Apple cider tart

There are as many types of apple cakes in the Netherlands as there are fruit growing regions. This is an apple tart for adults, made with apple cider (or apple “wine” as the Dutch call it).

Credit: Alan Benson

• serves

  10

• prep

  30 minutes

• cook

  45 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 900 g red apples, peeled and diced
• thickened cream, to serve
• icing sugar, to dust (optional)

Short crust

• 200 g (1⅓ cups) plain flour
• 55 g (¼ cup) caster sugar
• 50 g almond meal
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100 g cold butter, diced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Apple custard

• 6 egg yolks
• 110 g (½ cup) caster sugar
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 500 ml (2 cups) dry apple cider

Resting time 1 hour

Chilling time overnight

You will need to begin this recipe 1 day ahead.

The following recipe has been tested and edited by SBS Food and may differ slightly from the podcast.

Instructions

To make the pastry, using a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, almond meal and baking powder to combine. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and process until mixture just starts to come together. Tip out onto a lightly floured bench and knead briefly to bring together. Form into a disc, cover with plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 180°C. Roll the pastry out between two pieces of baking paper to a 30 cm round. Line a 26 cm loose base pie tin with the pastry. Line the pastry with baking paper and weigh down with baking weights or rice. Blind bake the pastry for 15 minutes, then remove the weights and bake for a further 8–10 minutes until light golden. Reduce oven to 170°C.

Meanwhile, to make the apple custard, beat the eggs with sugar and cornflour until combined. In a small saucepan, bring the apple cider to the boil. Whisk the cider into the egg mixture and return to the saucepan. Bring to the boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring continuously, for 1–2 minutes until the mixture thickens, then strain.

Scatter the diced apple over the base of the cooked pastry. Pour over the custard and return the tart to the oven. Bake for 12 minutes until the custard is set. Remove from the oven, cool to room temperature then refrigerate overnight.

To serve, cut into slices, dust with icing sugar (if using) and serve with thickened cream.

Photography by Alan Benson

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.