• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pudge Factor

A food blog with everyday recipes, step-by-step directions and photos, and detailed recipes.

  • Easter Recipes
  • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • All Recipes
  • Meet Chula and Pudge Factor®
  • Recipes by Category
  • Just Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter Recipes
  • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • All Recipes
  • Meet Chula and Pudge Factor®
  • Recipes by Category
  • Just Recipes
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Tarte Normande aux Pommes (Julia Child’s Custard Apple Tart)

    By Chula King · July 1, 2018 · Updated December 1, 2020 Leave a Comment

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    Julia Child’s Tarte Normande aux Pommes, a.k.a. Custard Apple Tart from Mastering the Art of French Cooking is amazing. Unlike many desserts, this tart is not overly sweet. It is, however, quite delicious and has the perfect blend of apples and custard.

    Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    I first blogged about this incredible confection on December 6, 2012, and decided that it was time to update the post. The recipe is exactly the same. However, all of the photographs are new, and the text has been updated. Enjoy!

    Ingredients for Julia Child’s Tarte Normande Aux Pommes:

    I used the following ingredients for this awesome tart: Baked tart shell, Granny Smith apples, sugar, cinnamon, egg, flour, heavy cream, Calvados (apple brandy), and confectioners’ sugar.

    Ingredients for Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    Making Julia Child’s Tarte Normande Aux Pommes:

    Like many of Julia’s recipes, the preparation was multi-step. First, I pre-baked an 8-inch tart shell. I was lazy here and used store-bought pie crust.

    Then, I peeled and cored two Granny Smith apples, and sliced them into thin slices. I tossed the apples with sugar and cinnamon, and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.

    Adding Cinnamon to Apples and Sugar for Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    After 10 minutes, the apples had rendered some juices and the sugar and cinnamon had become syrupy. I carefully arranged the apples in the bottom of the tart shell. Then, I baked the apples in a preheated 375° F oven until they were tender. This took 20 minutes. I removed the apples from the oven to cool a bit.

    Tarte Normande Apples Out of Oven

    While the apples were cooling, I made the custard. First, I beat the egg with the sugar until the mixture had thickened and was a pale yellow. This took about five minutes with my electric mixer on high. Then I added the flour and beat the mixture until the flour was well incorporated. Next, I added the heavy cream and Calvados. If I hadn’t had the Calvados, I could have used a good brandy or cognac in its place. Once the custard was ready, I slowly poured it over the apples.

    Adding Custard to Baked Apples for Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    I returned the tart to the 375° F oven for 10 minutes, at which time, it had begun to puff up a little bit. Then, I sprinkled a Tablespoon of confectioners’ sugar over the top of the custard, and baked the tart for an additional 20 minutes.

    Sprinkling Confectioners Sugar on Tarte Normande

    After the 20 minutes, the custard had puffed up quite a bit. I let the tart cool on the baking pan on a wire rack before removing it to my cake stand. As it cooled, the custard lost its puffiness, and sank down in the center.

    Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes Cooling

    Per Julia’s suggestion, I served the tart warm with a glass of Calvados. The result was an amazing Tarte Normande aux Pommes. Yum!

    Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes

    Tarte Normande aux Pommes (Julia Child's Custard Apple Tart adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1, p 637)

    As is true with all of Julia Child's recipes, Tarte Normande aux Pommes is perfect. It's not too sweet, and has the perfect blend of apples and custard.
    4.79 from 28 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Resting Time for Apples: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 369kcal
    Author: Chula King

    Ingredients

    • 1 8-inch partially baked pastry shell placed on a baking sheet (See Note 1)

    Apples

    • 2 Granny Smith apples
    • ⅓ cup (2.33 ounces, 65 grams) granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

    Custard

    • 1 large egg, room temperature
    • ⅓ cup (2.33 ounces, 65 grams) granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup (1.25 ounces, 35 grams) all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup (4 ounces, 113 ml), heavy cream
    • 3 Tablespoons (1.5 ounces, 43 ml) Calvados or cognac

    Other

    • 1 Tablespoon confectioners' sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375° F.

    Apples

    • Peel, quarter and core the apples. Cut in to ⅛-inch lengthwise slices. Toss the apples in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Arrange apples in the pastry shell. Bake in the upper third of a preheated 375° F oven for 20 minutes, or until they start to color and are almost tender. Remove from oven and let cool while preparing the custard.

    Custard

    • Beat the egg and sugar together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick, pale yellow and falls back on itself forming a slowly dissolving ribbon, about 5 minutes. Beat in the flour, then the cream, and finally the Calvados or cognac. Pour the mixture over the apples. It should come almost to the top of the pastry shell.
    • Return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the custard begins to puff. 

    Other

    • Remove from oven, and sprinkle on the confectioners' sugar. Return to the oven for 15 to 20 minutes more. The tart is done when the top has browned and a toothpick plunged into the custard comes out clean.
    • Slide tart onto a rack or serving dish. Yield: 6 servings. (See Note 2)

    Chula's Expert Tips

    1. If the partially baked pastry shell has cracks in it, go ahead and prepare the custard. Brush the inside of the pastry shell with the custard. 
    2. Tarte Normande aux Pommes is best served warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating. On Instagram? Take a picture and tag @pudgefactor or #pudgefactor.

    More Cakes

    • Mini-green velvet bundtlets.
      Mini-Green Velvet Bundtlets
    • Bite-Sized King Cakes.
      Bite-Sized King Cakes
    • Adding frosting to red velvet cupcake.
      Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake
      Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

    Filed Under: Cakes, Desserts, International, Julia's Recipes, Sweet Pastry and Pies

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Chula - PudgeFactor Blogger

    Chula King is an award-winning photographer and videographer behind Pudge Factor. She’s a professor by day and foodie by night, showcasing her favorite tried and true recipes.

    More about me →

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Mail

    Delicious Easter Recipes

    • Easter Basket Cookies
      Easter Basket Cookies – Easy and Adorable
    • Make-Ahead loaded potato casserole.
      Easy Make-Ahead Loaded Potato Casserole
    • Easy make ahead Spinach Gratin being served.
      Easy Make-Ahead Spinach Gratin
    • Old-Fashioned Ham Salad.
      Old-Fashioned Ham Salad – Quick and Easy
    • Broccoli Rice casserole.
      Make-Ahead Broccoli Rice Casserole
    • Classic Lemon Bars
      Classic Lemon Bars
    • Cheesy Mini Cornbread Waffles
      Cheesy Mini Cornbread Waffles
    • Easy potato waffles.
      Easy Potato Waffles

    See more Valentine Recipes→

    Sites Featured In

    Popular Recipes

    • Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls
      Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls
    • Chicken Schnitzel with Mustard Cream Sauce
      Chicken Schnitzel with Mustard Cream Sauce
    • Homemade Waffle Cones
      Homemade Waffle Cones
    • Twice Baked Potato Casserole
      Twice Baked Potato Casserole

    See more Recipes→

    Footer

    © 2012–2023 · Pudge Factor®, LLC · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer