Self-Taught Vegan Chef :: Food Network Champion :: TV Host
It’s that time of the year where Christmas lights start going up and families plan their Thanksgiving feasts. A big part of the holidays are apples, more specifically apple pie.. YUM. There’s nothing that can be wrong with a hot, fresh, flaky and juicy apple pie. And what’s better than just a slice- a tart! Just as flaky and yummy but smaller and with CHOCOLATE. Plus at the Thanksgiving table theres GOING to be that family member(s) that doesn’t want to eat too much dessert, or a big slice or they’re watching their weight. So this is the PERFECT addition to your dessert spread!
Petite decadent pastry shells filled with moist apples, brown sugar, spices and zest topped with lucisious chocolate and the only things left to complete the deal is your hand and mouth! I swear by Williams & Sonoma Basic Pastry Dough recipe because it’s easy, fast and super tasty. I just tweek it a bit of course!
OF COURSE I used my AMAZING Babycakes Machine and the tarts they came out so cute and petite! However, these can be done in regular mini-muffin tin pans.
Basic Pastry Dough:
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 7 tbsp unsalted cubed (make sure its VERY cold)
- 6-8 tbsp COLD water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Spiced Apple Filling:
- 4 green apples- peeled and cubed small
- 2/3 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (fresh is so much better!)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh orange zest
- pinch clove powder
- PAM Baking Flavor
Chocolate Drizzle:
- 3-4 bittersweet chocolate squares (I used Ghiradelli)
- 2-3 tbsp half & half (I used fatfree Land-o-Lakes)
- 2-3 tbsp warm water
Before Chocolate..
For the Pie Dough:
1. In a food processor add the flour, salt and sugar and pulse until blended. Add the cubed butter and pulse until the butter chunks are small pea sized. While pulsing, slowly dribble in the cold water. Add enough water until the dough has turned into a rough mass.
2. Place dough mixture on a floured counter and form into a 1-2 inch thick disk. Wrap with plastic and place in the fridge for AT LEAST 2 hours.
For the Apple Mixture:
1. In a bowl mixture together all the ingredients listed above. Place aside.
Putting it together..
**If using a conventional oven, preheat to about 375. Spray the muffin tins.
1. After 2+ hours, remove the dough from the fridge onto a floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out into a thin pastry sheet (just before its thin enough to see through! Using a round 3 inch cookie cutter or a knife, cut out circles. Regardless of whether you’re using the babycakes machine or regular muffin tins, make sure to SPRAY them. Line each cup with the circles of dough pressing lightly into the cup to create a tart shell. If using babycakes machine, use the pie tart tool to press into the cups. Bake for about 5 minutes or until the shells are slightly cooked and slightly golden.
2. Remove the tins from the oven/ open the babycakes machine lid. Add enough apple filling to come over the top of the tin a little. Bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until apples are soft and crust is golden brown and crispy. Remove each tart from the tin/babycakes machine and let cool on a rack.
Pouring the Drizzle..
1. Heat chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for about 45 second. Pour in milk and 1 tbsp of water. Heat for another 30-40 second. Stir and if not melted, add another tbsp hot water and heat for another 30 second. Stir until smooth and glistening. You want the consistency to be a bit thin so you can drizzle the tarts.
2. Using a small whisk or spoon (I used a spoon) drizzle the tarts in a fast back and forth motion until tops are covered. Cool until chocolate is hardened.
Makes about 20 tarts
Serving Suggestions:
Hot with fresh whip cream and chocolate curls
Hot with fresh vanilla or dulce de leche ice cream
Hot with a nice cup of coffee
Wanna See More Recipes Using the Babycakes Machine?
these look so so so yummy! did the babycakes machine come with a set of recipes are have you just been improvising? i’m dying to get one but had no idea what i would use it for!
hey thanks! it comes with a small recipe manual that gives mostly cupcake recipes. This apple tartlet recipe is improvised- we had a bunch of apples at home and I wanted to make something that was some-what traditional, but not completely! SO these tartlets were born haha! And yes, the babycakes machine is actually awesome.
Yum! I want to make these with caramel instead of chocolate- great recipe!
It’ll taste great with caramel- actually better would be with dulce de leche: http://wp.me/p15gh6-aD Yummy! Thanks 🙂
Yummy! A “mini” version of any food is always waaay more appealing and adorable that the full size version — ALWAYS!
I think the same too! So petite and cute (girly hehe).. thanks though! 🙂
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I love this dessert. I am definitely buzzing you here because this is a fabulous recipe and it really touched my heart that you thought to dedicate it to Apple’s Steve Jobs!! That’s really sweet of you!! : )
These would be great on a dessert plate for the holidays. I like the presentation and the ingredients as well. I am sure they taste twice as good as they look-yum!
These look amazing and I love the chocolate drizzle on top. Yum!
Oh my, these look so absolutely delicious! I don’t often pair apples with chocolate, but this sounds to die for 🙂
What a great idea, these look so delicious and are super creative! 🙂
Thank you!
Bookmarked and buzzed! I’m not a baker but I’m thinking I need to suck up my fear and give these babies a try because WOW, they look good 🙂 Buzzed
What a gorgeous way to celebrate! They look so darn delish 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
thank you!!!