Vanilla Bean Tarte Tatin

Serves: 6

Halle Leffler

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

60

Sweetness

52

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Sugar

2 tbsps

Unsalted Butter

1 tsp

Kosher Salt

Directions:

1

Preheat oven to 425°

2

Cut apples as close to core as possible into three lobes; set aside

3

Scatter half of sugar in a heavy 9" skillet and scrape in vanilla seeds; discard pod

4

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is melted and starting to caramelize, 6–8 minutes (if using a cast-iron skillet, test the color of the caramel by spooning some onto a white plate

5

It should be pale amber)

6

Add remaining sugar and cook until all sugar is dissolved and has taken on a deep amber color

7

Stir in butter, vinegar, and salt

8

Place apples cut side down in skillet and cook until they start giving up some of their juices and shrink slightly, 5–8 minutes

9

Carefully turn apples over and scoot them together so they overlap slightly

10

(The apples will shrink more as they bake, so they need to be tightly packed from the beginning

11

) Remove from heat

12

Gently roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface just to smooth out creases; cut into a round that will fit snugly and flush inside skillet

13

Drape puff pastry over apples and transfer skillet to oven

14

Bake until pastry is puffed and starting to brown in spots, 20–25 minutes

15

Reduce heat to 350° and bake until apples are tender and pastry is golden brown and cooked all the way through, 20–25 minutes longer

16

Let rest 5 minutes before inverting onto a platter

17

Preheat oven to 425°

18

Cut apples as close to core as possible into three lobes; set aside

19

Scatter half of sugar in a heavy 9" skillet and scrape in vanilla seeds; discard pod

20

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is melted and starting to caramelize, 6–8 minutes (if using a cast-iron skillet, test the color of the caramel by spooning some onto a white plate

21

It should be pale amber)

22

Add remaining sugar and cook until all sugar is dissolved and has taken on a deep amber color

23

Stir in butter, vinegar, and salt

24

Place apples cut side down in skillet and cook until they start giving up some of their juices and shrink slightly, 5–8 minutes

25

Carefully turn apples over and scoot them together so they overlap slightly

26

(The apples will shrink more as they bake, so they need to be tightly packed from the beginning

27

) Remove from heat

28

Gently roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface just to smooth out creases; cut into a round that will fit snugly and flush inside skillet

29

Drape puff pastry over apples and transfer skillet to oven

30

Bake until pastry is puffed and starting to brown in spots, 20–25 minutes

31

Reduce heat to 350° and bake until apples are tender and pastry is golden brown and cooked all the way through, 20–25 minutes longer

32

Let rest 5 minutes before inverting onto a platter