Apple Taretlettes

Warm apples with cinnamon and sugar remind me of cool, dreary days when all you wanna do is stay in bed, curled up with a good book and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Those are the days I long for. Spring is right around the corner, and as the beautiful colors of spring flowers begin to bloom and give color to our lives, I don't lose hope for another cold front to breeze on by. This apple tartelette was so good and simple to make.

Apple Tartelettes

Apple Filling

Flaky sweet pastry dough ( see below for recipe )

4 Golden Delicious or Gala Apples

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 Tbsp light brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pastry Dough

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

7 Tbsp unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small squares

2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp ice water

To make pastry dough:

• Place the flour, sugar and salt in the food processor. Pulse to combine. 
• Add the butter squares and pulse until the mixture resembles course crumbs.
• Add the water and slowly pulse until the pastry mixture begins to hold together.
• Form a flat square and wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Divide the dough into four equal parts. Roll each portion into a 6x6 square. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Peel and core the apples, then cut into thin strips 
• Heat the butter until hot ( not bubbly ) in a large frying pan

• Add apples and sugar to butter. Saute apples until lightly golden brown and they begin to caramelize.
• Remove pastry dough  from refrigerator, and spoon the apples into the center of the pastry squares.
• Fold up the ends of the dough and pinch the corners forming about a one inch border.

• Brush the border of the dough with beaten egg.
• Bake in the center of the over until golden around the edges, about 20-25 minutes.
• Combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

• Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and serve. I can only imagine this with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream it would be even yummier..