Best Apple Tart Recipe – How To Make An Apple Tart

True story: I lost a lot of sleep over this recipe. I tossed and turned trying to figure out how to make a gorgeous but easy apple tart that’s worthy of your Thanksgiving table. After rounds and round of testing, and with the help of many people on our team, I finally did it. Here’s what makes *THIS* recipe super special: 

You don’t need to roll out the crust.

And you don’t need to chill it either! Inspired by the good ‘old graham cracker crust, it’s a simple stir-and-press mixture that uses a lot of melted butter. Only instead of graham crackers, you use all-purpose flour. The results are way more delicate and not as sweet as a shortbread shell. 

Everything bakes together.

In a classic French recipe, you’re supposed to cook down an apple compote to go on top of the crust and under the spiral of apples. Not here. We skipped the sauce completely and macerated the slices in brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and vanilla to make sure they got nice and jammy in the oven. 

That mesmerizing design is super easy. 

I swear! All you need to do is stack a dozen or so slices together tightly, then place them over the crust cut side-down, shingled slightly.  If the thought still makes your brain hurt, you don’t need to do anything fancy. You can just scatter them on top.

Have you made this recipe? Let us know how you liked it in the comments below. 

Editor’s Note: This recipe was modified slightly on August 13, 2021.