
I am counting down the days left before I return to the real world of 5:30 annoying alarm wake up calls and 8 hour work days. I know I’m lucky and shouldn’t complain about getting 3 months off a year, but it’s such a difficult transition, plus, I feel like whining today.
As summer unwinds and the classroom decorating and organizing begins, my brain switches to autumn mode. My thoughts drift to pumpkin patches, orchards, cinnamon and warm, delicious desserts. Not only do my baking ingredients change, so does my photography style, so expect to see more moody, earthy colors with a lot of natural textures involved.
Although our local orchards aren’t quite ready to share their apple harvest, I picked up a large bag of Granny Smith Apples at my local market. These are my absolute favorite apples (besides Honey Crisp) I love the color, the tart flavor and with their firm texture, they are perfect for baking.
I decided to use these delectable green apples in a Julia Child recipe that I had printed many moons ago. This tart is simple, gorgeous and absolutely delish. Serve it up some vanilla or cinnamon ice cream and be prepared to eat yourself silly!
Enjoy the last few days of summer…I know I will.
Custard Apple Tart
Ingredients:
9-inch partially baked pie shell (I used Alton Brown’s, but store bought will work just fine.)
3 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2/3 cup sugar; divided use
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons brandy or cognac (this can be omitted)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar in a shakerDirections:
1. Lightly spray your tart pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place your pastry dough into your prepared pan, poke holes in the dough with a fork and place the pan in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 425. Remove your pan from the refrigerator and place a large piece of parchment paper on top of dough and fill with dry beans (or pie weights). Press beans into edges of dough and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow the pastry to cool completely on a wire rack.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
4. In a mixing bowl, toss the apples with 1/3 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon. Put them in the partially baked pie shell and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool while making the custard.
5. Beat the egg and 1/3 cup of the sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture is thick and pale yellow. Beat in the flour, then the whipping cream, vanilla then the brandy or cognac. Pour the mixture over the apples.
6. Return to the oven for 10-12 minutes or until it begins to puff. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the powdered sugar (lightly covering the top of the tart). Return to the oven for 20 minutes. Tart is done when the top is brown and a knife plunged into the custard comes out clean. Serve while warm.
Notes:
- This tart is best served warm and on the day it was baked. Although the flavor was lovely the day after, the texture had definitely declined.
- I used a 13.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches rectangular tart pan with removable bottom. This recipe will also accommodate an 8 inch round tart pan.
- If you do not have brandy or cognac, simply omit it, the tart will still be delicious.
- This is amazing served alone, but is delish with a scoop of ice cream and a little drizzle of caramel sauce.adapted from Julia Child
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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
That apple shot is so gorgeous. I want to hang it in my kitchen!
Yep, I have to make this one!
Gorgeous! You are getting me in the mood for fall…
Wait, I think I totally missed that you were a teacher, too! A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER, too, no less! What do you teach? I teach 6th and 7th grade language arts and, this year, an upper school and middle school cooking elective.
I hereby totally permit you to whine. Whenever someone gives me a hard time about having months off, I always point out that I work 24/7 during the school year, so summer break IS MY ONLY WEEKEND
This tart looks delicious, by the way! Very “welcome to fall!”
Julie-
Ahhh a fellow teacher that feels my whine! I teach 6-8th grade Emotionally Disturbed students in a separate facility. I currently teach Language Arts and Social Studies.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
-J
Im right there with you guys! Except I work in special education and had to work summer school, so I only get 1 month off. Too short! And instead of welcoming it with delicious fall recipes like you, Im warding fall off with as many summer recipes as possible. hehe
HA, Erin, this is so my MO as well — I’m posting raspberry lemonade today. LOL.
Best wishes, both of you, as you prepare for another year!
I’m in that mode too…6 more days till I go back! I teach pre-K. But like Jamie, as soon as I start buying the inevitable school supplies, my brain turns to apples. I made apple zucchini muffins this morning, seemed like a good August baking project!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!! I can’t wait to see lots of these new photos! That apple picture looks like something you would find at an art show.
I love Summer. Well, the season, not the whole break-up-from-school thing. Unfortunately, the kids are too old to go to play schemes (“I refuse to go to such a childish place”, says my daughter), so I have to have them at home for 6 weeks, non-stop.
I think it’s doing my nut in, so to be able to devour such a gorgeous looking tart, it might make my Summer just that little bit better
I love this, but dang I love the apple picture. Ahh, you are one talented Pho-tog Mama!
Great looking Tart, Jamie!! I have to make a note in my copy of Julia’s book.
Your are not alone. Tomorrow our alarm will start ringing at the same time again. Wish it would be vacation time forever.
This looks delicious and your photos are amazing! It’s always important to me that food is not only yummy, but also pretty. You certainly filled up both columns with this recipe!
I never really think the seasons will change my mood or appetite but they really do. The tart looks delicious…I can’t wait for apple season to begin!
Man, I wish I got 3 months off every year..this apple tart looks great and I can’t wait for fall flavors to arrive either! I already have so many ideas
I long for autumn baking, and that tart looks wonderful, but I dunno if we will be having any autumn weather this year in Memphis, so my oven has been off. I wish someone would do a raindance and get our temperatures below 95 at some point this year.
This looks fantastic! Granny Smiths are my favorite, too.
I do feel your pain! I have exactly one more week before going back to school- (2nd grade)- Where has the summer gone? Your tart looks fabulous. I have a basket of apples sitting in my kitchen right now. While the hot summery weather hasn’t let up at all, I still find myself wishing for apply cinnamon goodness. I may have to make and take this for our “welcome back” breakfast. Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your vacation!
The custard apple tart looks gorgeous, but I think the show-stealer has to be that beautiful shot of those apples! Stunning photography
This looks soooo good. Perfect for autumn!!!! Actually, so good no matter the season. Great shots!
That looks wonderful. I love your photos. I’m printing this recipe up to make very very soon. I know what you mean about switching gears to fall when school starts. Whenever the kids start up again, I’m in fall mode.
I love that there’s a custard poured over top of the apples! I need something creamy with my baked fruit.
OMG. This looks amazing. I have had 2 baking disasters today. So can someone please come make it for me? Pretty please? With a cherry (or apple) on top?
http://www.twogoodcookies.com
Love method for making this tart. And I absolutely love the photos as well.
Beautiful! I love warm apples and I love the shape. I’ve never seen a rectangular tart pan.
This tart looks gorgeous. Can never go wrong with Julia!
Your photos are amazing! I love the one of the apples. Mind if I ask what kind of camera you use, and your settings, for that photo? I’m trying to learn.
Oops. I just read your photography tab. So I guess I should specify, which lens did you use for the apple photo? Thanks!
I love those marching apples!! How cute! Sorry you had to get up so early though.
Laura
I too am thinking autumn with mixed emotions. But, I love the colors of the leaves and the all those apples. Great apple photo!
At first, I thought you used custard apples. I read the post twice to look for them. Lol. Love square tarts!
wow, gorgeous clicks!
This looks lovely! I enjoyed looking around ur site! Hope you have a great school year!
I love the cognac addition, I definitely wouldn’t leave it out!
Gorgeous tart! I love fall, it’s my most favorite time of the year…all the yummy apple recipes!
This tart looks totally delicous and the perfect way to make the transition from summer back to work a lot easier! Cannot wait to try it
Looks and sounds wonderful.
Mine have been back to school for 9 days already! What grade do you teach?
~ingrid
I hear you. I did summer school this year and am not ready to go back to school. Had to go back anyways!
I do enjoy baking up cakes and cookies for the coworkers though!
Have a great school year….
Love this recipe!
I made two of these yesterday for a finish to our choucroute granite meal…everyone loved them…I should have taken a photo…I had the same rectangular tart pan–it looked awesome!
My guests loved that it was not overly sweet or heavy after such a large meal! Thanks!
I made this tart in mini pie shells and they were a great mini dessert! For minis I would suggest, pre-cooking the shell as above, but the apple mixture needs to be baked on it’s own before putting it in the shells as not to over-bake the shells. It was delicious and very popular! Thanks for another great recipe
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed these – thanks for your tips on making it into minis as well! Thanks so much for taking the time to report back – have a great day!
-Jamie
I love love love your blog !!! i’ll try this recipe and an other one mini donut
!!!