World-renowned chef and author Jacques Pépin and Isaac switch to the sweet side for an apple tart. Check out Jacques’ latest book More Fast Food My Way for more recipes!
Skillet Apple Charlotte
Serves 4
Ingredients:
3 Granny Smith apples (about 1 1/2 lbs. total)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon honey
4 slices white bread
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
About a 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (optional)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel, core, and cut each apple into 6 wedges. Put the wedges in a small (7 to 8 inch) nonstick skillet and add 2 tablespoons of the butter, the maple syrup, and the honey. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce the head to low, and cook for 5 minutes, or until the apples are just tender. Uncover and cook over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, or until teh liqui is completely gone, then continue cooking for another 2 minutes or so to glaze and caramelize the apples.
Trim the crusts from the bread slices and arrange them, touching, in a square on a cutting board. Trim the corners to create a rough disk that will fit into the skillet and cover the apples. Butter the bread on one side with the remaining 2 tablespoon of butter and arrange the slices buttered side up on top of the apples. Sprinkle on the sugar and place the pan in the oven. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the bread is nicely browned on top.
At serving time, if necessary, reheat the dessert on top of the stove to help loosen the apples and unmold the charlotte onto a serving platter. If the apricot preserves are firm, heat them for 30 seconds in a microwave over to soften. Pour and spread them on top of the apples. Serve the dessert in wedges as is or with a couple of tablespoons of sour cream or Greek yogurt, if you like.
