Apple Tart with Chai-Spiced Custard Sauce

This apple custard tart is easily baked with store-bought puff pastry and is drizzled with a delicious chai spice-infused custard sauce. The sauce goes perfectly with the flaky crust and makes this dessert a wonderful fall or winter afternoon treat.

For more fall apple desserts check out these Mini Apple Cakes with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and this Spiced Apple Clafoutis.

How to make the sauce:

RECIPE NOTE: You will need to thaw the puff pastry sheet for the tart for about 40 minutes before you can use it, so be sure to plan for that before you start.

Step 1. In a saucepan, add:

• ½ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 half-inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Stirring continuously, bring the mix to a simmer, then turn the heat off, cover and let steep for 30 minutes.

Step 2. Strain out the spices.

Step 3. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk 3 egg yolks together.

Step 4. Whisk in the cream mix.

Step 5. Pour the custard back into the saucepan.

Step 6. Heat the custard on medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until it has thickened and is coating the back of a wooden spoon (about 4 minutes). Let cool, then cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the tart.

RECIPE NOTE: You may end up with a few clumps in the sauce. If so, strain it before serving.

How to make the tart:

For the tart, there’s no need to go through the trouble of making a crust yourself, instead you simply use one sheet of store-bought puff pastry. Set the sheet out to thaw for 40 minutes. When you have about 10 minutes left, prepare the apple topping.

Prepare the apples:

Step 1. Start with 2 Granny Smith apples.

Step 2. Peel, core and slice the apples.

Step 3. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter.

Step 4. Cook the apple slices in the butter until they are tender (5 to 7 minutes). Meanwhile heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 5. In a bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon corn starch.

Step 6. Toss the cooked apple slices in the sugar/corn starch mix until they are evenly coated.

Make the tart:

Step 7. Cut a 9-inch round out of the puff pastry sheet and either lay it into a greased, 9-inch round tart pan or lay it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 8. Lay the apple slices on the puff pastry and bake the tart until golden-brown (about 25 minutes).

More delicious fruit desserts:

• Vanilla Cream with Cinnamon-Sugared Cranberries
• Black Forest Eton Mess
• Lemon Ginger Mousse

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4 from 3 votes

Apple Tart with Chai-Spiced Custard Sauce

This apple custard tart is easy to make with a sheet of store-bought puff pastry and a spice-infused custard sauce.

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:1 hr 20 mins

Total Time:1 hr 30 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple custard tart, apple tart, chai-spiced custard

Servings: 6

Calories (estimated): 212kcal

Author: Nicole B.

Ingredients:

For the custard sauce:

• ½ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 half-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 3 egg yolks

For the apple tarts:

• 1 puff pastry sheet, thawed
• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon corn starch

Instructions:

For the custard sauce:

• Add milk, cream, sugar and spices to a saucepan and bring to simmer, stirring continuously.
• Turn the heat off, cover and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Strain out the spices.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl, then whisk in the milk/cream mix.
• Transfer the mix back into the saucepan and, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, heat the custard on medium-low heat until it has thickened and is coating the back of the spoon (about 4 minutes). Be careful not to let the custard boil.*
• Let the sauce cool, then cover and store in the fridge.

For the apple tarts:

• Set the puff pastry sheet out to thaw for 40 minutes. When you have 10 minutes left, prepare the apples.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel, core, quarter and slice the apples.
• Melt the butter in a pan, then add the apple slices and cook them until they are tender (5 to 7 minutes).
• Mix the sugar and the corn starch in a bowl, then add the apples to the bowl and mix around until they are evenly coated.
• Cut a 9-inch round out of the puff pastry and either lay it into a greased tart pan with removable bottom or lay it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Distribute the apple slices on the dough.
• Bake the tart until it is golden-brown (about 25 minutes).
• Serve the tart with the sauce.

Notes:

*If you end up with a few small clumps in the sauce, strain it before serving.