Welcome to the ultimate fall dessert: an Easy Apple Tart that promises elegance without the fuss. Imagine a golden, buttery brown sugar crust, perfectly cradling layers of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a celebration of autumn’s bounty, baked to perfection and destined to become your favorite seasonal treat. Dusted with a delicate veil of powdered sugar, each slice begs to be enjoyed warm, perhaps with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream melting lazily over its tender fruit, or alongside a hot cup of coffee for a truly heavenly brunch experience. This foolproof recipe ensures a beautiful outcome every time, making you the star of any gathering.
Oh, how I wish I could invite you all in, pull up a cozy chair, and share a warm slice of this delightful apple tart with you. We’d chat about your summer adventures, and I’d finally have someone who understands my deep affection for autumn. While my family often yearns for eternal summer, I find pure joy in the crisp air, the rustle of fallen leaves underfoot, the comforting warmth of spiced cider, and the embrace of a favorite sweater. Fall isn’t just a season for me; it’s a feeling, a mood, an invitation to slow down and savor the simple pleasures.
One tradition my entire family wholeheartedly embraces, however, is apple picking. It’s a cherished annual pilgrimage to the local orchards, where we fill bushels with juicy, shiny red apples, biting into their crisp flesh right off the tree. Living in Massachusetts for the past four years, this tradition has become my absolute favorite. As September rolls around, my mind buzzes with ideas for turning our abundant harvest into delectable treats. And what better way to kick off the fall baking season than with a truly exceptional apple tart?
Unlock the Secret to the Perfect Apple Tart
Crafting a truly memorable apple tart begins with understanding the harmony between its components. This recipe focuses on simplicity and flavor, ensuring that even a novice baker can achieve a stunning result.
Choosing Your Apples: The Foundation of Flavor
The type of apple you choose significantly impacts the tart’s taste and texture. For this recipe, a mix of sweet and tart apples works best to create a complex flavor profile. Consider varieties like Honeycrisp for sweetness and crispness, Granny Smith for a tart counterbalance that prevents the tart from becoming overly sweet, or Fuji and Gala for their firm flesh that holds up well during baking. Avoid apples that turn mushy easily, as we want tender, not disintegrated, slices. Keeping the peels on adds a rustic charm and extra nutrients, but feel free to peel them if preferred.
The Irresistible Brown Sugar Crust: Simplicity Meets Decadence
What sets this apple tart apart is its incredibly flavorful and easy-to-make crust. Forget the finicky nature of traditional pie crusts; this one comes together in minutes. A simple blend of all-purpose flour, brown sugar, a hint of salt to balance the sweetness, and a touch of cinnamon creates a warm, inviting base. The melted butter ensures a tender, crumbly texture that presses easily into the tart pan, forming a smooth, firm foundation. The brown sugar not only adds sweetness but also a delightful caramel-like depth that pairs exquisitely with the spiced apples. This crust is genuinely “easier-than-pie” to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy the delightful aromas filling your kitchen.
The Perfectly Spiced Apple Filling: Tender & Bright
The filling is where the magic truly happens. Sliced apples are gently tossed with brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla extract. The lemon juice is crucial; it brightens the apples’ flavor and prevents them from browning, ensuring a fresh, vibrant taste. Cinnamon provides that quintessential warm, autumnal spice, while vanilla extract adds a layer of sweet aromatic complexity. The goal is a filling that is beautifully tender, not mushy, with just the right amount of sweetness to let the natural apple flavor shine through.
Quick Baking Steps to a Golden Masterpiece:
- Prepare Your Apples: In a large bowl, combine your sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Toss gently to coat thoroughly and set aside, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Craft the Crust: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir until a moist, crumbly dough forms. Press this mixture evenly into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, ensuring the dough forms a smooth, consistent layer on the bottom and up the sides.
- Assemble and Bake: Arrange the seasoned apple slices artfully over your prepared crust. Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar for a lovely caramelized finish and dot with small cubes of butter, which will melt and create a rich, glistening topping. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 1 hour, or until the crust is beautifully golden brown and the apples are fork-tender.
- The Finishing Touch: Once baked, remove the tart from the oven and let it cool slightly. Sift a generous amount of powdered sugar over the top for an elegant presentation and an extra touch of sweetness.
Keep reading for full ingredient list + recipe, below
This year, we’re truly embracing the season with this gorgeously golden, tender, and effortlessly simple Apple Tart, featuring that divine salted brown sugar and cinnamon crust. While its ease makes it suitable for any time, it undeniably shines brightest when apples are at their peak, fresh from the orchard. So, let’s gather our ingredients and immerse ourselves in some cozy fall baking together. What do you say? A warm kitchen, the scent of cinnamon and baking apples, and the promise of a delicious homemade treat – it’s an irresistible combination.
Explore More Seasonal Baking: Tarts, Pies, and Sweet Treats!
If this apple tart has ignited your passion for baking, you’ll love exploring these other delightful recipes perfect for any occasion:
- Creamy Peach and Honey Tart
- Apple Tarte Tatin
- 4-Ingredient Apple Pie Cookies
- 3-Ingredient Salted Chocolate Brownie Fruit Tart
- Classic Pumpkin Pie
- Cherry Slab Pie
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- World’s Best Peach Pie
- Easy Apple Turnovers
- Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Come join me in this cozy fall tradition – I’ve saved a slice just for you! This apple tart offers an incredible balance of earthy, light sweetness, presenting a dessert that feels both gourmet and incredibly simple to create at home. There’s no heavy, syrupy texture here, nor dense, overly sweet fruit. Instead, you get a fresh, bakery-style goodness in a beautiful, homemade tart. It’s a seriously gorgeous and impressive sweet treat that even the most novice baker can master in under an hour, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings or a spontaneous craving.
The morning I baked this particular tart, I drove it up to my family nestled in the picturesque Berkshire mountains. We enjoyed warm slices after a scrumptious home-cooked dinner, creating a truly wonderful early fall memory. The tart was an absolute hit, receiving the ultimate compliment from my mother, who is, without a doubt, an apple pie connoisseur. Her seal of approval is something I treasure!
I genuinely hope you’ll try baking this Easy Apple Tart for a delightful weekend treat and fall in love with it just as much as my family and I have. If you give it a go, please take a moment to leave a comment and a star rating below. Your feedback means the world and helps others discover this wonderful recipe!
Easy Apple Tart
6 servings
20 minutes
1 hour
1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 5 apples, peel-on, sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
For the Crust:
- 1-1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 10 Tbsp. butter, melted
Before Baking, Top With:
- 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small cubes
For garnish, optional:
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C).
For the Filling:
- In a large bowl, toss apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and vanilla together. Set aside.
For the Crust:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter, until a crumbly dough forms. Press mixture into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing until dough is smooth.
Before Baking:
- Arrange sliced apples over crust. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar and dot top with 2 Tbsp. butter. Bake until crust is golden and apples are tender, about 1 hour.
- Sift powdered sugar over top of tart. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving warm.
- Enjoy this delightful Easy Apple Tart!
Did you make this recipe?
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