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Among the many desserts that have made French pastry famous around the world, few have as charming a story as the Tarte Tatin. This caramelised upside-down apple tart, golden and glossy, is not only delicious but also wrapped in legend.
A Happy Mistake in the Loire Valley
The origins of Tarte Tatin trace back to the late 19th century in Lamotte-Beuvron, a small town in the Loire Valley. The story goes that the Tatin sisters, who ran a hotel, accidentally dropped an apple tart. Instead of discarding it, they decided to serve it as it was, caramelised and upside down. To their surprise, it became a sensation — and the Tarte Tatin was born.
Why Tarte Tatin Is Unique
Unlike most fruit tarts, Tarte Tatin is prepared by cooking apples in caramel first, then covering them with pastry before baking. When it comes out of the oven, the tart is flipped over, revealing perfectly caramelised apples glistening on top of a buttery crust. The combination of crisp pastry and melt-in-the-mouth apples creates a texture and flavour that is unmistakably French.
Traditional Tarte Tatin Recipe
Ingredients (serves 6–8):
• 6–8 firm apples (such as Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)
• 150 g caster sugar
• 80 g unsalted butter
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• A pinch of cinnamon (optional)
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, to serve
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Peel, core, and quarter the apples.
2. In an oven-safe skillet or tart pan, melt the sugar over medium heat until it turns golden caramel. Add the butter and stir gently.
3. Arrange the apple quarters neatly in the caramel, rounded side down. Let them cook for 10 minutes to soften slightly.
4. Roll out the puff pastry and place it over the apples, tucking in the edges.
5. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the pastry is golden and crisp.
6. Remove from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes, then carefully flip the tart onto a serving plate so that the apples are on top.
Serving suggestion: Serve warm, accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
More Than Just a Dessert
The Tarte Tatin is a perfect example of how French cuisine transforms simplicity into elegance. With just a handful of ingredients — apples, sugar, butter, and pastry — it creates a dessert that is both rustic and refined. And like many French classics, it is proof that even accidents in the kitchen can turn into timeless traditions.
