Toffee Apple Tart

Full of the flavours of autumn, this toffee apple tart is super easy to make and absolutely delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream. With a ginger biscuit crust, a layer of Dulce de Leche caramel and sweet Braeburn apples, it’s easier than making apple pie!

Autumn is officially here in the Cotswolds! The air has got chilly, the leaves have fallen and the the familiar oranges and reds are back again.

This of course means that it is entirely acceptable to spend all day cozied up in your pyjamas, watching Harry Potter and having some down time!

Seriously is there nothing more warm and comforting that a PJ day?

Well, according to you all over on the Crumbs and Corkscrews Facebook page, there is; and it’s the smell of baking with apples.

Freshly made apple pie was a stable in our house growing up, and now I’m taking the nostalgia of our family recipe and giving it a deliciously easy twist.

But don’t worry, it’s still got all the hallmarks of the perfect comfort dessert for a cozy autumn evening!

What makes this the perfect toffee apple tart recipe?

The fact that this tart looks so pretty and has all the smells and flavours of Autumn baking, should be all that’s needed to convince you to make this stunner. But wait, there’s more…

• Sweet and juicy apple layers with a touch of cinnamon balance the flavour with…
• The gentle, fiery taste of the Ginger Nut biscuit crust that warms you from inside and…
• That sweet and creamy Dulce de Leche drizzled over the top, and…
• It’s super quick and easy to make, with no faffing with pastry

What apples are best for an apple tart

With over 9,000 varieties of apple out there to choose from, the argument for which apple is best for a tart could go on and on.

But actually, it’s really quite an easy decision to make – what you’re looking for is something that has a touch of sweetness but is also firm to bite into.

The sweetness works well with the Dulce de Leche caramel, while the firmness means that the apple doesn’t distingerate when the tart is baked.

Therefore you are looking to use varieties such as Russet, Cox, Pippin or Braeburn, which is the ones I’ve used here.

If you prefer to use cooking apples, the Bramley variety is best.

What you’ll need to make this apple tart

View my Amazon shopping list with equipment and ingredients.

We’re going in for this recipe with easy ingredients and absolutely no faff when it comes to making the tart.

So when you’re ready, here’s what you’ll need…

The Ingredients

• Ginger Biscuits – I have made the tart using both good old Ginger Nuts and also Foxes Crunch Creams. I personally think that the Ginger Nut biscuits give the best flavour and structure to the tart crust. If you can’t get either of these, you could substitute for Digestive biscuits, Golden Oreos or Gingerbread.
• Butter – When melted, this will bind the biscuits crumbs together for the tart crust. You’ll also need a little extra butter for glazing the apples.
• Braeburn Apples – I’m using these as they are my favourite apple. They have a good balance between the natural sugars and acids in the tart, and are also firm, so hold their shape when baked.
• Cinnamon Caster Sugar – You only need a touch here for glazing the apples before you bake them. I use cinnamon sugar as it adds more of that autumn flavour, but you can use regular white caster sugar instead.
• Lemon Juice – Again just a drop for the apple glaze, so either use fresh lemon juice if you have it, or bottled juice such as Jif Lemon.
• Dulce de Leche Caramel – Or you can use a homemade thick and creamy caramel sauce. Remember you want to use a sauce, not a syrup or sugar caramel as they will bake hard. It is the smooth and creamy caramel that you want to use. If you can get it, Carnation Caramel is perfect!

The Equipment

When I say there is nothing complicated or fancy in this recipe, I really mean it; especially when it comes to the equipment!

Have a rummage through the cupboards and grab yourself…

• 8-inch Loose Base Tart Tin – If you don’t have a loose base tin, you can use a pie dish inside. You will just have to slice and serve from the dish instead.

• Mini chopper or Food processor – If you have either of these, they are great to crush the biscuits for the tart crust. But if you don’t, there’s no need to panic you can pop the biscuits into a Ziploc bag instead and bash with a rolling pin.

You’ll also find you need a couple of spoons, a chopping board, sharp paring knife, peeler and a small saucepan for melting ingredients in, unless you have a microwave.

How to make the best toffee apple tart

Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card

Now you guys know that I love a deliciously easy bake and this toffee apple tart doesn’t fail to impress! With those fine apple slices arranging in the tart case, you’re going to get that WOW every time you make it.

Let’s take a look at how easy it is to make…

The Base

For the biscuit base, we’re going to be using a Ginger Nut biscuit, or you could use a Ginger Crunch Cream. Start off by crushing the biscuits until they are a very fine sandy texture. I use a food processor, but you can use a mini chopper or bash them with a rolling pin, in a Ziploc bag.

Pop the crushed biscuits into a large mixing bowl, and add in the melted butter, mixing it together until it comes together in a wet mixture.

Pour the biscuit mixture into the loose-base tart tin, with your fingers work into the fluted edge of the tin to form the crust. Then smooth the base of the crust with the back of a spoon.

Pop the tart crust it into the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour, to firm up.

TOP TIP: Make sure the crust is well packed in the tin. Use a tumbler or measuring cup to really pack down the biscuit crust.

The Apple Filling

While the tart is chilling, peel, core and finally slice the Braeburn apples. Pop these in a large bowl and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Alternatively, you can sprinkle with sugar, I use cinnamon sugar – regular caster sugar with an added 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

In a saucepan over a low heat, gently warm and melt together butter, caster sugar and lemon juice and allow to cool down slightly.

Assembling the Tart

When the tart crust has chilled, it’s time to assemble everything!

Spread a layer of Dulce de Leche over the base of the tart, then arrange the apple slices in a circle around the tart. Layer the apple slices so they overlap and make sure to use plenty of fruit.

Fill the centre of the tart with extra apple slices, then pour over the melted butter, sugar and lemon juice.

Baking the Tart

Bake the tart in a preheated oven at 180C/350F for 20 minutes, then pour over the remaining Dulce de Leche and bake for a further 10 minutes.

When it’s baked, make sure the tart is completely cooled before removing from the tart tin and serving.

Step by step live video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv0nGJ6PkUo

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a pastry tart case instead?

If you are not a fan of a biscuit tart crust you can swap this for a pastry case instead. You could either go for…

• Ready-Made Pastry Cases – If time is not on your side or you want a really quick and easy dessert, then sweet shortcrust pastry cases are perfect cheats. There’s no need for blind baking or chilling biscuit crusts, just layer in the Dulce de Leche and apples, and pop in the oven.
• Make Your Own Pastry – I know it might feel a bit daunting, but trust me, sweet shortcrust pastry is one of the easiest and quickest pastries to make. If you don’t want to use a biscuit crust, then why not give it a go instead.

Top tips to get the perfect apple tart

• Make sure to fully crush the biscuits – To get a firm, tart crust, that doesn’t fall apart, crush the cookies with a food processor or mini chopper. You are looking for a fine sandy texture with no big lumps; any lumps with cause the crust to break up when the tart is sliced.
• Chill the base for at least 30 minutes – As you are baking the tart, it’s important to make sure that the base is properly chilled and set before popping it in the oven. If the biscuit crust isn’t properly chilled, the butter will melt quickly and butter up.
• Slice the apples finely or into chunks – If you want to get the pretty sliced look of the apple tart, then you need to make sure you cut the apple into fine slices for layering up more easily. You can also cut the apple into chunks about 1cm in size and scatter into the tart crust instead.
• Let the tart cool properly – Hot toffee apple tart straight from the oven might sound amazing, but slicing into it too early when the apples are still wet will cause the biscuit crust to break up. So the best thing to do is leave it to fully cool, then slice up; and if you want to serve the tart warm, give it a quick blast in the microwave.