Apple Galette

October is the perfect time to celebrate the beloved apple! What's your favorite apple treat? ❤️

This delightful French Tart features a buttery, flaky crust layered with caramelized apples. It retains all the delicious elements of an apple pie but is much simpler to make, boasting the ideal balance of crust to filling. Enjoy it on its own or elevate it further with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a side of crème fraîche.

Creating this free-form tart presents the challenge of crafting a crust strong enough to support the apples (or other stone fruits) while still being easy to eat, much like a pizza.

Fraisage Method: This traditional French technique involves blending cold butter into dough. You can mix by hand or use a food processor until the dough begins to form small curds that hold together when pinched.

Basic Dough:

- 2 cups all-purpose flour

- 2 tablespoons cornstarch

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/2 teaspoon sugar

- 12 tablespoons (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and chilled

- 6-8 tablespoons ice water

Topping:

- Baking apples, cored and thinly sliced

- 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

- 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions:

1. Prepare the basic dough by combining flour, cornstarch, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Add the chilled butter and use the fraisage method to mix until small curds form. Gradually add ice water, mixing until the dough comes together. 

2. Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

3. While the dough chills, prepare the apple topping by slicing and coring the apples.

4. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

5. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle or circle about 1/8 inch thick. Carefully transfer the rolled dough to a prepared baking sheet.

6. Arrange the apple slices on top of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Fold the edges towards the center to create a rustic crust.

7. Dot the apples with the small pieces of butter and sprinkle them with the sugar.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until the tart's bottom is golden brown and the apples are caramelized.

9. Allow the tart to cool slightly before serving warm.

Enjoy this seasonal treat as you embrace the flavors of October!