chai spiced apple tarte tatin

Hurray, it's fall and nothing quite says fall like a tart, juicy, sweet apple! We had so much fun seeing what all of the creatives chefs and bloggers came up with this past summer with #summerlovespeaches and spring/s #easypeasyforspring that we couldn't help but organize another ingredient based collaboration, this time focused on this classic fruit!  The community of passionate food lovers created by social media is inspiring, warm, and friendly and connecting through food has been a respite in these chaotic times. We, along with @whatannieseating, welcome some new faces this time around like  @hazelzakariya, @sweetpillarfoods, and @saltnpepperhere and are happy to have folks like @katie_Clova, @feedtheswimmers, @bakingthegoods, @jojoromancer and @cloudykitchen return to showcase what they love making with apples. 

Whether savory or sweet, the apple is an all purpose workhorse. Muffins to pies, chutneys to candy, soups to nuts so they say, the apple can do it all. And, with so many new or revived varieties out there, there is certainly one for every palette. We still have our eye out for those gorgeous instagramable pink pearl apples, and are eating our fill of honey crisps!

​Our entry into this collaboration is a riff on Mom's favorite dessert and one of the first things we learned how to make in cooking school. The classic Tarte Tatin. Butter, sugar, apples combine to create magic unlike any other. We put a little spin on it by adding in chai spices, as the warming notes of cardamon, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper marry with all that caramel goodness. Most everything happens in one pan so don't let the caramel scare you off. It's well worth it!  And, be sure to check out #aisforalltheapples for everyone's tasty creations! We also will list everyones blogs or instagram accounts on the bottom of the post, so scroll down and click away, they are recipes to try and taste!

​P.S. This dessert was gobbled up instantaneously by all generations!

Chai Spiced Tarte Tatin
makes 1 10 inch tart
7-8 of your favorite baking apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
3/4 cup of room temperature butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon cardamom
A few twists of freshly cracked pepper
½ cup sugar
1 whole vanilla bean
1 batch Sweet, short pastry

In a 10-inch sauté pan, press your room temperature butter into an even layer that covers the entire bottom of the pan. It should be about 1/8- ¼ inch thick and you should not see any of the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle your sugar all over the butter in an even layer then do the same with all of your spices. Split the vanilla bean and scrape all seeds onto the sugar. Also, place the whole bean in.
 
To arrange the apples, start on the outside of the ring and with the curved side of the apple facing out, place apples slightly overlapping in rings working your way until you get to the center. You can push them gently into the butter to help then stay.
 

​Over medium heat cook the apples and sugar. This will take about thirty minutes. Keep rotating the pan and gently pressing the apples down as they cook. You want the apples to soften and the sugar to turn a brown caramel. Adjust your heat if the caramel is cooking too quickly. You will know you are done when the apples are soft and caramel is less liquid and stickier.  Remove from heat and let cool.
 
*You can stop here and this, once cool can be kept in fridge for up to 2 days.
 
Preheat oven to 375
 
Roll out your dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick and then lay over the apples. Fold over edges so they sit within the pan. If you are doing this right after you cook apples, be careful!  Bake for about 30 minutes until dough is brown.
 
Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Here, be very careful, as you need to invert the tart before it cools or apples will stick to the pan. With a large, platter with a small lip, invert tart and rearrange any apples that have stuck to pan or dislodged.
 
Remove the vanilla bean and serve with a big dollop of Crème Fraiche! 

Be sure to head over the #allisforalltheapples for some serious apple inspiration and also to these links below!

@cloudykitchen- Salted Caramel and Apple Babka
@Katie_Clova- Maple Apple Cake
@suburbanpiesandtreats- Rosemary Brown Butter Apple Pie
@especiallysouthern- Apple Pie Egg Rolls
@pensive_foodie- Bacon Crusted Apple Pies
@mykitchenlove- Bird's Nest Apple Caramel Cake
@pinch_dash_glug- Waldorf Salad's Twisted Sister
@joyosity- Deep Fried Apple Dumplings with Miso Caramel Dipping Sauce 
@saltnpepperhere- Honey Apple Muffins
@inspiredbytheseasons- Brussels Sprout & Apple Slaw
@vanillaandbean- Spiced Apple Pecan Rum Bread 
@dukkah_queen- Caramelized Venetian Bread Pudding 
@weeknightbite- Apple Pie Chia Pudding
@catgrammer- Spiced Apple Cake with Bourbon Toffee Sauce
@playswellwithbutter
@amodestfeast-
@easygourmetliving
@moreicingthencake- Apple Butter Pretzels with Rosemary Cheddar Dip
@feedtheswimmers- Apple Buckwheat Galette with Halva and Maple Tahini
@thekitchensinkblog- Apple Cheddar Loaf
@christine.chitnis
@whatshouldimakefor- Hasselback Apple Puff Pastry Tarts
@thisdeliciouslife-
@amandaskrip
@jessiesheehanbakes- Apple Fritters
@farmandcoastcookery- Apple Cider Donut and Cinnamon Apple French Toast Casserole
@smartinthekitchen- Gluten Free Apple Cranberry Crisp
@helloflour-
@ful.filled- Milopita- Greek Apple Cake
@thishealthytable- Cardamon Apple Tart
@thegalettegirl- Apple Galette
@piegirlbakes- Apple Pie
@figsandflour- Apple Purple Potato Pizza
@somethingnewfordinner- Savory Bread Pudding with Apples, Sausage and Pecans
@alyssagagarin
@champagneandcookies- Apple Galette
@alwayseatdessert- Apple Spice Scones with Maple Bourbon Glaze
@rezelkealoha- Apple Poached Rose with Rosewater Reduction
@thesoupsolution- Fennel Sausage and Apple Dressing (stuffing)
@lemonthymeandginger- Smoky Maple Apple Dutch Baby
@worthypause- Thanksgiving in your Mouth Paleo Stuffing
@anniecampbell- Popcorn, Cheese and Apples
@blossomtostem
@cocoaandsalt- Vegan Apple Stuffin' Muffins
@ladyandlarder- Cheeseboard with Apples
@chefdanielagerson- Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
@gobblethecook- One Pan Pork and Sausages with Apples
@allomamanwhatscooking- Apple & Camembert Tarte Tatin
@lindarcampos
@holajalapeno- Fluffy Apple Chili Biscuits
@friendswhofete- Pomegranate Ginger Apple Cider Punch
@seedandmill
@bakingthegoods- Apple Cheddar and Thyme Scones
@whatannieseating- Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Asiago & Sage Croutons
@lifeisbutadish
@its_a_vegworld_afterall-Individual Microwave Apple Crisp  
@myloveatfirstbite
@floursinyourhair- Brown Butter Bourbon Apple Pie
@cooksandkid- Apple Cabbage Jalapeno Slaw
@confettikitchen- Fall Kale Salad with Chicken and Apples
@saltedplains- Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Cake
@marypardoux- White Bean and Apple Soup
@plumluckypiepi- Pinot and Cranberry-poached Apple Slab Pie
@easyanddelish- Candy Corn Apple Pops
@motherfoodie-
@thismessisours- Easy Baked Apple Custard
@hazelzakariya- Apple Pie Smoothie
@butterlovescompany- Gingerbread with Brandied Apples
@measuring.cups.optional- Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
@thewholeelchilada
@flottelottehaan- Apple Bread with Cinnamon Butter
@thegoodcooker
@korekitchen- Green Apple Pie Smoothie
@zestfulkitchen- Puffed Apple Pancake
@sweetpillarfood- Apple Honey Brie
@khabakom
@farmgirlsdabble- Peanut Butter Apple Cookies
@sweetisthespice- Maple, Walnut, Apple Cider Israeli Couscous
@ameecooks- Peanut Butter Protein Dip with Apples
@Whatskarencooking-Country Apple Bundt Cake with Cardamon Apple Compote 
​@bakingbandits- Apple Galettes with Hazelnut Frangipane and Brown Butter 
​@nyuberry- Moist Jewish Apple Pie

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