Tiny Apple Tartes Tatin

, from Issue #72. May, 2017
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Tiny Apple Tartes Tatin

A classic that never goes out of favour – crispy pastry, tender caramelised apples, vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce. I keep it simple and just lay the pastry circles on top of the apples and bake them all on one tray – delicious. 

Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS

4 apples (I use royal gala or braeburn)
40 grams butter
3 tablespoons caster sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pre-rolled sheets butter puff pastry (25cm x 25cm)

To serve
vanilla bean ice cream
purchased dulce de leche or caramel sauce

METHOD

Line a lipped baking tray with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Peel the apples and cut in half through the equator (not through the stem). Melt the butter, caster sugar and lemon juice in a large sauté pan and cook for a few minutes until starting to caramelise.

Add the apples cut-side down, cover and cook for 7 minutes. Turn over and spoon over the pan juices. Cover again and continue to cook until the apples are tender when pierced
with a skewer but not falling apart. Cool. 

Stamp out circles of pastry about 2cm larger than the apples. Unless the apples are very big, I find 10cm is usually sufficient. Place the apples cut side down on the tray and cover each one with a pastry circle, gently cupping and pleating it around the apples.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until the pastry is a good golden colour and crisp.

Carefully flip the tarts over and place on plates. Top with ice cream and pour over the caramel sauce. Eat immediately. Makes 8.