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Julia Child's Tarte Normande aux Pommes
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4.72 from 21 votes

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.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Resting Time for Apples10 mins
Total Time1 hr 5 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Chula King

Ingredients

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

Apples

  • 2 Granny Smith apples
  • 1/3 cup (2.33 ounces, 65 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Custard

  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (2.33 ounces, 65 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (1.25 ounces, 35 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 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 1/8-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)

Notes

  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.