Monday, October 19, 2015

Apple, Pear and Cranberry Tart


This easy-to-make upside down tart, or tarte tatin, is the essence of fall with apples, pears and cranberries in a deliciously different pastry crust.


The tart is prepared in an oven-proof skillet with a layer of caramelized brown sugar, butter and spices at the bottom and a delicious oat and butter crust on the top.  After baking, it is flipped upside down onto a plate so the caramel layer coats the filling mixture for a delicious and not too heavy dessert.  Vanilla ice cream would be a great addition!


The recipe says to serve warm but it was just as good after a night in the refrigerator.  We loved it!  The crust was a delightful surprise and I could have eaten the whole thing if my husband hadn't beat me to it.


We had our first freeze this past weekend.  With the temperatures reaching the 70s today through Wednesday we are officially having Indian Summer.

 

Speaking of Indian Summers is anyone else watching the PBS series? I'm enjoying it very much. The cast is wonderful!   

Apple, Pear and Cranberry Tart


This easy to make upside-down tart or tarte tatin in French, uses the best that autumn has to offer and the crust is delicious! See My Notes below.

8 servings

Crust

1 cup white whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons ice water

Filling

2 ripe but firm pears, peeled and thinly sliced
1 large apple, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup fresh cranberries

To make the crust:

Put the flour, oats, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and process until the oats are finely ground. Add the butter, a piece at a time, and pulse two to three times after each addition, until blended. Add the oil and water and pulse only until the dough starts to come together. Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times until it holds together. Pat the dough into a 5-inch disk and wrap in plastic or wax paper.  Refrigerate while the filling is prepared.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

To make the filling:

Toss the pear and apple slices with lemon juice in a large bowl.

Put the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and ginger in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the butter and sugar are melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Remove from heat. Arrange the pear and apple slices in concentric circles, starting at the center and work outward, overlapping the slices and adding another layer until all the slices are in the pan. Scatter the cranberries over the top.

Return the pan to medium-low heat and bring the liquid to a simmer.  Peek under the fruit or listen for the bubbling if you cannot see it. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook, gently tilting the pan occasionally, until the sauce becomes a thicken and caramelly, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Roll the dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough over the fruit. Peel off the remaining paper. Quickly tuck the edges of the crust down into the sides of the pan. Prick the top with a fork. 

Bake in the preheated oven until the crust just begins to brown around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the crust then place a serving plate larger than the pan on top and invert the tart onto the plate. Serve warm.

My notes: I used King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour for the crust and used a seasoned 8" cast iron skillet for the tart. While there was a little too much dough, the filling ingredients were just about right.  I did need to add another half apple.  Perhaps mine were a little smaller.

Adapted from Eating Well.com

53 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos. I just love fall. This tart looks amazing! Love the flavors!! We skated by our first freeze but it's coming, I just know it is :)

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    1. Julie, it is amazing! Please try it. I flipped mine while it was still a little warm and the crust broke but it was so delicious.

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  2. Yum! A warm slice of that with a bit of vanilla ice cream would hit the spot right now.
    Love the photos of the grands in the Fall leaves. Beautiful colors! Have not had a freeze - yet! However, the night temps have gotten down in the 40's a lot recently.

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    1. Thank you, Glenda! We've had quite a lovely fall so far (other than the freezing temps of last weekend).

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  3. what beautiful pictures dear Susan and love yours grandson pictures! The leaves beautiful!!
    And this apple pear cranberry tart look awesome !!
    xo

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  4. Oh, that looks delicious! And, yes, add a little vanilla ice cream :) Will be making this soon.
    Cute pics :)

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  5. Temperatures in the 70's is our fall here in north Florida (laugh). This is a beautiful tart with all the fall colors and flavors.

    Velva

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    1. I know :) Sometimes we forget about the south east and west where you are still quite warm! Thank you, Velva!

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  6. Great looking tart, and beautiful photos too. And I'd love to have a few of those white plates. Just lovely.

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  7. I love fall and its magical colors, fantastic photos of cake and cute kids, there's a lot of serenity in this post Susan, I wish you a wonderful week my dear, a warm hug

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    1. It is a season to relax and enjoy the beauty! Thank you, Chiara. Warm hugs to you!

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  8. Stunning Fall photos, Susan. The tart looks scrumptious and I adore the combo of flavour. An excellent recipe, Susan. Continue to enjoy Fall and lovely weather!
    Angie

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    1. I'm so glad we are having a nice fall after a cool spring! Thank you, Angie!

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  9. Very nice, I love the pops of red! I haven't made an upside down cake in ages, this sounds like a winner:@)

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  10. You knoww hat? The boys look like angels;)With a dash of spice...:)
    Love ALL the pics w/ the leaves and the color of this tart.
    Hard to beat fall...leaves and little boys;)

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    1. Oh, they have plenty of spice alright :) They love playing in the leaves. Their Papa makes nice, big piles of them to jump into. Thank you, Monique!

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  11. Beautiful tart Susan...and yes, I like very much the idea of pear and apple...and the crust sounds delicious!
    Thanks for the recipe and all the lovely pictures of the boys...
    Have a great week :)

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  12. All the good flavors of fall in one delicious tart. Love the photos…so typical of little boys and big piles of leaves.

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  13. how beautiful is that tart... the way the red bleeds into the apple, it's like art!... a beautiful autumnal dish x

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  14. That crust does sound delicious, but the whole thing sounds fabulous. And those boys? You have been hiding them from us! And now you've got me thinking I better steal some maple leaves from my neighbor's tree. We don't have many maples around here!

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    1. They make appearances here on occasion :) Thank you, Abbe!

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  15. What a delicious fruity tart and the photos of the boys are so beautiful Susan! Especially the last one!

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  16. Pretty, pretty and it looks really delicious, Susan! Thanks for sharing! I heard about Indian Summers and have to catch up on the couple I missed, great series! Your grandsons are adorable as always and I can imagine the fun in the leaves. Take care

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  17. What a wonderful post. Apple pie is my favorite and this take looks to be particularly delicious; the photos of the boys are just darling; and I have Indian Summer on tape but have yet to watch it. Saving it for a cosy winter afternoon, with pie.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Ha-ha, that would be the perfect way to watch the episodes, Amalia :) Thank you!

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  18. I am glad you are having a nice fall Susan, and it's probably one of the best we have had. The tart screams with flavors of fall. Love the photos of the boys playing in the leaves. I must say it was one of my favorite things to do as a child.

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    1. I can't believe I still have flowers in a couple of containers this late! Thanks, Debbie!

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  19. May I say first that I miss those leaves??? Love the photos, Susan, they bring back lovely memories of fall. One year when my kids were young, I had their photos taken professionally as a birthday gift for their dad. The photographer set up the entire shoot in our yard with leaves...black and white, but fall leaves everywhere. Kids playing in them, throwing them, posing in them. Just great. I still love those photos! Fall is the only season I really miss after I moved to Florida in 1970.
    And then, you've topped those gorgeous leaves with a delicious dessert...perfection. I want to dig right in...dessert AND leaves!

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    1. I'm sure you don't miss the snow, Barbara :) I love taking pics of them in the leaves. I'll bet those photos were beautiful of your kids. Thanks so much!

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  20. Your tart looks fantastic and sounds delicious! However, your grand kids stole the show. They're just too cute and definitely photos you'll want to save for a lifetime.

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  21. That looks like fall on a plate! I love the color of the apples :)

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  22. Sounds wonderful - those darn husbands - getting the crust! Love the leaves and your cuties hiding and playing - what fun to be young. Great recipe thanks!

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  23. This is gorgeous. I definitely want to try it. The pictures of your grandchildren are hilarious!

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    1. Thanks so much, El! That's a great compliment coming from a baker such as yourslef.

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  24. Such cute little wood elves out in the leaves!
    This looks fabulous. I gathered all my apples and we have been eating them fresh, but this would be a wonderful way to use up some of them. Gorgeous pictures as always!

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  25. This apple dessert looks amazing. It's the type of thing I always choose at a restaurant. It wins over chocolate every time. Those boys in the leaves are adorable, what a fun time for you and for them! It looks like they're having the time of their lives!

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    1. Thanks so much, Chris! They really loved helping to rake the leaves into piles :)

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  26. This tart looks incredible, now... let me go get my tub of ice cream and we can eat this together! ;) I grew up in tropical Singapore with no four seasons, so although I'm already in my mid-20s, I would still love to have a chance at "swimming" in the fall leaves, look like so much fun!

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    1. That's a deal! Thank you, Jasline. I hope you get your wish to swim in the leaves one day :)

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  27. What a beautiful work of art your tart is Susan! And the photos of your kids, the leaves! WOW! You're certainly living the beautiful life!

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