Tarte Tatin
- 9 to 10 ounces Tart and Pie Dough (page 174) or puff pastry
- 3 to 4 pounds apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or another variety that holds its shape when cooked)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out to an 11-inch circle: 9 to 10 ounces Tart and Pie Dough (page 174) or puff pastry.
- Brush off any excess flour, transfer the dough circle to a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until needed.
- Quarter, peel, and core: 3 to 4 pounds apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or another variety that holds its shape when cooked).
- Dont worry about the peeled apples discoloring.
- Any browning will be invisible because of caramelization.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Put a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add: 2 tablespoons butter, 6 tablespoons sugar.
- Swirl the pan, or stir with a wooden spoon or heat-proof spatula to caramelize the mixture evenly.
- Cook until the caramel is dark brown and bubbly, but dont let it burn.
- Remove the pan from the heat when the caramel is a deep amber brown color.
- It will continue to cook and brown off the heat; return the pan to the heat to darken the caramel if necessary.
- The success of the tart depends on deep caramel flavor.
- While the pan is cooling, cut the apple quarters in half lengthwise.
- Arrange the apple slices in a ring around the outside edge of the pan, rounded sides down, with the narrower tips towards the center.
- Make another ring of apples inside the first ring.
- Fit two more rings of apples, rounded sides up, between the apple quarters that form the rings in the pan.
- Cut smaller pieces of apple to fill any gaps; the apples will shrink as they cook.
- Press down lightly on the apples to make sure they fit.
- Place the pastry circle on over the apples.
- When it has softened slightly, tuck the edges of the pastry between the fruit and the edge of the pan.
- Cut 3 or 4 small slashes in the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape while baking.
- Bake in the middle level of the oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the pastry is well browned.
- The contents of the pan should shift slightly when the pan is shaken gently.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for a minute or two.
- Place a serving plate larger than the pan upside down on top of the pan.
- Lift the two together, holding the plate tightly on top of the pan, and flip them over quickly.
- Give the pan a gentle twist and lift it off.
- If any fruit has stuck to the pan, remove it with a spatula and put it back in place on the tart.
- Serve warm with creme fraiche or vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
pie, apples, butter, sugar
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tarte-tatin-387280 (may not work)