Salted Caramel Apple Tart (Printable Version)

Buttery crust meets spiced apples and rich salted caramel for an irresistible sweet-salty dessert.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Tart Crust

01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
03 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

→ Spiced Apple Filling

07 - 5 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Salted Caramel Sauce

15 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
16 - 3 tablespoons water
17 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
18 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
19 - 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus additional for garnish

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - In a food processor, pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt together. Add cold diced butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and 2 tablespoons ice water, pulsing just until dough forms. Add additional water as needed. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
02 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch tart pan, trimming excess. Prick base with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill with baking weights. Blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, then bake an additional 8 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, toss sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and lemon juice. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apple mixture and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until tender but not mushy. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
04 - In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar and water. Cook over medium heat without stirring until the mixture reaches a deep amber color, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully whisk in heavy cream, as the mixture will bubble vigorously. Whisk in butter and flaky sea salt until smooth. Cool for a few minutes.
05 - Arrange cooled spiced apples evenly in the prebaked tart crust. Drizzle approximately half of the salted caramel sauce over the apples.
06 - Bake tart at 350°F for 20 minutes until apples are bubbling at the edges and crust is golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cool.
07 - Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over the cooled tart and sprinkle with additional flaky sea salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Perfect Flavor Balance: The contrast between sweet caramel and flaky sea salt is irresistible.
  • Buttery Texture: A homemade crust provides a delicate, crumbly base for the tender fruit.
  • Aromatic Spices: A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice brings cozy autumn warmth to the dish.
02 -
  • Don't Overwork the Dough: Pulse the crust just until it comes together to keep it tender.
  • Amber Color: Watch the caramel closely; the deep amber color provides the best depth of flavor.
  • Blind Baking: Do not skip this step, as it prevents the bottom of the tart from becoming soggy when you add the apples.
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