A traditional French apple tarte Tatin made with homemade puff pastry, caramelised Gala apples and a glossy caramel finish—rustic and buttery.
Prep time
1 hr
Cook time
45 min
Total time
2 hr 15 min
Servings
10
Tools Used
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Ingredients
Ingredients
Servings
10 servings1×
Scale
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Puff Pastry Dough
Caramel
Filling
Instructions
Prepare Puff Pastry
- 1
Make a classic puff pastry following standard lamination steps, using the beurre manié and détrempe ingredients above.
- 2
Incorporate 100 g water into the détrempe.
- 3
Roll the dough to a 4 mm (⅛ inch) thickness.
Make the Caramel
- 1
Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F).
- 2
Combine superfine sugar and 100 g water in an 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan.
- 3
Cook until caramelised.
Prepare Apples
- 1
Peel and core the apples.
- 2
Slice into thick disks.
- 3
Arrange evenly over the caramel.
Assembly & Baking
- 1
Place the rolled puff pastry over the apples, tucking in the sides.
- 2
Bake for 35 minutes.
- 3
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- 4
Return to oven for 10 minutes to loosen.
- 5
Invert the tarte Tatin onto a plate.
- 6
Serve warm with crème Normande.
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Learn More
Everything you want to know about this recipe.
Classic Apple Tarte Tatin
Classic Apple Tarte Tatin
This tarte Tatin is made with caramelised apples baked under puff pastry, then inverted after baking so the fruit becomes the top of the tart. The combination of apples, caramel, and pastry gives it a soft fruit layer with a crisp base.
Apples and Caramel
Apples and Caramel
Gala apples hold their shape well enough for this tart while still softening during baking. Cooking the caramel directly in the pan helps coat the apples evenly and keeps the preparation straightforward.
Puff Pastry
Puff Pastry
The tart can be made with homemade puff pastry or a good all-butter store-bought version. The pastry sits over the fruit during baking and becomes the base once the tart is inverted.
Serving Notes
Serving Notes
Serve the tart warm once it has been inverted. Creme Normande, vanilla ice cream, or lightly whipped cream all work alongside it.
Tips
Tips
- Arrange the apples tightly because they shrink while baking
- Chill before the final bake if you want a cleaner inversion
- Invert while the caramel is still warm enough to move
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories 36018%
% Reference Intake*
Total Fat 14g20%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 25mg
Sodium 120mg
Total Carbohydrates 58g22%
Dietary Fiber 4g
Sugars 42g47%
Protein 3g6%
* Reference intakes are based on an average adult's 8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal diet. Your needs may be higher or lower.
Community Reviews
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Alicia
· 10 May 2025Made this for Sunday lunch and everyone loved it. Served with vanilla ice cream.
Marc
· 18 Apr 2025Loved the homemade puff pastry—so much better than store-bought. A bit time-consuming but worth it.
Louise
· 2 Apr 2025Turned out well. The caramel flavour was intense and the apples kept their shape.
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