Save Indulge in the ultimate autumn dessert with this Salted Caramel Apple Tart. This French-American fusion combines a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry with tender apples and a rich, homemade caramel sauce that elevates every bite with a perfect sweet-salty balance.
Save The secret to this tart's success lies in the dual layers of caramel—one drizzled before baking to infuse the apples, and another added just before serving for a glossy, decadent finish that makes it a true showstopper.
Ingredients
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- Tart Crust: 1 1/4 cups (160 g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, cold and diced, 1/4 cup (30 g) powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, 1 large egg yolk, 2–3 tbsp ice water.
- Spiced Apple Filling: 5 medium apples (about 700 g, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar, 1/4 cup (50 g) light brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground allspice, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp unsalted butter.
- Salted Caramel Sauce: 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 3 tbsp (45 ml) water, 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream, 3 tbsp (45 g) unsalted butter, 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt, plus more for topping.
Instructions
- 1. Prepare the crust
- In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and 2 tbsp ice water; pulse just until dough forms. Add more water if needed. Shape into a disk, wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
- 2. Shape and blind bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch tart pan. Trim excess. Prick base with a fork. Line with parchment and fill with baking weights. Blind bake crust for 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment; bake 8 more minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool.
- 3. Prepare spiced apples
- In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with sugars, spices, and lemon juice. In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and cook 5–7 minutes until just tender but not mushy. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- 4. Make the caramel
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Cook over medium heat without stirring until deep amber, 6–8 minutes. Remove from heat, carefully whisk in cream (mixture will bubble). Add butter and sea salt; whisk until smooth. Cool slightly.
- 5. Assemble and bake
- Arrange spiced apples in the cooled tart crust. Drizzle with about half of the caramel sauce. Bake tart at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes, until apples are bubbling and crust is golden. Cool on a rack.
- 6. To serve
- Drizzle with remaining caramel and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung
For the flakiest crust, ensure your butter and water are ice-cold. When making the caramel, avoid stirring the sugar and water as it boils to prevent crystallization; simply swirl the pan gently if needed.
Varianten und Anpassungen
For extra crunch, add a handful of toasted chopped pecans or walnuts to the apple filling. While homemade caramel gives the best flavor, you can substitute store-bought caramel sauce in a pinch.
Serviervorschläge
Serve the tart warm or at room temperature. It is especially delicious when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
Save With its shimmering caramel finish and aromatic spices, this Salted Caramel Apple Tart is the ultimate way to celebrate seasonal flavors. It is a sophisticated yet comforting treat that will impress any guest.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I achieve a crisp tart crust?
Use cold butter and minimal handling when combining ingredients. Chill the dough before rolling out to prevent shrinking, and blind bake with weights to maintain shape and ensure a golden, crisp base.
- → What apples work best for the filling?
Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for balanced sweetness and texture that holds up during cooking.
- → How is the salted caramel sauce prepared?
Sugar is melted and cooked until amber, then carefully whisked with cream, butter, and sea salt to create a smooth, rich sauce that enhances the tart's flavor.
- → Can I prepare this tart ahead of time?
Yes, the tart can be assembled and refrigerated before baking. Bake just before serving to preserve crust crispness and freshness of flavors.
- → What variations can add texture to the filling?
Adding toasted chopped pecans or walnuts provides a crunchy contrast to the tender spiced apples and smooth caramel.
