Tarte tatin: The accidental dessert that became a French classic

The presentation is wonderful, and it is easier to prepare than you might think. The secret lies in simplicity and a touch of creativity, which turned an accident at work into a delicious dessert that has already gained cult status.

Tarte Tatin is one of the most famous French desserts. The classic version consists of apples, caramel, and shortcrust pastry. The apples are caramelized with sugar and butter in a pan, then covered with the pastry and baked. You can also prepare it with the addition of rhubarb—its sour taste perfectly balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. No matter which variant you choose, it will taste perfect.

This upside-down cake owes its name to the Tatin sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline. The tart was accidentally created in the late 19th century in Lamotte-Beuvron, France, where the sisters ran their hotel. Legend has it that one day, Stéphanie Tatin took her eyes off the pan with apples and sugar while preparing a traditional apple tart. As a result, the apples began to caramelize. To save the dessert, she covered them with a layer of pastry and put the entire dish in the oven. Thus, the first Tarte Tatin was born.

The dessert quickly gained recognition and symbolized creativity and the idea that there’s never a hopeless situation. Although the original recipe uses apples, this dessert now has many variations—Tarte Tatins with pears, peaches, and even tomatoes or red onions in savory versions.

Ingredients:

Pastry

        
• 7 oz of all-purpose flour
• 3.5 oz of cold butter
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons of cold water

Filling:

        
• 2.2 lbs of apples
• 3.5 oz of butter
• 3.5 oz of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• juice from 1/2 lemon

Instructions:

1. Sift the flour into a bowl, add sugar and a pinch of salt. Cut the butter into cubes, add to the flour, and chop with a knife. Next, add the egg yolk and water, and knead the dough.
2. Form a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for half an hour.
3. Peel the apples and cut them into quarters or eighths, removing the cores.
4. Melt the butter in a pan, add sugar and cinnamon.
5. Add the apples and sauté for about 10 minutes until they soften slightly and are covered in caramel. Finally, drizzle with lemon juice.
6. Line a tart pan with parchment paper about 9-10 inches in diameter and place the apples inside.
7. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out into a circle slightly larger than the pan.
8. Gently place the dough over the apples, tucking the edges inside.
9. Place in an oven preheated to 355°F and bake for 30-35 minutes.
10. After baking, remove the tart from the oven and immediately invert it onto a plate. Remove the parchment paper.

Apple Tarte Tatin tastes good both warm and cold. You can serve it with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream. Enjoy!