Tarte Tatin

Name: Tarte Tatin
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: ¾ cup granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons cider vinegar; 1 piece vanilla bean; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 pounds apples; 1 sheet puff pastry; recipe note; Braeburn apples; Cortland apples; Golden Delicious apples; recipe note

A classic French upside-down caramelized apple tart made with buttery puff pastry, caramelized apples, and vanilla. This elegant dessert features golden brown apples arranged in a delicate pattern atop a flaky crust.

8 servings

1 hr

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•¾ cup granulated sugar
•2 tablespoons cider vinegar
•1 piece vanilla bean
•4 tablespoons unsalted butter
•2 pounds apples
•1 sheet puff pastry
•recipe note
•Braeburn apples
•Cortland apples
•Golden Delicious apples
•recipe note

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a heavy-bottom 10-inch ovenproof or cast-iron skillet, stir together the 3/4 cup sugar and the vinegar. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the skillet (save the vanilla bean for another use). Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is amber in color (like a brown paper bag). Remove from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and swirl until the butter has melted. Let cool for 10 minutes.
15 min
2.
Carefully arrange the apples over the sugar mixture in concentric circles, being careful not to touch the hot sugar mixture. Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
10 min
3.
Place the puff pastry over the apples and tuck the sides down around the apples. Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon sugar over the dough. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crisp and the pan juices are bubbling. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a rimmed cake plate to serve.
35 min

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a heavy-bottom 10-inch ovenproof or cast-iron skillet, stir together the 3/4 cup sugar and the vinegar. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the skillet (save the vanilla bean for another use). Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is amber in color (like a brown paper bag). Remove from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and swirl until the butter has melted. Let cool for 10 minutes.

15 min

Carefully arrange the apples over the sugar mixture in concentric circles, being careful not to touch the hot sugar mixture. Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.

10 min

Place the puff pastry over the apples and tuck the sides down around the apples. Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon sugar over the dough. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crisp and the pan juices are bubbling. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a rimmed cake plate to serve.

35 min