FRENCH-STYLE APPLE TART (TARTE TATIN) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Using a 9-inch (23 cm) flat-sided cake pan as a template, cut a circle out from the puff pastry. Using a fork, poke holes all over to provide ventilation. Set aside.
• Peel and quarter the apples, using a spoon or melon baller to remove the cores.
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, distribute the water and sugar evenly and cook until light amber in color, stirring to help melt any lumps, 5-7 minutes. Add the butter, stirring constantly until the color is a creamy light brown. Add the apples, stirring until they are coated in a thick layer of caramel.
• Cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning the apples constantly so that they bathe in the caramel. Remove from the heat when the caramel has reduced and little remains in the bottom of the pan. Be careful not to burn the caramel, tasting it from time to time to ensure it does not taste bitter.
• Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles on the bottom of the cake pan. Press the apples tightly against each other, then pour the remaining caramel over the top.
• Lay the circle of puff pastry on top. Tuck the puff pastry down the sides of the pan.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and firm. Cool for about 1 hour, then invert onto a plate.
• Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream.
• Enjoy!

APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Coat a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly over the top of the butter.
• Place apple quarters, rounded sides down, on top of the butter and sugar in a circular pattern.
• Place skillet over medium-high heat and cook until butter melts and sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize. Continue to cook until apples soften and caramel begins to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle work surface with flour and roll pie dough into an 11-inch circle. Pinch edge to create a ruffle around crust.
• Place crust on top of apples and tuck in edges around apples.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Place a plate over the top of the pan and carefully invert to release tarte from the pan. Scrape any remaining apples stuck to the pan back on top of crust.

MINI CARAMEL APPLE TARTS (TARTE TATIN) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• To begin, peel, halve, and core your apples (melon ballers make a good tool for coring halved apples). You'll need one apple for every two tarts.
• In a medium sauce pan, about 3 quarts (1 liter), slowly heat sugar. You'll want to stir frequently until it dissolves into a brown syrup. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter into the sugar, stirring frequently. Add a dash of salt and the juice from ½ lemon.
• Lower the heat as low as it will go and add your apple halves. Toss to coat with caramel and let simmer 5-10 minutes until tender, flipping once.
• Cut puff pastry into circles to fit just within the top of your muffin tin.
• Place apple halves curve-side down in a large muffin tin. Pour remaining caramel over each apple half. Top with a circle of puff pastry to fit just inside the muffin tin.
• Bake 14-20 minutes at 450°F (230°C). Invert muffin pan onto baking sheet immediately. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
• Enjoy!

EASY APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a wide skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add in the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and salt and whisk to combine. Add the apples to the caramel mixture and gently stir together, coating the apples in the caramel. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are slightly tender, 5 to 8 minutes depending on the size of your apples. Note: If the mixture begins to get too thick, add some water to loosen it up.
• Transfer the apples to a 10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet and arrange them cut-side up, making sure to evenly cover the bottom of the skillet. Drizzle half the caramel sauce over the apples, then return the caramel to the heat and cook until thick and glossy, another 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Roughly measure and cut the puff pastry sheet to approximately the size of the top of the skillet. Place the puff pastry on top of the apples and gently tuck the sides in ever so slightly. Cut the remaining scraps of puff pastry and evenly spread across the top (this will give the tarte tatin some volume).
• Bake until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, invert a plate on top and quickly (but carefully) flip onto the plate. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and the remaining caramel sauce.

APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Core apples using a melon baller to retain the rounded shape of the apples. Rub apples with sliced lemons to prevent browning. Set aside.
• Over medium heat in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, heat sugar and 1/4 cup water. Cook until it turns a rich golden color; swirling occasionally, about 6 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, roll puff pastry in one direction out into a 14-inch circle on a lightly floured surface, about 1/8 inch thick. Brush off any excess flour with a pastry brush.
• Add butter to skillet. Once melted, add apples, rounded sides down, fitting as many into the skillet as possible. Remove from heat, and top apples with puff pastry. Fold edges under, and crimp slightly. Make two to three small cuts in puff pastry to allow the steam to escape. Place in oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. and bake until pastry is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and let cool about 2 minutes. Loosen edges with a knife. Carefully place a plate over the skillet and flip, inverting the tarte tatin. Serve warm or at room temperature.

EASY UPSIDE DOWN APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Peel, core& quarter apples; toss with lemon juice& 2 tbsp of the sugar.
• Let stand& toss again so that sugar is completely dissolved.
• In a 10 inch ovenproof skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
• Sprinkle remaining sugar evenly over butter.
• Stir just until sugar is dissolved& remove from heat.
• Place as many apple wedges as you can into the pan.
• They will actually stand on end but thats OK since they will shrink as the tarte cooks.
• Place the pan back over medium heat and cook the apples for 20- 25 minutes or until syrup has formed a thickened caramel.
• Cool slightly.
• Gently roll out pie shell (or puff pastry) to fit slightly larger than the pan.
• Place over the pan, trim edges& bake in preheated 400F oven for 20- 25 minutes or until pastry is crisp.
• Turn out onto a large platter& serve.

CARAMELISED UPSIDE-DOWN APPLE TART - TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Make a well in the centre of the flour. Put the egg yolks, sugar and a pinch of salt in the centre of the well, then add the butter and the water. Mix with your fingertips until the crumb stage. Use more water at your discretion. The dough must be very smooth. Shape into a ball and chill until firm.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan.When it starts to sizzle add the sugar all at once. Cook over medium heat, stirring now and then with a wooden spoon until caramelised to a deep golden brown. Cook gently once it starts to colour because it burns easily. This will take about 3 - 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until tepid.
• Arrange the apple halves upright in concentric circles to fill the pan. The apples will shrink during cooking so pack it in tightly. Cook the apples over high heat until caramelised, 15 - 25 minutes. Turn the apples over to caramelise on both sides - use a fork. Remove the pan from heat and let cool 10 - 15 minutes.
• Roll out the pastry into a round 2.5 cm larger than the frying pan. Roll up the dough around the rolling pin and transfer to the pan. Drape the dough over the pan. Tuck the edges of the dough down around the apples. Bake the tart in the heated oven until the crust is golden brown. 20 - 25 minutes.
• Let the tart cool until tepid in the pan then unmould it. Set a serving plate on top of the pan, hold firmly together and invert the two. If the apples stick to the pan, remove and replace on the tart. If any caramel remains, use it on the apples.
• Serve with creme fraiche.

CARAMELIZED APPLE TART: TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• To make the caramel: Have ready a 10-inch round cake pan with 3-inch sides. (Do not use a springform pan for this; it will leak!) In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is dark amber in color ¿ it's okay if there are a few sugar lumps remaining. When the caramel is done, carefully pour it into the cake pan. Don't touch the cake pan with unprotected hands ¿ it will be hot! Set the cake pan aside until caramel is cool. (The caramel-coated pan can be made up to 2 days in advance and left, covered, at room temperature.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Core the apples by cutting down, top to bottom, on all 4 sides around the core. You will have 2 apple halves and 2 smaller pieces. Arrange the first layer of apple halves, flat-side down, on top of the set caramel in the pan. (This will later become the top of the tart.) Arrange the remaining apple halves and pieces to form the second layer. Things will be a bit crowded at first, but the apples will shrink down when cooked. Place on a parchment paper-lined, sturdy baking sheet. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the apples are very tender.
• Meanwhile, on a lightly floured work surface, roll out the puff pastry dough into a round 1/4-inch thick. Cut out a 10-inch pastry circle and transfer it to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• When the apples are done, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer to a flat surface, taking care, as the caramel will be bubbling hot. Remove the pastry circle from the refrigerator and prick with a fork 15 times. Gently place on top of the cooked apples. Return tart to the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffy and golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 to 25 minutes.
• To serve, you will need a 12- to 14-inch diameter round serving platter and another sturdy baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet. Invert both the serving platter and the other baking sheet over the warm tatin pan. Using both hands, firmly grab both baking sheets and quickly flip over the pans ¿ doing this over the kitchen sink will cut down on any sticky mess. Remove the top baking sheet and carefully lift up the cake pan, using dry towels to avoid getting burned by the caramel. If any apples remain stuck to the pan, remove them with a metal spatula and place them back on the tart. This tart is best served warm.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, water, and melted butter on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Work quickly and do not overwork the dough. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, form it into a rough rectangle, enclose the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Meanwhile, put the remaining 14 ounces of butter between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and beat it with a rolling pin, turning as necessary, until softened. The butter should be malleable but not too soft. Set aside in a cool place ¿ the butter will later be spread on the dough as you start the folding process.
• Place the refrigerated dough on a well-floured work surface and dust the top of the dough lightly with flour. Using a rolling pin, push down on the dough to start flattening it, and then roll it into a 20 by 30 by 10-inch rectangle, 1/4 inch thick, with the long sides running from left to right. (It might feel that you're rolling sideways, and well, you are.) Carefully brush off any excess flour from the dough. Starting on the right side, and leaving a 1-inch border, slap and spread on the butter, using your fingers, over two-thirds of the rectangle. Fold the dough into thirds; starting with the left side, fold at the butter line as if closing a book, and then fold the right side up and over the top layer. You should end up with a stack of 3 thick layers of dough, each separated from the next by a layer of butter.
• As you prepare to make the first turn of the dough, keep in mind the importance of rolling the butter evenly along the length and width of the rectangle as you roll the dough. Adjust the pressure on the rolling pin as necessary, rolling harder or more evenly, to achieve a smoother, even, dough-enclosed butter sandwich. To begin your first turn, turn the dough 90 degrees on your work surface so the closed fold is at the top and, rolling lengthwise, roll It into a 20 by 10-inch rectangle. Brush off any excess flour and fold into thirds as above, starting with the left side and ending with the right. At this point, you have finished one turn. Rotate the dough 90 degrees so the closed fold is at the top, and repeat the rolling and folding process. The second turn is complete. After the second turn, or any time the dough is too soft to work with, transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate, covered in plastic wrap, for about 30 minutes, or until the dough is chilled and relaxed. Each time the dough is refrigerated, make an indentation in the dough with your fingertip for each turn completed. Repeat this rolling and folding process, rolling out the dough lengthwise every time, for more times for a total of 6 turns. After the sixth turn, let the dough rest a good hour in the refrigerator.
• Store the dough, as is, well wrapped in plastic wrap. The dough can be kept refrigerated up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 10 days. If frozen, thaw the dough, still wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator before using.

APPLE, PEAR AND MACADAMIA TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with a handle over medium heat. Cook, swirling the skillet as needed to even out the color, until it is evenly very light amber, about 10 minutes. Add the butter and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and stir to combine, allowing the butter to melt. Carefully add the apples and pears, cut-side down. Finish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook the apples and pears for 12 minutes, then add the nuts, gently nestling the nuts with the fruit.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch round, then prick with a fork and lay on top of fruit. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the puff pastry is golden, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Remove and let cool for 15 minutes, then place a plate over the puff pastry and carefully flip the skillet over (use heatproof gloves). Let rest for 5 minutes, then lift the skillet off.
• Spoon into shallow dishes and garnish with whipped cream.

APPLE-ROSEMARY TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• To make the crust, place the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse just to combine. Add the butter and pulse until most of the butter is incorporated into the flour. Add the yolk mixture and pulse until mixture just begins to come together. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
• To make the filling, place the sugar in an 11-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. When the sugar begins to melt, stir until it melts completely and turns into a caramel-colored syrup. Remove from the heat. Toss the apples with the melted butter and rosemary. Arrange the apples in the skillet on top of the syrup in 2 layers, making concentric circles; put the first layer in core side down and the second layer core side up.
• Place over medium heat and cover the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough out into a circle slightly larger than the skillet. Place the dough over the apples and fold in the extra dough, pressing it against the skillet to form a seal. Bake until the crust is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Let stand for 10 minutes. Quickly but carefully invert the skillet over a large plate or platter. Serve warm with creme fraiche or vanilla ice cream.

CRANBERRY APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Make the dough. Form into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic and chill one hour, or up to 3 days. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface, roll it to a 12-inch circle. Brush off any excess flour. Place the round on a sheet tray lined with wax or parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel, core and slice each apple in half. Slice each half in 3 sections and toss the apples in lemon juice. Set aside.
• Melt the butter, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice together in an ovenproof skillet measuring 10 inches across the top. (Bakelite handles are ovenproof.) Cook, stirring, until the mixture turns a light caramel color. Be careful not to overcook; it will continue to darken from the residual heat in the pan. Remove from heat.
• Arrange the apple slices, rounded side down, in a circle around the skillet and in the center. Scatter the cranberries between the slices. You'll have enough slices to stack them 2 deep.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and center it over the skillet. Using scissors, trim the circle so that it overhangs 1/2-inch all around. Tuck the edge down between the apples and the skillet. Lightly brush the dough with cold water and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake about 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and let sit on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Place a serving dish over the skillet and flip the whole thing to invert the tart onto the plate. (Don't forget to put a potholder over the skillet handle!) Serve with ginger whipped cream.

CARAMEL APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Lightly flour a work surface. Roll the puff pastry out so it is slightly larger than the top of a 10-inch cast-iron pan. Turn the pan over on top of the pastry and cut around the outside edge of the pan to remove excess. Place the puff pastry round onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Add the sugar, apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon water to the cast-iron pan. Turn to medium-high heat and stir the ingredients together so that the sugar is completely wet. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sugar turns a deep amber, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter and sea salt flakes; the mixture will bubble up slightly. Stir the caramel until the butter is completely melted and evenly incorporated. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the apples, then cut each into thirds around the core, leaving you three rounded discs per apple. At this point, the caramel will have cooled and perhaps even hardened; that's ok. Place the apple pieces rounded-side down into the pan on top of the caramel, overlapping the edges slightly so you have an outside circle of apples and an inside circle of apples. Turn the pan back up to medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once at a boil, turn the heat to medium low and simmer until the apples have softened and the excess juice from the apples has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the puff pastry round on top of the apples. Use a mini offset spatula or butter knife to tuck the edges of the puff pastry into the pan towards the apples, all along the edge. Whisk the egg together with a splash of water in a small bowl and then brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Bake until the puff pastry is a deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Using a serving platter that is at least 2 inches wider than the pan and has a small lip on it to catch excess caramel, place it over the top of the cooled tarte. Place a kitchen towel on top of the platter and then fold it down over the cast iron. Get a firm grip of the platter and cast iron in both hands before flipping the cast iron over, away from yourself. Remove the cast iron.
• Serve the tarte tatin immediately with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

PEAR, APPLE AND CRANBERRY TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• This ultimate fall and winter tart showcases the best fruits of the season: pears, apples and cranberries. Unlike other tarts, the tarte tatin is made upside down in a skillet. You start by cooking the fruit, then top it with the dough, carefully tuck in the edges and let it cook. When it's ready you invert the whole tart onto a plate. It comes out looking beautiful and is actually much easier than you might imagine.
• To prepare crust: Place flour, oats, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor; process until the oats are finely ground. Add butter one piece at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until incorporated. Add oil and water and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times until it holds together. Form the dough into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic or wax paper and refrigerate while you prepare the filling. Preheat oven to 375degreesF.
• To prepare filling: Toss pears and apple with lemon juice in a large bowl. Place brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and ginger in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet; cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the butter and sugar are melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Remove from the heat. Starting at the center of the pan, arrange the pear and apple slices in concentric circles, overlapping the slices and adding another layer until all the slices are in the pan. Scatter cranberries on top. Return the pan to medium-low heat and bring the liquid to a simmer. (It might be hard to see the simmering-take a peek under the fruit or listen for the bubbling.) Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook, gently swirling the pan occasionally, until the sauce becomes a thick, caramel-like glaze, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Roll the dough out between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough over the fruit. Peel off the remaining paper. Quickly tuck the edges of the crust down into the sides of the pan. Prick the top with a fork. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until the crust is just beginning to brown around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the crust. Place a serving plate larger than the pan on top of it and invert the tart onto the plate (it may take a light shaking to release the tart from the pan). Serve warm.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 274 calories; 12 g fat (6 g sat, 2 g mono); 23 mg cholesterol; 41 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 5 g fiber; 146 mg sodium; 135 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Iron (15% daily value). 2 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 carbohydrate (other), 2 fat
• TIP: Ingredient note: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour. Available in large supermarkets and in natural-foods stores. Store in the freezer.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare the crust (Step 1), wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

APPLE-QUINCE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• To make the dough, in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl with a pastry blender), mix together the flour, the 2 teaspoons sugar, and the salt. Add the 4 tablespoons (2 ounces/60 g) chilled butter pieces and keep mixing until the butter pieces are about the size of corn kernels. Add the ice water and mix until the dough comes together. Gather the dough and shape it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• To prepare the fruit and assemble the tart, peel, quarter, and core the apples. Peel, quarter, and core the quinces, then cut them into 1/4-inch (6-mm) slices. Melt the 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces/145 g) butter in a 10-inch (25-cm) cast iron skillet. Sprinkle the 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar over the bottom of the pan and remove from the heat.
• Pack the apples tightly in the pan, standing them on end, with the cored sides facing inward. It may seem like a lot of fruit, but they'll cook down considerably. Insert the quince slices between the apples.
• Place the skillet on the stovetop and cook over medium heat until the juices thicken and become lightly caramelized, about 25 minutes. While they're cooking, press down on the apples to ease them into the pan and promote caramelization.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough into a 12-inch (30-cm) circle. Drape the dough over the apples in the skillet and tuck the edges down between the sides of the skillet and the apples.
• Bake the tart until the pastry has browned, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and invert a serving plate over the skillet. Wearing long oven mitts, grasp both the skillet and the plate and turn them over together, away from you, to unmold the tart. Be careful of any hot juices that may spill out!
• Although purists say tarte Tatin is best served on its own, others appreciate a spoonful of crème fraîche or Vanilla Ice Cream (page 143) on top or alongside.
• The dough can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 1 month. Tarte Tatin should be served warm the day it's made. You can make it an hour or so in advance and leave it on the serving plate, under the overturned skillet, to keep it warm after baking. It can also be rewarmed in a low oven.
• Poaching the quince before assembling the tart will turn them a lovely ruby-red color and bring out even more flavor: In a medium saucepan, bring 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar, 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water, and a 2-inch (5-cm) piece of vanilla bean, split lengthwise, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then decrease the heat to maintain a simmer.
• Peel, core, and cut the quinces into eighths. Put the pieces in the saucepan, cover with a circle of parchment paper cut to fit inside the pan, and simmer gently, covered, until tender, 30 to 60 minutes. Once poached, the quince can be kept in the refrigerator in the poaching liquid for up to 1 week. When assembling the tart, tuck the poached quince pieces between the apples. The poaching liquid can be reduced in a skillet until thick and syrupy, cooled slightly, and used as a sauce, if desired.
• Use a full-flavored apple, one that won't turn to mush during cooking. Winesap, Granny Smith, Northern Spy, Pippin, and Jonagold work well.

CARAMEL APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Dissolve the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is clear, about 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the heat to high and cook without stirring until the caramel turns a honeybrown color, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat immediately and cool while you prepare the apples.
• Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Melt the butter in the skillet. Arrange a fan of apple slices in a circle around the perimeter and fill in the center with the remaining slices. Cover and cook on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the apples begin to soften. While the apples cook, carefully stir the sour cream into the cooled caramel (it may sputter if the caramel is still very hot). When the apples are becoming tender, sprinkle on the lemon juice and salt and pour the caramel evenly over the apples.
• Trim the corners from the pastry to make a rough circle about 10 inches in diameter. Fit the dough over the apples, tucking in the edges around the inside of the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Cover with a plate larger than the skillet and invert very carefully to unmold the tart onto the plate. Serve warm.

APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in bottom third of oven. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Place in a large mixing bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.
• Place the sugar in a 10-inch skillet or tarte Tatin pan over low heat. When some of the sugar begins to melt, begin stirring with a wooden spoon until all the sugar is melted and begins to turn a pale golden color.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Begin arranging apple pieces in the skillet, rounded side down, in concentric circles, fitting them together as close as possible. Fill the center with 2 or 3 apple pieces, as needed. Arrange the remaining pieces, rounded side up, in concentric circles, filling in the gaps left in the first layer.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter over the apples. Place the pan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar turns a deep caramel color and the juices released from the apples are nearly evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll the dough and cover the apples according to the directions in the pastry recipe. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Run a small, sharp knife around the edge of the tarte to loosen. Place a large plate or platter over the skillet. Holding the plate and skillet together using 2 kitchen towels, carefully but quickly invert the tarte onto the plate. Let stand a few minutes to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve with creme fraiche if desired.

MINI APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk to combine sugar with 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Without stirring, cook mixture until dark amber in color, 10 to 12 minutes. Pour 1 tablespoon caramel into the bottom of a standard 10 1/2-by-13 1/2-inch muffin tin. Add 1 teaspoon butter to each muffin cup. Set aside.
• Combine cranberries and walnuts in a small bowl. Using a teaspoon, fill apple's center with cranberry mixture; repeat with remaining apples. Place apples, stem-side down, into caramel.
• Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry to a 12-inch square. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out twelve circles. Place puff-pastry circles over apples, tucking pastry around apples. Bake at 375 degrees until pastry is golden brown and puffed, 30 to 35 minutes. Turn out immediately onto a Silpat-lined baking sheet. Serve immediately.

CARAMEL APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Dissolve the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is clear, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Turn the heat to high and cook without stirring until the caramel turns a honeybrown color, about 5 more minutes.
• Remove from the heat immediately and cool while you prepare the apples.
• Peel, core, and quarter the apples.
• Melt the butter in na 8-9 inch skillet or cast iron pan.
• Arrange a fan of apple slices in a circle around the perimeter and fill in the center with the remaining slices.
• Cover and cook on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the apples begin to soften.
• While the apples cook, carefully stir the sour cream into the cooled caramel (it may sputter if the caramel is still very hot).
• When the apples are becoming tender, sprinkle on the lemon juice and salt and pour the caramel evenly over the apples.
• Trim the corners from the pastry to make a rough circle about 10 inches in diameter.
• Fit the dough over the apples, tucking in the edges around the inside of the pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden.
• Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Cover with a plate larger than the skillet and invert very carefully to unmold the tart onto the plate.
• Serve warm.

APPLE AND PERSIMMON TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter in 11" skillet over medium heat, brushing sides of skillet with butter as it melts. Sprinkle sugar evenly over bottom of skillet and scrape in vanilla seeds; save pod for another use. Cook, undisturbed, until sugar is evenly moistened, about 1 minute. Stir in salt and 1 Tbsp. brandy, then remove pan from heat.
• Arrange as many apples as fit, rounded side down, in a tightly packed circle around outside edge of skillet; reserve remaining apples. Fill in center with persimmons, rounded side down. Cook over medium heat until juices begin to bubble, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking (as apples cook, they will shrink; nudge remaining raw apples into gaps, reserving any extra pieces for another use) until apples are tender and caramel is a deep golden color, 35-40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Set skillet on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips.
• Gently roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface and smooth out creases. Cut into a round that will fit snugly and flush inside skillet. Drape puff pastry over apples. Bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, 30-35 minutes.
• Transfer skillet to a wire rack and let stand until bubbling caramel subsides, about 5 minutes. Gently run a butter knife around edges of skillet, then invert a platter with lip over skillet. Using pot holders to hold skillet and platter tightly together, invert tart onto platter. Using a table knife or rubber spatula, press any fruit that sticks to skillet onto tart, then brush any excess caramel in skillet over tart. Let cool at least 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream to medium peaks in a large bowl, then fold in remaining 1 tsp. brandy. Serve tart with whipped cream.

FUJI APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 3-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Peel, quarter and core apples; place in bowl and set aside.
• Combine sugar and 6 tablespoons water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add butter (caramel will bubble vigorously); stir to blend. Pour caramel into prepared pan. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Working carefully, stand apples on end in concentric circles in pan, crowding together as much as possible. Cut any remaining apple quarters into thin wedges; insert into empty spaces. Place pan directly over medium heat and bring caramel to simmer, about 2 minutes.
• Place pan in oven; bake until apples are tender and caramel bubbles thickly, occasionally pressing apples lightly with spatula to compact, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, unfold pastry sheet on work surface. Using 9-inch tart pan bottom as aid, cut out 9-inch round; pierce all over with fork. Chill until ready to use.
• Remove pan from oven. Top apples with pastry; tuck in edges. Return to oven; bake until pastry is golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool tart completely in pan, about 3 hours.
• Place platter atop pan. Hold platter and pan and invert; tart will fall out onto platter. Cut into wedges and serve.