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Cream and Apple Tart

17/11/2023

The cream and apple tart is a delightful dessert and a classic that never goes out of style. Here’s how to prepare it with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

  • 1 roll of ready-made shortcrust pastry or (for those who prefer to make it at home):
    • 300g of flour
    • 150g of cold butter
    • 150g of sugar
    • 1 egg and 1 yolk
    • 1 pinch of salt
    • Grated zest of lemon
  • 500g of apples (rennet or golden are better)
  • Lemon juice
  • 500ml of custard:
    • 4 egg yolks
    • 100g of sugar
    • 40g of flour
    • 500ml of milk
    • 1 vanilla pod or vanilla extract
  • Icing sugar for garnish
  • Optional cinnamon

Preparation

  1. If you make the shortcrust pastry at home, start by mixing the flour with the cold butter cut into cubes. Add the sugar, the whole egg and the yolk, a pinch of salt, and the grated lemon zest. Knead quickly, form a ball, wrap it in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  2. For the custard, mix the yolks with the sugar until you get a frothy mixture. Add the flour and mix well to avoid lumps.
  3. Heat the milk with the vanilla until almost boiling and then pour it in a thin stream over the yolk mixture, stirring continuously. Put it back on the heat and cook, stirring until it thickens. Once ready, cover it with cling film in contact and let it cool.
  4. Peel and cut the apples into thin slices and drizzle them with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
  5. Roll out the shortcrust pastry into an even layer and line a previously buttered and floured tart pan with it.
  6. Pour the custard onto the shortcrust pastry base and arrange the apple slices on top, creating a nice radial design. If you want to add a spicy note, sprinkle with a little cinnamon.
  7. Bake the tart in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 40-45 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the apples have a nice caramelized color.
  8. Let it cool and then sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.

Curiosity

The cream and apple tart is a much-loved dessert in Italy, perfect for breakfast or as a snack. In many variations, it is paired with cinnamon for a more autumnal and spicy touch. Some also add raisins or pine nuts to enrich the cake further.

Cream and Apple Tart