Classic Tarte Tatin

Name: Classic Tarte Tatin
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 6 firm apples (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith); 150g granulated sugar; 60g unsalted butter, cubed; 1 sheet puff pastry (all-butter), thawed; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; Pinch of salt; Crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream for serving

Published: June 30, 2026 | French Cuisine | ⏱ 1h 5min

Golden caramelized tarte tatin with flaky pastry on a serving plate

Tarte tatin is a famously elegant French dessert born from a happy accident at the Hotel Tatin in the 1890s. Caramelized apples are baked beneath a blanket of flaky pastry, then inverted to reveal a stunning golden crown. Served warm with crème fraîche, it is pure magic.

Recipe Info

Prep Time25 min

Cook Time40 min

Total Time1h 5min

Servings8

DifficultyMedium

CuisineFrench

6 firm apples (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith)
150g granulated sugar
60g unsalted butter, cubed
1 sheet puff pastry (all-butter), thawed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt
Crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream for serving

2 Instructions

Make the caramel

Sprinkle sugar evenly in a 20cm oven-safe skillet. Cook over medium heat without stirring until it melts into an amber caramel. Swirl the pan occasionally.

Add the apples

Remove from heat. Arrange butter cubes over the caramel. Peel, quarter, and core the apples, then arrange them cut-side up in the skillet, packing them tightly.

Top with pastry

Roll puff pastry slightly larger than the skillet. Drape over the apples, tucking the edges down inside the pan. Cut a few small steam vents.

Bake and invert

Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 35-40 minutes until the pastry is golden and puffed. Let rest for 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate.

Pro Tips

Use a heavy oven-safe skillet. Cast iron is ideal for even caramelization.
Pack the apples tightly. They shrink during cooking and gaps will cause the tart to collapse.
Let the tart rest for exactly 5 minutes before inverting. Too soon and the caramel will run, too late and it will stick.

Nutrition Information

Calories	340 kcal
Protein	3g
Fat	16g
Saturated Fat	8g
Carbohydrates	48g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	34g
Sodium	120mg

* Nutritional values are approximate and based on per-serving calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Firm apples that hold their shape during baking. Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp are excellent choices.

Let it rest for only 5 minutes after baking. If it cools too long, the caramel hardens and sticks. If it sticks, gently warm the pan to loosen.

Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.6 (171 votes)

About the Author

Stephanie Grine

Recipe Developer & Food Enthusiast

I am a passionate home cook who believes that great food brings people together. Every recipe on TodayFoodsMenu is developed, tested, and photographed in my home kitchen — not a professional test...

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