Salted Caramel Apple Tart Tatin

Serves: 5

Jonathan Flatley

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

56

Spice

43

Sweetness

53

Sourness

46

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Sugar

Directions:

1

Top the apples with the pastry round, pressing down and tucking in the edges

2

Position the oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F

3

Spray an 8 by 3-inch round cake pan with nonstick spray

4

Combine the sugar and 6 tablespoons water in a heavy medium saucepan

5

Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves

6

You will not stir the sugar after this point

7

Increase the heat and bring to a boil

8

Do not stir

9

Cook until the syrup is a deep amber color, 8 to 10 minutes

10

Remove the pan from the heat

11

Carefully add the butter (the caramel will bubble vigorously)

12

Stir to blend, then add the flaked sea salt

13

Pour the caramel into the prepared cake pan

14

Let cool 5 minutes

15

Peel, quarter and core the apples

16

Cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

17

You don't want to cut the slices too thin because they will fall apart or break down when cooked - the 1/2-inch slices will hold their shape

18

Fill a large bowl with water and add the lemon juice

19

Place the apple slices in the acidulated water and set aside

20

This will keep the apples white

21

Place the cake pan over a stovetop burner, but don't turn the burner on

22

Lay 2 apple slices in the center of the pan on top of the caramel

23

Arrange the remaining apple slices in a circle, overlapping one another so that the end result looks similar to a rose

24

While layering, occasionally press down on the apples to make sure they all fit into the pan

25

If the caramel starts to set, turn the heat on very low to help loosen it up

26

With an oven mitt (the pan may be hot), pop the pan into the oven

27

Bake until the apples are tender and the caramel bubbles thickly, about 1 1/2 hours

28

Meanwhile, unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface

29

Using a clean 9-inch round cake pan bottom as an aid, trace and cut out a 9-inch round from the pastry

30

Remove the pan from the oven

31

Pierce or dock the pastry all over with a fork

32

Return the pan to the oven and bake until the pastry is golden, about 25 minutes

33

Remove from the oven and cool the tart completely in the pan

34

Invert a platter or cake stand over the cake pan

35

Hold the platter and the pan and invert

36

The tart will fall out onto the platter

37

If the tart does not cooperate, run the edge with a knife and place over medium heat until slightly warmed, then invert the pan onto the platter

38

Cut into wedges and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired