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Craving a taste of French elegance in your kitchen? This stunning French Apple Tart with Pastry Cream combines the rich, smooth sweetness of pastry cream with crisp apples baked to perfection. It’s a show-stopping dessert that looks beautiful and tastes even better. Don’t worry if you’re not a pro baker—this recipe breaks everything down step-by-step, making it easy for beginners to create a restaurant-worthy tart right at home. Let’s get started on this delicious journey!
Apple Tart Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: FrenchDifficulty: MediumServings
8
servingsPrep time
1
hour10
minutesCooking time
1
hourCalories
350
kcalIngredients
- For the Pastry Dough:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into bits
1 large egg yolk
Ice-cold water
For the Pastry Cream:
3 large egg yolks
3 to 4 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup whole milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Apple Layer:
3 large or 4 small firm, tart apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
1 tbsp unsalted butter
- For the Glaze:
1/4 cup apricot jam
1 tbsp lemon juice or water
Directions
- Pastry Dough
- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter and mix with fingers or pastry cutter until butter is in pea-sized pieces.
- Step 2: Stir in egg yolk, then gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough comes together.
- Step 3: Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 2 hours (or overnight).
- Pastry Cream
- Step 1: In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until combined. Add flour and cornstarch; whisk until smooth.
- Step 2: In a saucepan, heat milk with vanilla bean until almost boiling (if using vanilla extract, add later).
- Step 3: Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture, then return to the saucepan.
- Step 4: Cook until thickened, constantly stirring. Remove from heat, whisk in vanilla extract (if using), and cool by placing plastic wrap directly on the cream’s surface.
- Assemble and Bake the Tart
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Step 2: Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness and fit into a 9-inch tart pan.
- Step 3: Spread chilled pastry cream on the dough, then arrange apple slices on top. Dot with butter.
- Step 4: Bake for 40 minutes, cover edges with foil if browning too fast, and bake another 10 minutes until apples are golden.
- Step 5: Warm apricot jam with lemon juice and brush over the apples. Cool tart before refrigerating.
Notes
- Use a baking sheet under the tart for easier handling.
- For a sweeter pastry crust, opt for a pate sucree recipe instead.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature for best flavor.
Final Thoughts
This French Apple Tart recipe is a perfect balance of crisp apples, silky pastry cream, and buttery crust—a dessert that looks as good as it tastes!
This French Apple Tart with Pastry Cream is an elegant dessert that’s well worth the effort. The buttery crust, smooth pastry cream, and perfectly tender apples create a stunning balance of flavor and texture. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or enjoying a special treat with family, this classic French tart will be the star of any table. Don’t let the prep time intimidate you—it’s beginner-friendly and absolutely delicious
