Apple Tarte Tatin for two in two mini cast iron skillets!
I know. How French of me. I'm really enjoying sharing my obsession with you. I'm also having a bit of a moment with simple French cuisine. It's been easy lately, because simple recipes require high quality ingredients, and my CSA is churning out some serious good stuff this time of year. I love the late summer/ early fall harvest. This is my first week with local apples, yet I'm still getting pints of sungold tomatoes. I can't think of anything better! Ooh, except fall's first kale and summer's last zucchini. No no no, how about the first acorn squash with a heavy, ebony eggplant? The eatin' is goooooood lately.
After I properly remedied my crêpe-less life last week with Crêpes for Two, I knew Apple Tarte Tatin was next. What I did not know is how easy it is! Apple Tarte Tatin is basically apples cooked in caramel with a sheet of puff pastry on top. Easy, right? And since you've all made my 15-minute puff pastry recipe, you are more than ready to make Tarte Tatin with it!
I made individual Tarte Tatins in two mini cast iron skillets. My skillets measure 5" wide and 1" deep. Please measure before using. I had a long email exchange between a reader who had countless failures making my Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundaes with the wrong size cast iron skillets. When we finally figured out her mini 3" skillets that were only ½" deep were the culprit, we were so relieved! So, grab your ruler and measure your mini skillets first, ok?
I should mention I didn't test this recipe in any alternative size pans, because these are just so cute. But, since the recipe is pretty simple, as long as your vessel holds the apples with at least a ½" space below the rim in order to stuff the puff pastry, you should be good. Don't quote me on that, though.
I cooked my apples in a separate skillet first, obviously. I didn't want to catch on fire while wielding two mini cast iron skillets over 10" gas burners. Plus, I'm really into these fall baggy sweaters (with skinny jeans!), which are highly flammable. Not that I learned by catching my sleeve on fire while making chai last year or anything. Not at all.
So, my friends. Think of this as an even easier, all American apple pie, with a French twist. You can do it!
These are the exact mini cast iron skillets I used.
Apple Tarte Tatin for two
This classic tarte tartin is perfect for two.
Ingredients
- ½ recipe of 15-minute puff pastry (or 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry)
- 3 small crisp apples*
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- whipped cream or sour cream + brown sugar, for serving
Instructions
- Have ready two mini 5" cast iron skillets that are at least 1" deep. If they aren't seasoned very well, rub a bit of butter inside the pans.
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- First, make the half-recipe for puff pastry, then cover the dough and chill. (Click on the link in the ingredient list for the recipe).
- Next, peel and core the apples. Slice each apple into 6 equal-sized lobes. Set aside.
- In a small 8" skillet over medium-low, add the sugar in an even layer. Let the sugar melt without stirring until it's bubbling and fully dissolved. Keep an eye on it, it can burn! To evenly distribute the sugar during cooking, tilt the pan gently--do not stir with an implement. If any sugar crystals get on the edge of the pan and won't drop back down, use a pastry brush dipped in water to nudge them back in.
- Once the sugar is turning a light golden color, add the butter a few pieces at a time. Be careful-it will splatter!
- Once all of the butter is incorporated, add the apples to the pan. Cook the apples in the caramel sauce, while stirring occasionally, until the caramel turns a deep amber brown. It will thicken to the consistency of maple syrup.
- Remove the apples from the pan (reserving the caramel sauce), and arrange them prettily in the cast iron skillets, cut side up. Use one piece in the center to 'anchor' the design, and arrange the slices around. Cram the apples in tight, they will shrink as it bakes.
- Next, to the reserved caramel sauce in the pan, add the salt and lemon juice. Swirl to stir. Pour this mixture evenly over the apples in the skillet.
- Next, remove the puff pastry from the fridge and flour a surface. Roll the pastry out to get 2 6" circles of dough. Cut out the circles, and move them to the skillets to cover the apples. Tuck the excess pastry down towards the bottom of the pan.
- Move the skillets to a small baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes. When done, the surface of the puff pastry should look dry.
- Let the tarte rest in the skillet for 5- 10 minutes. Then, place a serving plate on top of each, and using oven mitts, flip the skillet to turn out the tarte. If any apples slide around, move them back into place.
- Serve with whipped cream or brown sugar-sweetened sour cream
Notes
Use the smallest, squattest apples you can find. Organic apples are usually pretty wimpy in size, but big on flavor.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1764Total Fat: 115gSaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 84gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 832mgCarbohydrates: 168gFiber: 7gSugar: 46gProtein: 19g
Emma Crew says
Hi! I’m comparing this recipe to the one in Sweet and Simple, which has the same measurements for all ingredients except just one small apple and makes just a single dessert. Thoughts on the ratio of fruit to butter and sugar?
Christina Lane says
Same recipe :)
Molly p says
How long do you cook the apples in the skillet with the warm caramel?