Apple Tarts

The famous apple tarts were a Christmas party staple in the Gilmore household, but I figured I'd make them as we head into fall!

That's right, GG recipe #3: apple tarts! These tarts were talked about in season 1, episode 10 when Lorelai didn't go to her parents house for the Christmas party. Here's what she said...

Tonight’s my parents big Christmas celebration. There’s good food, these amazing apple tarts, big tree. It’s the only holiday I actually enjoy going over there for and this year, I’m uninvited.

While these are good, I don't think they're Gilmore Christmas-party good. The dough is pretty crumbly and it reminded me of a shortbread dough. The apple filling is apples, butter, and white and brown sugars. I think this filling would be amazing over some vanilla ice cream, so I'm glad that I have some of it left over.

First things first, we have to make the crust. Roll it out and cut into rounds. Pop those into your tart pan or muffin tin and blind bake for 15 minutes. 

Once the crust is baking, make the apple filling. Peel and cut 6 apples and mix with butter and sugars. Cook that for 10 minutes on the stove then set aside to cool slightly.

Spoon the apples into the crust and pop back in the oven. That's it! These would be great with some vanilla whipped cream or ice cream on top. They're so little and cute too, couldn't you just imagine?

You could also make this into one large tart or even a galette, which is a free-form tart. 

Overall, I think the apple filling in this is better than the tart crust. If I tried this again, I would either use a puff pastry or a pie crust recipe. I just don't love the somewhat powdery taste and texture.
 

Recipe (from Eat Like a Gilmore):

Makes 18 mini tarts

Crust:

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powdr

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

10 tbsp butter

2 egg yolks

1 tbsp sour cream

1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling:

1/2 cup butteer

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

6 apples, peeled and chopped

Cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease and flour a standard muffin tin or tart pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or cut into small cubes and mix into flour with your hands or two knives.

3. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix together. Pour into dry ingredients and mix.

4. Flour a work surface and rolling pin. Turn dough out onto work surface and mix with your hands until a dough forms. Using rolling pin, roll dough into a rectangle 1/4 inch thick.

5. Using a glass that is 1/2-1 inch wider than muffin tins, cut out dough into circles. Press each circle into muffin cups. Use a fork to prick the bottom of the dough 3-4 times and crimp edges.

6. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

7. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add both sugars and stir. Add chopped apples and stir to combine. Cook for 10 minutes until apples are tender. Remove from heat.

8. Spoon apples into each tart crust. Pour syrup over until crust is 3/4 full. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove tarts and continue cooling on a drying rack. Sprinkle tops of tarts lightly with cinnamon.