Apple Frangipane Tarts

The quintessential French apple frangipane tart is flaky, soft, tender, and full of flavor. I love each bite.

In France, we have a love relationship with apple tart—plain-cut apples with a hint of sugar and butter baked to perfection.

Do not be concerned if the bottom on the sides gets a bit burnt. That is a normal process of the juices of the apple and the frangipane.

However, do create a pattern with your apples. Here, I have two rows going in one direction and one in the opposite. Be creative and put your flair into this apple tart.

In this Article

What is Frangipane?

Essentially, frangipane is an almond filling, almost like a thick cream. Not to be confused with marzipan, an almonds sugar paste that is so dense and used to decorate cakes.

Frangipane is a mixture of butter, eggs, ground almonds, and sugar. Not as attractive in color, but super savory with all your baking tarts.

With this recipe, we will use hazelnuts, which give your apple tart a more nutty, rich flavor.

There are so many wonderful recipes you can make with puff pastry and this easy apple strudel is one of them.

What is a Tart?

A tart can be a savory or a sweet baked dish with a pastry on the bottom, filled with either fruit or sometimes with an egg custard.

Usually presented on a round form with an open top.

Sometimes you will see them referred to as “Tartalette”. It is the same, however, more diminutive in size or as an individual serving.

Always make it short-walled.

Cooking tips and step-by-step instructions

Some recipe tips and notes to help you along:

• Remove as much of the outer thin brown shell of the hazelnuts as possible before placing them in the food processor. You can achieve this by rolling the hazelnuts back and forth n between a paper or cloth towel. Repeat when removed from the oven.
• Sweet and unsweetened butter are interchangeable if you do not have sweet butter on hand.
• When you place the peeled and cut apples in a bowl while finishing up all the other ingredients,  you may want to squeeze a small amount of lemon over it so they will not turn brown on you.
• I use parchment paper over your cookie sheet. Silpat, It will work beautifully as well here. With the parchment, you can leave it on it and present it to your guests.
• Spread the frangipane cream with a pastry knife, leaving a border so the pastry can puff well and keep the apples in place.
• Arrange the apples in a pretty pattern.
• You can do an egg wash for the crust to give it that beautiful glazed look. Optional, as we will be using the Calvados at the end.
• Cool on a wire rack. The rack will allow the tart to cool off uniformly and faster as air circulates underneath.
• The Calvados and orange marmalade mix is so delicious over it. It binds all the flavors together and gives it that beautiful glazed shiny look.
• Do serve it at room temperature. The hazelnut frangipane, when hot, can scold you when not cooled off.

What to serve with this tart?

Vanilla ice cream is always the favorite, of course. Whipping cream or Chantilly is just as delicious.

Have tea or coffee for an afternoon snack.

With a small glass of Brandy or Cognac sitting by the fire! Make it a romantic evening with your loved one.

Slice it into squares. Easy to handle. Remember, it is a flaky pastry; therefore, you must serve it on a plate.

Can I use another type of apple?

Jonagold and Braeburn are the perfect amounts of sweetness and keep their texture well when baked.

Honeycrisp and Cortland are other wonderful apples you can use with this tart.

Unfortunately, Red Delicious is not the favorite of baking, as they fade in taste and, when baked, will not hold the shape, and your tart will fall apart.

A great holiday dessert, light and full of flavor.

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