Irresistible French Apple Tart Recipe for Sweet Tooth Bliss

Sweet, golden-crusted French apple tart dancing with delicate layers of flavor promises an elegant dessert that will transport you straight to a Parisian bakery.

Buttery pastry cradles thin apple slices arranged with meticulous care and a whisper of cinnamon.

Each bite tells a story of classic French culinary tradition, where simplicity meets sophistication.

Delicate and refined, this tart showcases apples at their most beautiful, transformed by gentle baking into caramelized perfection.

The rustic charm of this dessert belies its impressive presentation, making you look like a seasoned pastry chef with minimal effort.

Subtle notes of vanilla and a light dusting of powdered sugar complete this irresistible treat that begs to be savored slowly.

Gather friends, slice generously, and let the magic of French baking enchant your evening.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 9

What’s in French Apple Tart

• Apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp): Choose firm, crisp apples with a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness that hold their shape during baking, ensuring a beautiful and textured tart.
• Granulated Sugar: Enhances the natural sweetness of apples and helps create a caramelized glaze that adds depth and shine to the tart.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic spice that complements the apples and creates a cozy, comforting flavor profile.

• Water: Helps dissolve sugar and creates a smooth, even syrup for coating the apples.
• Unsalted Butter (Melted): Provides rich flavor, helps achieve a golden-brown color, and adds a silky texture to the tart.
• Apricot Jam: Creates a beautiful, glossy finish that seals the apples and adds a subtle fruity sweetness to the tart.

Essential Tools to Make French Apple Tart

• Tart Pan (9-inch): Essential for creating the perfect tart shape with removable bottom.
• Rolling Pin: Helps roll out dough evenly and smoothly.
• Fork: Perfect for pricking pastry base and creating small holes.
• Mixing Bowl: Needed for combining dough ingredients.
• Sharp Knife: Great for thinly slicing apples with precision.
• Small Saucepan: Used for warming apricot jam glaze.
• Pastry Brush: Helps apply jam glaze evenly over the tart.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

Baking Instructions for French Apple Tart

• Pastry Foundation

Craft a delicate butter-based pastry that will cradle sweet apple slices. Mix flour, chilled butter, and sugar until crumbly, then bind with egg yolk and cold water. Allow dough to rest and chill, developing rich flavor and smooth texture.

• Dough Preparation

Roll out the rested pastry on a lightly dusted surface. Gently press into a tart pan, creating a delicate shell that will transform into a golden canvas for apple artistry. Prick the base to prevent unwanted puffing during baking.

• Apple Arrangement

Select crisp, firm apples and slice them with elegant precision. Layer the slices in graceful, overlapping circles across the pastry landscape. Sprinkle with a whisper of sugar and warm cinnamon, then drizzle with melted butter for a luxurious sheen.

• Baking Transformation

Slide the tart into a preheated oven, allowing heat to work its magic. Watch as the edges turn golden and apples soften, releasing their natural sweetness. After 40-45 minutes, the tart will emerge as a stunning masterpiece.

• Finishing Touch

Warm apricot jam creates a glossy glaze that adds a professional shine. Brush gently over the surface, creating a beautiful, translucent coating that elevates the tart from delicious to extraordinary.

Tricks to Improve French Apple Tart Flavor

• Chill your dough for at least 30 minutes to ensure a flaky, tender crust that melts in your mouth.
• Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of sweetness and texture in your tart.
• Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniform, paper-thin apple slices that create beautiful overlapping patterns and cook evenly.
• Experiment with a sprinkle of nutmeg or vanilla extract to add depth to the classic cinnamon-sugar combination, giving your tart a unique twist.
• Prepare the pastry dough up to two days in advance and store in the refrigerator, making your tart preparation quick and stress-free.

Serving French Apple Tart

• Elegant Dessert Pairing: Complement the French apple tart with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, creating a delightful temperature contrast between warm tart and cold creamy sweetness.
• Beverage Harmony: Serve alongside a crisp white wine like Riesling or a warm cup of Earl Grey tea, which beautifully enhance the tart's delicate apple and cinnamon notes.
• Presentation Perfection: Dust the tart with powdered sugar just before serving, adding an elegant finishing touch that makes the dessert look professionally crafted and inviting.
• Seasonal Celebration: Garnish with fresh mint leaves or candied apple peels to highlight the tart's autumn-inspired flavors and create a visually stunning dessert plate that feels both rustic and sophisticated.

Apple Tart Storage and Prep Advice

• Storing Sweet Success: Smart Apple Tart Strategies
• Fridge Finesse: Store your delicate French apple tart in an airtight container, where it will remain fresh for 2-3 days. Gently cover with plastic wrap to prevent moisture loss and maintain that perfect flaky crust.
• Room Temperature Magic: If enjoying within 24 hours, keep the tart on a decorative plate at room temperature. Covering loosely with a clean kitchen towel protects it from dust while allowing the pastry to stay crisp.
• Freezing Delight: Want to save a slice for later? Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Frozen tart sections stay delicious for up to one month. Thaw at room temperature for best texture and flavor restoration.
• Serving Sensation: Always serve slightly warmed for maximum enjoyment. A quick 5-10 minute gentle oven reheat at 300°F (150°C) revives the tart's original golden crispness and releases those wonderful cinnamon-apple aromas.

Elegant French Apple Tart Recipe

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4.5 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Delicate French apple tart brings classic Parisian pastry charm to home kitchens. Crisp buttery crust and caramelized apple slices promise a simple yet elegant dessert you can proudly serve.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 5–6 medium apples (Granny Smith or honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (approx. 700–850 g / 1.5–2 lbs)
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) water
• ¼ cup (75 g) apricot jam

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Instructions

1. Pastry Preparation: Mix all-purpose flour, chilled unsalted butter, and granulated sugar until crumbly, then combine with egg yolk and cold water to form a smooth dough.
2. Dough Resting: Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance texture and handling.
3. Crust Formation: Roll out chilled dough, carefully line a 9-inch tart pan, trimming excess and creating fork punctures to prevent bubbling.
4. Apple Arrangement: Slice apples thinly and create elegant overlapping circular patterns across the pastry crust.
5. Flavor Enhancement: Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over apple slices, then drizzle melted butter to promote caramelization.
6. Baking Process: Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 40-45 minutes until crust turns golden-brown and apples become tender.
7. Finishing Touch: Prepare apricot glaze by warming jam with water, then brush over the freshly baked tart to create a lustrous surface.
8. Serving: Allow tart to cool briefly before slicing, ensuring clean portions and a perfectly set crust.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerating the pastry dough for 30 minutes helps develop gluten structure, making the crust more tender and preventing shrinkage during baking.
• Slice Apples Uniformly: Cut apple slices to consistent thickness (about 1/8 inch) to ensure even cooking and create a visually stunning, professional-looking tart.
• Prevent Soggy Bottom: Dock the pastry base with fork punctures to allow steam to escape, preventing a wet, undercooked crust and maintaining a crisp texture.
• Glaze for Shine: Brushing warm apricot jam creates a professional-looking finish while adding a subtle sweetness and protecting the apple slices from drying out.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg