Quatre Quarts Aux Pommes Apple Upside Down Pound Cake Food

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter all sides of a 9-by-5-inch nonstick loaf pan, then pour the melted butter into the bottom of the pan. Scatter the dark brown sugar evenly over the melted butter. Arrange 7 slices of pineapple and the maraschino cherries in your preferred design along the bottom and up the sides of the pan, halving the slices as necessary. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill while the batter is prepared. (This will allow the fruit to set in the butter and minimize shifting when the batter is poured into the pan.)
• Cream the granulated sugar, lemon zest and 2 sticks room-temperature butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed, scraping the bowl down halfway through, until pale and fluffy, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• With the mixer on medium high, add the eggs and egg yolk in 1 at a time, making sure they are fully incorporated between each addition. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the vanilla and 1/4 cup sour cream; mix until incorporated. Add half of the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated, then repeat the steps with the remaining sour cream and dry ingredients, making sure to scrape the bowl down between each addition. Add the chopped pineapple and mix until just incorporated, about 15 seconds.
• Remove the prepared loaf pan from the refrigerator and carefully pour in the batter, being careful not to shift the assembled fruit. Using a small offset spatula, carefully spread the batter into the corners and smooth out the top. Give the pan 5 to 10 taps on the counter to release any large air pockets.
• Place a sheet pan on the bottom oven rack and bake the cake on the middle rack until the top is deep golden brown and a cake tester or knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes. Allow the cake to rest for 30 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.

APPLE BRETON POUND CAKE (QUATRE-QUARTS AUX POMMES)

Steps:

• Note: This recipe is based on 3 eggs weighing 150g. If your eggs weigh less or more, adapt your other ingredient measurements accordingly. See cooking notes above.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle. Grease a 9"x-5" loaf pan with butter and dust it lightly with flour.
• Melt the 150g of butter (for the batter) in a saucepan and set aside to cool.
• In large frying pan, over medium heat, add the diced apples, butter (for the apples), sugar and salt. When the butter starts to melt, mix gently to coat the apples. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the apples are lightly softened and caramelized. Do not overcook them, the dices should still hold their shape. Set aside to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until foamy and lighter in color. Whisk in the cool melted butter. Switch to a spoon or spatula, and mix in the flour and salt. Finally, fold in the apples.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until firm. Add a spoonful of the egg whites to the batter and mix to loosen the consistency. Add the rest of the egg whites and gently fold in with a spatula.
• Transfer the batter to the prepare pan and bake for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until golden and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and let cool to room temperature completely, before serving.

QUATRE-QUARTS AUX POMMES: (APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN POUND CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 410°F (210°C).
• In a non-stick saucepan, make a caramel sauce using the sugar cubes and 2 or 3 spoonfuls of water.
• Once the caramel has reached a golden brown or"blond" color, pour in into a cake pan.
• Tilt and rotate the pan so that the bottom is evenly covered with the caramel.
• Peel the apples and cut them into large wedges.
• Place the wedges onto the caramel.
• Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl.
• Add the eggs one at a time, then the flour and baking powder.
• Mix well.
• Pour batter over the apples.
• Bake 30-40 minutes.
• Let cool before removing from pan.

TARTE AUX POMMES (FRENCH APPLE - CUSTARD TART)

Steps:

• For crust: Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface turning it constantly so that it does not stick; add more flour as needed (the dough might crack around the edges, most of the cracks don't matter since the edges will be trimmed after the tart is in the pan, if there are some big ones that will show when the tart is in the pan, patch them with pieces of dough before fitting the) when the dough is rolled out, flip it over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom; fit it into the tart pan without stretching; roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart to cut off the dough hanging over the pan's edge; refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Place the tart pan on shallow baking sheet; fit the tart pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, fill with beans or pie weights, and bake in the middle of preheated oven for 15 minutes; carefully remove the foil with beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
• For filling: Turn the heat down to 375F; quarter, core, and peel the apples; cut into 1/4" lengthwise slices; toss them in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon, then arrange them in the crust in concentric circles; bake in the upper third of preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they start to color and are almost tender; remove from oven and let cool while preparing the custard.
• For custard: Beat the egg and sugar together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick, pale yellow, and falls back on itself forming a slowly dissolving ribbon; beat in the flour, then the cream, and finally the cognac; pour the mixture over the apples; it should come almost to the top of the pastry shell; return to oven for 10 minutes, or until cream begins to puff.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar (placed in a sieve and sprinkled evenly over) and return to oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Tart is done when top has browned and a knife plunged into the custard comes out clean; unmold the tart; cool 10 minutes and serve.

CHARLOTTE AUX POMMES (APPLE CHARLOTTE)

Steps:

• Cook and stir bread crumbs in butter over medium heat until toasted and golden brown.
• Mix sugar and lemon peel and cinnamon, set aside.
• Place 1 cup bread mixture in greased souffle dish or casserole pan.
• Top with half the apples and sugar mixture.
• Spoon half the jam on top. Repeat, ending with 1 cup of bread crumbs.
• Bake at 350 oven until apples are tender, about 35 - 40 minutes.
• Beat whipping cream and 2 tablespoons sugar an dvanilla in chilled bowl until stiff. Fold in Rum or Brandy, serve with the Apple Charlotte.