The French Apple Tart, or Tarte aux Pommes, is a stunning and elegant dessert with a delicate buttery crust, beautifully arranged apple slices, and a sweet glaze that gives the tart its signature sheen. This classic French dessert is deceptively simple to make yet delivers a sophisticated taste that delights any crowd.
If you’re looking to impress your guests or simply want to try your hand at making something special, this French Apple Tart recipe is the perfect place to start.
Why French Apple Tart?
Unlike the more rustic American-style apple pie, French Apple Tart is sleek and refined. Its thin, precisely layered apple slices and crisp, buttery pastry crust make it the ideal dessert for special occasions. The tart is lightly sweetened, allowing the natural flavors of the apples to shine through, and it’s often finished with a glaze that adds both flavor and a beautiful glossy finish.
The great thing about a French Apple Tart is that it strikes the perfect balance between being a comforting, homey dessert and an elegant treat fit for entertaining. Whether it’s for a cozy family dinner or an upscale gathering, this tart is guaranteed to be a hit.
Ingredients for French Apple Tart
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious tart.
For the Pastry Crust (Pâte Brisée):
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
- 2-3 tablespoons ice water
For the Filling:
- 4-5 medium apples (Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or a mix of both)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Glaze:
- ¼ cup apricot jam or apple jelly
- 1 tablespoon water
Step-by-Step Recipe for French Apple Tart
1. Prepare the Pastry Crust (Pâte Brisée)
The foundation of any French tart is its crust. We’re using pâte brisée, a classic French pastry dough, which is flaky and buttery but not overly sweet. It’s the perfect base for the lightly sweetened apple filling.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. This forms the base for your dough.
- Cut in the Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter, your fingers, or a food processor, blend the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter throughout. These small bits of butter will create a flaky texture when the dough is baked.
- Add Ice Water: Slowly add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, while mixing the dough with a fork or your hands. The dough should start coming together but should not be too sticky.
- Form the Dough: Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out and helps prevent the crust from shrinking during baking.
2. Roll Out the Dough
Once the dough is chilled, it’s time to roll it out and prepare the tart shell.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. The dough should be about ¼-inch thick. If the dough cracks while rolling, don’t worry—just press it back together with your fingers.
- Transfer to the Tart Pan: Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough to a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Gently press the dough into the pan, making sure it covers the bottom and sides. Trim any excess dough hanging over the edges.
- Chill the Tart Shell: Chill the tart shell in the refrigerator for another 15-20 minutes. This ensures the dough stays firm and doesn’t shrink during baking.
3. Par-Bake the Tart Shell
To keep the crust crisp and avoid a soggy bottom, you’ll need to par-bake the tart shell before adding the apple filling.
- Blind Bake the Tart Shell: Line the chilled tart shell with parchment paper or aluminum foil and fill it with pie weights, dried beans, or rice. This prevents the dough from puffing up while baking.
- Bake: Bake the tart shell in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until it starts to set. Remove the weights and parchment paper, and bake for another 5-7 minutes until the crust is lightly golden.
- Cool: Let the tart shell cool slightly while you prepare the apple filling.
4. Prepare the Apple Filling
The star of this tart is, of course, the apples. To achieve that beautiful, layered look, you’ll want to use thin slices of apples that will bake to tender perfection.
- Peel and Slice the Apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly, about ⅛-inch thick. You can use a mandoline slicer to get even slices, or simply use a sharp knife.
- Toss with Lemon Juice: In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice. This not only prevents the apples from browning but also adds a hint of tartness to balance the sweetness of the apples.
- Sweeten the Apples: Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon (if using) over the apples and toss to coat. The sugar will lightly caramelize during baking, giving the apples a sweet, golden finish.
5. Assemble the Tart
Now comes the fun part—assembling the tart.
- Arrange the Apples: Starting from the outside edge of the tart shell, arrange the apple slices in a circular pattern, slightly overlapping each slice. Work your way toward the center of the tart, continuing to layer the apples until the entire tart is filled. The goal is to create a beautiful, concentric spiral of apple slices.
- Brush with Butter: Once the apples are arranged, brush the melted butter evenly over the top of the apples. The butter will help the apples brown and give them a rich, buttery flavor.
- Bake the Tart: Place the assembled tart in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes at 375°F (190°C) until the apples are tender and the edges are golden brown. Keep an eye on the tart—if the edges of the crust are browning too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
6. Glaze the Tart
The final touch for a French Apple Tart is the apricot or apple glaze that gives the tart its signature glossy finish.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small saucepan, heat the apricot jam or apple jelly with water over low heat until the mixture becomes smooth and liquid. If the jam is too thick, you can strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove any fruit chunks.
- Brush the Tart: As soon as the tart comes out of the oven, gently brush the warm glaze over the apples. The glaze will add a subtle sweetness and a beautiful shine to the tart.
7. Cool and Serve
Let the tart cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the apples and filling to set, making it easier to slice.
- Serve Warm or at Room Temperature: French Apple Tart can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. For an extra indulgent touch, serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Making the Perfect French Apple Tart
- Choose the Right Apples: The best apples for a French Apple Tart are firm varieties like Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp. These apples hold their shape well during baking and provide a good balance of sweetness and tartness. Mixing a few varieties can also add depth to the flavor.
- Don’t Skip the Glaze: The apricot or apple glaze not only makes the tart look beautiful, but it also adds a subtle sweetness and shine that elevates the entire dessert. If you don’t have apricot jam, apple jelly works just as well.
- Par-Bake for a Crispy Crust: Par-baking the tart shell before adding the apple filling helps prevent the crust from becoming soggy. It’s an essential step for achieving that crisp, buttery base that contrasts perfectly with the soft apples.
- Thin, Even Apple Slices: To get that beautiful, uniform look, aim for apple slices that are thin and even. Using a mandoline slicer can help you achieve this, but if you’re using a knife, take your time to slice the apples as thinly as possible.
A French Classic for Every Occasion
The French Apple Tart is a classic dessert that never goes out of style. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply want to treat yourself to something special, this tart is sure to impress with its elegant presentation and delicious flavor.
Despite its sophisticated appearance, the tart is surprisingly simple to make, especially if you follow the step-by-step instructions in this guide. Once you’ve mastered the art of making a French Apple Tart.