Rustic French Caramel Apple Tart

Welcome to the ultimate guide for creating a stunning caramel apple tart that combines crisp, seasonal apples with rich, golden caramel, all nestled in a buttery shortcrust pastry. This elegant dessert brings together classic French patisserie techniques with the comforting flavors of autumn.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The combination of flaky pastry, tender spiced apples, and smooth caramel creates an impressive dessert perfect for special occasions or weekend baking projects. The beauty of this tart lies in its simplicity – the ingredients work together to create something truly magical.

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 4-5 tablespoons ice-cold water

For the Apple Filling:

• 4-5 medium sweet-tart apples (like Honeycrisp or Gala)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch of sea salt

For the Caramel Sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup water
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon alcohol free vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Preparing the Pastry

1. In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, and salt until combined
2. Add cold butter cubes and pulse until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs
3. Gradually add ice water while pulsing until dough just comes together
4. Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour

Making the Filling

1. Wash, core, and thinly slice apples (about ⅛ inch thick)
2. Toss apple slices with lemon juice, sugar, and spices
3. Let stand for 15 minutes to release juices

Creating the Caramel

1. Heat sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat
2. Cook without stirring until mixture turns amber (about 8-10 minutes)
3. Carefully add cream, butter, vanilla, and salt
4. Stir until smooth and slightly thickened

Assembly and Baking

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
2. Roll pastry and fit into a 9-inch tart pan
3. Arrange apple slices in a decorative pattern
4. Pour half the caramel sauce over apples
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes until crust is golden and apples are tender
6. Drizzle remaining warm caramel before serving

Pro Tips

• Keep all ingredients cold while making the pastry
• Slice apples uniformly for even cooking
• Let tart cool for 20 minutes before serving
• Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

Storage Instructions

Store the tart covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 days. Warm slightly before serving.

Recipe Notes

All ingredients used in this recipe are halal-friendly. However, feel free to adjust the ingredients according to your dietary preferences and needs.