In this Caramelized Apple Tart recipe, the apples are baked into a shortbread tart shell with a brown butter custard. The result is a delicious fall pastry dessert.

caramelized apple tart

Autumn is an awe-inspiring, beautiful season in most parts of the US. Brightly-colored leaves cover the trees, and we begin to see hints of crimson, yellow and orange dotting the landscape as winds clear the branches bare. We don’t really see it at all when we’re in Arizona, but at our house in Oregon we can definitely see the change in seasons. And whenever possible, we visit the East Coast in the fall too.

Fall is prime time for apple picking. So if you’re lucky enough to have access to some great fall apples, make this delicious caramelized apple tart! Crisp, Granny Smith apples are sautéed in bubbling butter and sugar until properly golden and covered in a drippy, caramel syrup. Apples are the star in this tart!

ingredients displayed for making caramelized apple tart

Ingredients needed for an apple tart:

  • all purpose flour
  • white sugar
  • baking powder and salt
  • unsalted butter
  • whole eggs and egg yolk
  • Granny Smith apples
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

four photos showing how to make tart dough and then pressed in pan and bakedHow to make a tart shell:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom with cooking spray (can also use 8×11-inch tart pan). In a food processor, pulse the flour with the sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and egg yolk mixture and process just until the pastry comes together. Remove the pastry dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead 2 or 3 times. Press the dough evenly into the pan and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
 
Line the tart shell with parchment paper and fill loosely with pie weights (or beans). Bake for about 20 minutes, until the edge is set. Remove the parchment and weights and bake for 10 to 20 minutes longer, until the tart shell is lightly browned all over.

two photos showing apples cooking pan and then apple tart fresh out of oven

How to make a Caramelized Apple Tart:

While shell is baking, prepare the filling. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar; cook over high heat until lightly browned. Add the apples, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, turning once or twice, until caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes.
 
In a small saucepan, cook the remaining stick of butter over moderate heat until milk solids brown and butter is fragrant, about 7 minutes (stirring often). In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs with 1/2 cup sugar- until thick and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then beat in the browned butter, scraping the milk solids into the custard mixture.
 
Pour the custard into the shell; arrange apples in a single layer (setting a few apples aside), slightly overlapping in a decorative pattern. Bake in the center of the oven for about 15 minutes. Then open the oven and add the reserved apple slices to the top (since the apples on the tart may have sunk into the custard a bit). Bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until custard is puffed and richly browned.

caramelized apple tart

The tart crust is buttery and flaky. The custard wraps itself around the caramelized apples and firms up when baked.

caramelized apple tart cut into pieces
This tart can be made in a regular 11-inch-round tart pan. I thought it might be more interesting to make it in my rectangular tart pan, and it was easier (when chilled) to cut into bars for serving. You can’t really go wrong with browning butter. It seems to make everything taste way more amazing than expected (same goes for caramelizing.)

piece of caramelized apple tart on white plate
Slices of this apple tart are delicious on their own…

piece of apple tart topped with ice cream on plate
…or you can top slices with a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

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caramelized apple tart
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Caramelized Apple Tart

In this Caramelized Apple Tart, the apples are baked into a brown butter custard. It's a fabulous fall dessert recipe!
Prep: 1 hour
Cook: 1 hour 25 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
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Ingredients

TART SHELL:

FILLING:

Instructions 

PREPARE THE TART SHELL:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom with cooking spray (can also use 8x11-inch tart pan). In a food processor, pulse the flour with the sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and egg yolk mixture and process just until the pastry comes together. Remove the pastry dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead 2 or 3 times. Press the dough evenly into the pan and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
  • Line the tart shell with parchment paper and fill loosely with pie weights (or beans). Bake for about 20 minutes, until the edge is set. Remove the parchment and weights and bake for 10 to 20 minutes longer, until the tart shell is lightly browned all over.

PREPARE THE FILLING:

  • While shell is baking, prepare the filling. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add ½ cup of the sugar; cook over high heat until lightly browned. Add the apples, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, turning once or twice, until caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes.
  • In a small saucepan, cook the remaining stick of butter over moderate heat until milk solids brown and butter is fragrant, about 7 minutes (stirring often). In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs with 1/2 cup sugar- until thick and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then beat in the browned butter, scraping the milk solids into the custard mixture.
  • Pour the custard into the shell; arrange apples in a single layer, slightly overlapping in a decorative pattern. Bake in the center of the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until custard is puffed and richly browned. Transfer to a rack to cool before serving. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Notes

  • *I find that many of the apples sink into the custard and disappear from sight, so I save a few apple slices, then bake the tart for about 15 minutes, then open the oven and add a few more apple slices along the top (when the custard begins to set but is still soft)- it works perfectly.
  • *I make this tart the night before, covered it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. The next day, it's easy to slice with a bread knife when cold and firm, and then it can be served at room temperature

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 451kcal, Carbohydrates: 60g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 111mg, Sodium: 77mg, Potassium: 171mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 41g, Vitamin A: 785IU, Vitamin C: 5.1mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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40 Comments

  1. RecipeGirl's Mom says:

    Mmmm This really looks good. I want some!

  2. {kiss my spatula} says:

    beautiful photos!! our leaves have yet to turn out west here…so i’m still hanging on to the last bits of warm weather for dear life. but am so looking forward to apple picking and tarts as amazing as yours!! browned butter makes everything better.

  3. HoneyB says:

    LOVE this! Looks amazing! You sold me with the Browned Butter…..

  4. Katie @ goodLife {eats} says:

    This looks delicious, Lori! Yet another reason I need to go buy some tart pans.

  5. elly says:

    Holy cow, this looks SO good! I have already collected way too many apple recipes to try in the fall, but what’s one more? Hopefully I will get to this one soon!

  6. RobinSue says:

    I just took the kids apple picking and have a boat load to cook with (that is if the kids don’t eat them all on me first.) I love the browned butter custard in this recipe. Beautiful!

  7. bridget {bake at 350} says:

    That is just gorgeous! We don’t get much of a fall here, but it’s still my favorite season. Love those apples!

  8. deb@accessoryalamode says:

    This looks delicious!!! It really got me in the mood for fall and baking! Thank you for posting :O)

  9. Lynn says:

    What a wonderful recipe to celebrate the start of fall and apple season. Every element of it sounds delicious!

    Love the leaf and apple pics!

  10. Maria says:

    Fabulous way to start fall! I am a sucker for apples-I eat one every day..and if they are in a dessert even better. Ha!