Barefoot Contessa’s Dreamy French Apple Tart Recipe Uncovered

Golden autumn afternoons call for a delightful Barefoot Contessa French apple tart that captures the essence of rustic elegance.

Buttery pastry and tender apples create a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Crisp, sweet-tart apples nestled in a delicate, flaky crust promise pure indulgence.

This classic French dessert brings a touch of Parisian charm to your kitchen with minimal effort.

Each slice tells a story of simplicity and sophisticated taste.

The aroma of caramelized apples and buttery pastry will draw everyone to the table.

You’ll fall in love with this irresistible tart that turns an ordinary evening into a gourmet experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 360 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredients for French Apple Tart

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structural foundation for the delicate, flaky crust with a tender crumb.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and helps control yeast development in the dough.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps with golden browning of the pastry.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, buttery layers and contributes to the pastry's flaky texture, choose high-quality, cold butter for best results.
• Ice Water: Binds the dough together without developing gluten, ensuring a tender crust.

• Apples: Select firm, tart baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape and provide a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Granulated Sugar: Helps caramelize the apple edges and adds a delightful sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates a rich, glossy finish and helps apples brown beautifully.

• Apricot Jelly: Provides a gorgeous, professional-looking glaze with a subtle fruity undertone.
• Calvados (Optional): Adds a sophisticated French apple brandy flavor, can be substituted with water.

Tools You Need to Bake French Apple Tart

• Food processor: Essential for making quick, smooth pastry dough with minimal effort.
• Rolling pin: Helps roll out pastry evenly and precisely to the correct size.
• Baking tray: Provides a sturdy base for baking the tart with even heat distribution.
• Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy removal of the tart.
• Sharp knife: Used for trimming pastry edges and slicing apples neatly.
• Melon baller (optional): Helpful for removing apple cores cleanly.
• Spatula: Perfect for loosening and transferring the tart after baking.
• Pastry brush: Ideal for applying apricot glaze evenly over the tart surface.

Baking Instructions for French Apple Tart

Rustic French Apple Delight

• Pastry Foundation

Create a smooth, buttery dough by blending flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor. Add chilled butter and pulse until crumbly. Stream in icy water until the mixture forms a cohesive ball. Wrap the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator for a peaceful hour.

• Apple Preparation

Gently peel and halve ripe apples, removing their delicate cores. Slice them into elegant, thin pieces that will dance across the pastry surface.

• Tart Assembly

Carefully roll out the chilled dough onto a baking sheet, creating a freeform canvas. Arrange apple slices in graceful, overlapping rows that cascade across the golden pastry. Sprinkle with a gentle dusting of sugar and dot with small butter pearls.

• Oven Magic

Slide the tart into a preheated oven, allowing it to transform. Watch as the edges turn a beautiful golden brown and apple edges caramelize into a rich amber color. Rotate midway to ensure even browning.

• Finishing Touch

Once baked to perfection, brush the tart with a shimmering glaze of warmed apricot preserves. This will create a stunning, glossy finish that catches the light beautifully.

• Serving Moment

Allow the tart to cool slightly, then slice and serve. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, celebrating the simple elegance of French countryside baking.

Apple Tart Tips and Flavor Tweaks

• Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that melts in your mouth.
• Use a sharp mandoline or knife to create uniform, thin apple slices that cook evenly and look professionally styled.
• Sprinkle ground cinnamon or nutmeg over the apples before baking to add warmth and depth to the classic French tart.
• Swap apricot jelly with orange marmalade or quince paste for a unique, tangy twist that elevates the tart's final presentation.
• Pair the tart with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of crème fraîche to complement the warm, caramelized apple flavors.

How to Serve French Apple Tart Beautifully

• Elevate Your Apple Tart Experience: Serving Suggestions
• Pair with Creamy Delight: Serve a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream alongside the warm tart, letting the cold, smooth cream melt gently over the caramelized apples.
• Wine Companion Perfection: Complement the tart's sweet and buttery flavors with a chilled glass of Sauternes or a crisp late-harvest Riesling for a sophisticated dessert pairing.
• Breakfast Transformation: Slice the tart into smaller pieces and enjoy with a morning cappuccino, turning this elegant dessert into a delightful breakfast treat that feels like a luxurious indulgence.

Refrigeration and Storage Tips for Apple Tart

• Refrigerate Wisely: Store the French apple tart in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, maintaining its crisp pastry and delicate apple flavor.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Wrap the cooled tart tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat with Care: Warm the tart gently in a preheated oven at 160°C (325°F) for 10-15 minutes to restore its original crispy texture and revive the apple's caramelized edges.
• Slice and Serve Strategy: Cut the tart into clean portions using a sharp knife, wiping the blade between slices to ensure neat, picture-perfect servings that showcase the beautiful apple arrangement.

Rustic French Apple Tart Recipe

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4.6 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s French apple tart blends European elegance with rustic charm. Delicate pastry and caramelized apples create a simple yet sophisticated dessert for intimate gatherings you’ll savor with pure delight.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 Granny Smith apples
• 250 g (2 cups) plain flour
• 100 g (½ cup) sugar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 170 g (12 tbsps / 1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, cold & diced
• 55 g (4 tbsps / ½ stick) unsalted butter, cold & diced
• 120 mL (½ cup) ice-cold water
• 120 g (½ cup) apricot jelly or warm sieved apricot jam
• 2 tbsps Calvados, rum, or water

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Instructions

1. Pastry Preparation: Pulse flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor. Add chilled butter cubes and process until crumbly. Stream ice-cold water until dough forms. Knead into a compact ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for one hour to stabilize.
2. Dough Rolling: Extract chilled dough and roll into a precise 25×35 centimeter rectangular shape. Trim edges neatly and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Return to refrigerator to maintain structure.
3. Apple Transformation: Peel and halve apples through the stem, removing cores. Slice crosswise into uniform 6-millimeter thickness, ensuring consistent cooking and visual appeal.
4. Tart Assembly: Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Arrange apple slices in overlapping diagonal rows across pastry base. Sprinkle granulated sugar and dot with butter to enhance flavor and caramelization.
5. Baking Process: Place tart in preheated oven and bake for 45-60 minutes. Rotate midway to promote even browning. Look for golden pastry and caramelized apple edges. Pierce pastry if it unexpectedly puffs to release air.
6. Finishing Touch: Warm apricot jelly with Calvados until smooth. Brush glaze over apples and pastry to create a sophisticated, glossy finish. Cool slightly before serving at warm or room temperature.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate pastry for at least 1 hour to prevent shrinkage and ensure a flaky, tender crust that holds its shape during baking.
• Slice Apples Precisely: Cut apple slices uniformly at ¼ inch thickness to guarantee even cooking and a visually stunning presentation with consistent caramelization.
• Monitor Baking Carefully: Rotate the tart halfway through cooking to achieve golden-brown pastry and prevent uneven browning, watching for potential pastry puffing.
• Glaze for Glamour: Apply warm apricot jelly glaze immediately after baking to create a professional, glossy finish that enhances both appearance and flavor.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 360
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 14g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 39g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 60mg