Fresh Apple Tarts

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• pastry dough:
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/8 cups unsalted butter
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• apple filling:
• 4 granny smith apples - peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 4 ounces apricot jam (if using jam, use less sugar) (optional)

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs 45 mins


• in a large bowl, mix together flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and salt. cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. mix in eggs and vanilla extract until dough forms a ball. wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour but not more than 1 day.
• while the dough is chilling, prepare the apple filling.
• in a medium bowl, toss diced apples with sugar and cinnamon. mix in walnuts.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). lightly grease 16 3-inch tart pans. remove tart dough from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out.
• knead dough briefly on a lightly floured surface. cut into 16 equal portions. roll each portion into a 6-inch circle, and carefully fit one circle into each tart pan.
• spoon an equal amount of apple mixture into each tart pan. fold pastry over filling. place filled tarts on a baking sheet.
• bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. melt apricot jam and brush over finished tarts, if desired.