Rustic Apple Tarts With Calvados Whipped Cream Food

APPLE AND CALVADOS TART (GALETTE DE POMMES AU CALVADOS)

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• While pastry is chilling, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Toss slices with lemon juice and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
• Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat. Spread applesauce over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border, and top sauce with sliced apples, mounding slightly. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering apples (center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary. Dot apples with butter, then brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake galette in middle of oven until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
• While galette is baking, melt apple jelly in a very small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring.
• Slide baked galette on parchment onto a rack, then brush with melted jelly and cool galette until warm or room temperature.
• Beat together cream and confectioners sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until cream just holds soft peaks, then beat in Calvados. Serve galette topped with dollops of Calvados cream.

RUSTIC FRENCH APPLE TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Pulse briefly to combine. Add the cold butter and process just until the butter is the size of peas, about 5 seconds. Sprinkle the ice water over the mixture and process just until moistened and very crumbly, about 5 seconds. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead a few times, just until it comes together into a cohesive ball. Pat the dough into a disk. Flour your work surface again and dust the dough with flour, as well. Using a rolling pin, roll into a circle 8 to 10 inches in diameter, turning and adding more flour as necessary so the dough doesn't stick. Transfer the dough to the parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate while you prepare the filling (you'll roll the dough out further on the parchment paper so go ahead and clean your work surface).
• Make the Filling: Peel, core, and cut the apples into ⅛-inch-thick slices (you should have about 4 cups) and place in a large bowl. Add the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, melted butter, and salt; toss to combine.
• Take the dough from the fridge and slide the parchment paper onto the countertop. Roll the dough, directly on the parchment paper, into a 14-inch circle about ⅛ inch thick. It's fine if the edges are a little ragged. Place the parchment and dough back on the baking sheet - the pastry should curve up the lip of the pan.
• Assemble the tart: Sprinkle the flour evenly over the pastry. Arrange the apple slices on top in overlapping concentric circles to within 3 inches of the edge. Don't worry about making it look perfect! It doesn't make much difference in the end and you don't want the dough to get too warm. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples in a free-form fashion, working your way around and creating pleats as you go. Patch up any tears by pinching a bit of dough from the edge.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the pleated dough evenly with the beaten egg. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the turbinado sugar over the top crust and 1 tablespoon over the fruit. Chill the assembled tart in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the center position.
• Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden and cooked through. (It's okay if some of the juices leak from the tart onto the pan. The juices will burn on the pan but the tart should be fine -- just scrape any burnt bits away from the tart once it's baked.) Transfer the pan to a rack and let cool.
• While the tart cools, make the optional glaze. In a small bowl, mix the apricot jam with 1½ teaspoons water. Heat in the microwave until bubbling, about 20 seconds. Using a pastry brush, brush the apples with the apricot syrup.
• Use two large spatulas to transfer the tart to a serving plate or cutting board. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature. The tart is best served on the day it is made, but leftovers will keep, loosely covered on the countertop, for a few days.
• Note: Be sure to use baking apples that hold their shape when cooked, such as Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Fuji, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious. And use a mix of different varietals for the best flavor.
• Make Ahead: The dough can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated. Allow it to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes or until pliable before rolling.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The assembled tart may be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place the baking sheet in the freezer until the tart is frozen, then wrap tightly. (Wait until right before baking the tart to brush the beaten egg and sprinkle the sugar onto the crust.) Bake directly from the freezer. (It may take a few extra minutes to bake from frozen.)

APPLE CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar; beat in vanilla. Stir in flour. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a 6-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray; set aside. , For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Pour over crust. In a bowl, combine the apple, sugar and cinnamon; arrange over filling. Sprinkle with almonds. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with whipped cream and nutmeg if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

RUSTIC APPLE TART

Steps:

• Prepare crust. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and sugar, mix well. Add butter. Using a pastry blender or a fork, blend in butter until the mixture is crumbly, like oatmeal. Gradually add the ice water, 1-tablespoon at a time, just until the dough comes together. Be sure not to add too much water. Empty the dough from the mixing bowl on to a piece of waxed paper. Using the waxed paper, shape the dough into a flat disc. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least half an hour. You may also use your hands to form the dough into a disc but the less you touch the dough, the flakier the crust will be.
• Prepare apple filling. In a large mixing bowl, add sliced apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, white sugar and golden raisins. Toss well to combine. Add butter in small pieces and toss.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining with a piece of parchment paper. Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Remove dough from the refrigerator. On a floured surface, roll dough into a rough circle, about 13 inches in diameter or 1/4 inch in thickness. Gently roll dough back up onto the rolling pin and transfer onto baking sheet. Pour apple mixture into the centre of the dough.
• Gently fold up the edges of the dough over the apples, leaving the centre open. You want the tart to look quite rustic, not shaped evenly like a pie. Make an egg wash using 1 egg and a splash of water. Whisk well with a fork. Brush egg wash over the crust evenly with a pastry brush. Sprinkle the crust with white sugar. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the whole tart, gently pressing into the crust so they stick to the egg wash. Place in oven at 400° F and bake for 12 minutes. The high heat will help to cook the bottom of the tart well and to create a flakier crust.
• After 12 minutes, turn the oven down to 350° F and continue baking for another 25 to 30 minutes or until centre is bubbling and the crust is golden brown in colour. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a sprig of fresh mint and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

RUSTIC APPLE TART WITH RICH CREAM CHEESE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING: Peel the apples and cut them in half.
• Remove the cores with a paring knife.
• Cutting from blossom end to stem end, slice each half into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Combine the apple slices with the lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and the cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
• Stir to combine.
• Let the apples stand until the sugar is dissolved, about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice.
• Place a shaped large dough round on a baking sheet.
• Arrange the apples slices in 2 concentric circles on the large dough round or in one circle on the small rounds, overlapping the apple slices slightly.
• Brush the rim of the crust with the egg yolk.
• Sprinkle the apples with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with Vanilla Whipped Cream or ice cream on the side.
• Rustic Apple Tart is best served on the day it is made.
• TO MAKE THE CHEESE TART DOUGH: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the cream cheese, butter, 1 cup flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor.
• Process until the dough just comes together.
• It will be sticky.
• Sprinkle the parchment paper with flour.
• Turn the dough out onto the sheet and, with floured hands, press the dough into a rough 10-inch circle or four 5-inch circles.
• Roll about 1/2 inch of the edge of the circle inward to create a lip to catch the juices.
• Refrigerate the crust for 1 hour or wrap the baking sheet in plastic and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours until you are ready to use it.
• Shaped Rich Cream Cheese Tart Dough, wrapped in plastic, may be frozen for up to 2 months and used directly from the freezer.
• TO MAKE VANILLA WIHPPED CREAM: Combine the cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
• With an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip on high speed until the cream just holds stiff peaks.
• Do not over whip.
• Use immediately, or refrigerate it, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 6 hours.
• Whisk it again for a couple of seconds before using.
• NOTE: If you are having eight or fewer people for Thanksgiving, double this recipe and make eight individual tarts.
• The dough can be made and shaped weeks ahead of time, and the rest of the prep is minimal, leaving lots of time to prepare the rest of the meal.

RUSTIC APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the apples, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Roll the pastry, on a lightly floured surface, into a 12-inch round. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Arrange the pastry on the baking sheet. Put the apple mixture in the center of the pastry and spread evenly to the edges, but leaving enough dough to fold over to create a crust on the rim. Brush the crust with melted butter and drizzle the remaining butter over the apples.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
• While tart is cooking, put the peach preserves into a microwavable bowl and microwave until syrupy, about 20 seconds.
• Remove the tart from oven and brush with the warmed preserves. Pull the parchment paper off the sheet tray and transfer the tart to a wire rack to cool. Cut as desired and serve.