The tarte tatin is a classic French dessert, consisting of caramelized apples and a pastry or puff pastry baked upside down. This sweet treat blending sugary and fruity flavours is appreciated by both young and old foodies. Although it seems simple in appearance, making a successful tarte tatin requires a careful selection of ingredients, especially the apples. So what are the best varieties of apples to create a tarte tatin that will delight your guests’ taste buds? Find out in this article our selection along with some tips to choose them properly.
The Golden Delicious: a sure bet for the tarte Tatin
Versatile apple, the Golden Delicious is often used in pastry making thanks to its numerous qualities. Its sweet taste and delicately vanilla-flavored aroma blend perfectly with caramel, making it an excellent option for your tarte tatin.
Features
The Golden Delicious has a firm and juicy flesh, but it retains its shape when cooked for a long time at high temperature, thus enabling a beautiful presentation for the tatin pie. Moreover, it does not release too much juice during cooking, thereby preventing your dessert from becoming too moist.
How to choose your Golden Delicious?
For a successful tarte tatin with Golden Delicious, choose ripe but still firm apples. A smooth and shiny skin is a good indicator of freshness and quality. Avoid those with bruises or brown spots. Finally, prioritize organic fruit to limit the presence of pesticides and guarantee a better taste.
The Queen of Pippins: a traditional choice for Tarte Tatin
Originating from Western Europe, the Reine des Reinettes is often considered as the ideal apple for tarte tatin. Used by the Tatin brothers themselves for their signature recipe, this variety possesses exceptional taste qualities that appeal to a wide range of people.
Features
The Queen of the Pippins, also known as “the Guilty Pleasure”, has a melting flesh, not very juicy and very fragrant. It is also recognizable by its red skin streaked with yellow. With its beautiful acidity and pronounced aroma, it gives your dessert a unique and balanced taste that will delight lovers of sweet-salty sensations.
How to choose your Reine des Reinettes?
Like the Golden Delicious, choose firm, smooth and shiny Reine des Reinettes for your tarte tatin. However, be careful: this variety has a shorter seasonality than other apples, it is usually available from September to November. To fully enjoy its taste qualities, it is better to choose it during harvest time.
The Idared: a less known option for Tatin pie but very tasty
A cross between the Jonathan and the Wagner, the Idared is an apple originating from the United States that deserves to be known in France too. It can advantageously replace other varieties in your tarte tatin thanks to its interesting characteristics.
Features
Just like the Golden Delicious, the Idared has a firm flesh that allows it to retain its shape during cooking. Its balanced taste between sweet and tart brings a touch of originality without distorting the traditional recipe of tarte tatin. Its fairly thick dark red skin gives a visually attractive result, contrasting with the caramel.
How to choose your Idared?
To choose your Idared apples well, make sure they are firm to the touch and do not have too many marks on their skin. The Idared usually keeps for quite a long time, making it a practical alternative if you cannot find Reine des Reinettes in your area.
In summary, the best tarte tatin requires a rigorous selection of apples to ensure a successful dessert. Golden Delicious, Reine des Reinettes, and Idared are three ideal options that will seduce you with their taste and aesthetic qualities. All you have to do now is test these varieties to find the one that best meets your expectations and preferences. Enjoy your tasting!