In need of a quick and easy dessert? Try my tarte aux pommes with salted caramel. All you need is five ingredients!

BAKING THERAPY
Almost every home baker I know will tell you that for them, baking is a therapeutic activity. And I am certainly no exception. Making cookies, cakes and pies centers me, makes me forget my troubles and gives my mind time to wander. Much like a long walk in the sunshine on a spring day or an early morning session of yoga will, except that with baking, I’m not the only one who gets to enjoy the results. As the house fills with warmth and fragrant aromas, my family starts to grow more and more impatient, peeking into the kitchen and asking what I’m making.

AN EASY TARTE AUX POMMES
But there are days that I really need a baking session yet don’t want to fuss around too much. Like this Saturday, for example. I was home with a very sick husband (he came home Friday evening with the flu, saying he had no idea how he made it home in one piece), and I was feeling pretty miserable myself — it’s not easy to see someone you love suffer! I had a quick escape into town for a round through the market and some fresh air, and on the way home, as I was starting to feel in better spirits, I decided I would bake an easy apple tart. My husband loves apple pie, but I don’t think he would’ve been able to stomach the heavy, buttery Dutch-style variety.
Though this French apple tart calls for salted caramel and crème fraîche, it is everything but heavy. And because I used ready-made pastry and a jar of salted caramel, it was super easy to make. My husband, sick as he still was, really enjoyed the tart, and so did my teen daughter, who adores salted caramel (could it be because I downed the stuff by the bucketful when I was pregnant?).
Anyhow, I really recommend this recipe if you’re looking for something easy and delicious. Baking doesn’t have to be complicated. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.
PS: And in case you’re wondering, the hubs is doing much better.
Here’s the recipe:

Tarte aux Pommes with Caramel au Beurre Salé
Serves 6

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 4 tbsps caramel au beurre salé
  • 1 tbsp crème fraîche
  • A circle of ready-made puff pastry (approx. 32 cm)
  • 2 tbsps melted butter

 

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the puff pastry on a baking sheet covered with baking paper (note that some ready-made pastries come with their own baking paper, in this case, just place on the baking sheet). Prick the surface of the pastry with a fork leaving an edge free all around. Mix the caramel au beurre salé with the crème fraîche. Spread this mixture over the surface of the pastry and top with the thinly sliced apples. Fold the edges in a little. Melt the butter and brush it over the apples and the folded edges. Bake the tarte aux pommes 25-30 minutes until nicely browned. Serve warm.

 

NOTE: I served my tarte aux pommes on the beautiful porcelain presentation plate from Revol’s Equinoxe collection.