apples and pears, cut-side down. Finish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook the apples and pears for 12 minutes, then add the nuts, gently nestling the nuts with the fruit.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch round, then prick with a fork and lay on top of fruit. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the puff pastry is golden, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Remove and let cool for 15 minutes, then place a plate over the puff pastry and carefully flip the skillet over (use heatproof gloves). Let rest for 5 minutes, then lift the skillet off.
• Spoon into shallow dishes and garnish with whipped cream.

TARTE AUX POMMES

Steps:

• Crust: Place flour on a clean surface (preferably marble, granite, or wood). Make a well in the center. To the well, add salt, sugar, butter, and 1 tablespoon ice-cold water. With your fingertips, push the flour and butter together until large clumps form, adding more water if the mixture seems too dry to come together. When the mixture begins to look shaggy, begin pushing it forward with the heel of your hand. Continue pushing it together until the flour and butter are a single mass of dough. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour (or freeze up to 2 weeks).
• Parbake crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place a box grater into the glass pie dish. Grate half of the chilled (or frozen) dough on the wide holes of a box grater directly onto the bottom of the pie dish. Gently press the dough into the bottom of the dish; it should be ¼-inch thick. (Grate additional dough if it's too thin. Reserve remaining dough for another tart.) Lightly butter one side of a sheet of parchment paper and lay it onto the dough, buttered side down. Fill the pie dish with pie weights, dried beans, or uncooked rice, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove weights, beans, or rice and parchment paper, and continue baking uncovered until lightly brown, 10-15 minutes.
• Apple filling: Cut apples in half, core, and trim stem. Cut into very thin half-moon slices and place into a large mixing bowl.
• In the bowl, toss the apples with half of the melted butter and all but 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Pile the apples into the parbaked crust, then drizzle the remaining butter and sprinkle the rest of the sugar on top. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 35-40 minutes.
• Remove the tarte from the oven and cool slightly, 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into pieces. Serve warm or room temperature.