Description
This Apple Tart from Scratch features a flaky homemade crust filled with tender, spiced apple slices arranged beautifully in a classic fan pattern. The tart balances the tartness of red and green apples with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh ginger, then finishes with a glossy peach preserve glaze. Perfect for a cozy dessert or elegant brunch treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 5 apples (cored and thinly sliced; use a mix of red and green tart apples)
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Crust
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
For Assembly
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
- Small pieces of butter for dotting
- 1/4 cup peach preserves (or apricot preserves, melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to ensure it is ready for baking the tart.
- Prepare the apples: Wash, dry, core, and thinly slice the apples using a mandoline if possible for uniform thickness. This helps the apples cook evenly and look attractive.
- Mix the filling: In a large bowl, gently toss the sliced apples with the brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, freshly grated ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and salt. This mixture will infuse the apples with bright, warm, and spiced flavors.
- Make the crust dough: In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the melted unsalted butter and stir until a cohesive dough forms. Then incorporate the cold butter cubes to add flakiness to the crust.
- Roll and press the crust: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough. Press it evenly into a 10 to 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. If your pan does not have a removable bottom, place parchment paper at the bottom for easy removal later. Smooth out any cracks or uneven areas.
- Assemble the tart: Arrange the apple slices on top of the crust in a tight fan or rose pattern, starting at the outer edge and working inward. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the fruit and dot with small pieces of butter to enhance browning and flavor.
- Bake: Place the tart in the oven and bake for about 1 hour until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender but not mushy.
- Brush with preserves and cool: Remove the tart from the oven and immediately brush the apple surface with melted peach or apricot preserves for a beautiful shine and added sweetness. Let the tart cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using a mix of tart red and green apples provides a balanced flavor and appealing color contrast.
- Grating fresh ginger adds a subtle spicy warmth that complements the cinnamon and nutmeg.
- If you don’t have peach or apricot preserves, you can substitute with any light-colored stone fruit jam or simply omit the glaze for a rustic look.
- The tart dough uses both melted and cold butter to achieve a tender but flaky crust.
- Allow the tart to cool slightly before slicing to prevent the filling from becoming too runny.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle finely chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans on top before baking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of tart)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: apple tart, homemade apple tart, spiced apple tart, fall dessert, fruit tart recipe, easy apple tart, tart crust recipe
