Caramelized Apple Galette

Serves 2 to 4

This tart bakes best in a cast-iron skillet.

  1. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out an eighth of the quick puff pastry dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a sharp paring knife, cut dough into a circle about 7 1/2 inches in diameter. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place in refrigerator to chill, about 15 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 425 . Place the chilled pastry dough in a heavy cast-iron skillet that measures 6 1/2 inches in diameter at the bottom. Peel, core, and slice apple in half lengthwise. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, slice apple halves widthwise into twenty-five 1/8-inch-thick slices. Arrange the slices in a neat fanned pattern, overlapping the slices and keeping them 1/2 inch in from the edge of the pastry dough; fill in the center with smaller or broken apple slices as you create the fanned-out circle.
  3. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the apple slices, and dot with 1 tablespoon butter cut into very small pieces. Place skillet in the oven, and bake until the pastry has puffed up along the edges of the pan and is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
  4. Remove the skillet from the oven. Using a spatula, remove the tart from the skillet, and transfer to a plate; set aside. Add the remaining tablespoon butter to the skillet, and place over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and cook until the sugar dissolves and forms a light caramel, about 5 minutes. Measure brandy into a glass, then pour into the caramel; cook out the alcohol, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Using a second plate, invert the tart so it is upside down. Return the tart to the skillet, apple side down, and cook 4 to 5 minutes, until the caramel bubbles up over the tart, and starts to look a little thick. Remove the skillet from the heat, and carefully invert the tart onto a plate large enough to catch the hot caramel as it drips out of the skillet. Serve immediately.

Quick Puff Pastry

Makes 2 pounds

This is a simple alternative to a classic puff pastry.

  1. Sift together all-purpose flour, cake flour, and salt into a large chilled bowl. Cut in butter pieces using a pastry knife until the butter is in very small lumps, about 1/2 inch in diameter.
  2. Combine ice water and lemon juice, and stir into the flour mixture, a little at a time, pressing the dough together with your hands until it comes together.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface, and roll it into a 1/2-inch-thick rough rectangle, approximately 12 by 18 inches. The dough will be very crumbly. Fold bottom of the rectangle toward the center, then the top of the rectangle toward the center, overlapping the bottom third, like a letter, and give the dough a quarter turn to the right. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, 1/2 inch thick, and fold into thirds again. This completes the first double turn. Remove any excess flour with a wide, dry pastry brush. Repeat rolling, folding, and turning process two more times to execute another double turn, refrigerating the dough for a few minutes if the butter becomes too warm. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.
  4. Remove chilled dough from the refrigerator. Repeat rolling, folding, and turning process again to execute one more double turn. There will be six turns in all. The dough needs to be rolled out to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle each time. With each turn, the dough will become smoother and easier to handle. Store the dough, wrapped well in plastic, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for 3 months.