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Breton pastry with salted caramel apples

Frank Camorra
Frank Camorra

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Simple Breton pastry make a lovely spongy base for these salted caramel apples.
Simple Breton pastry make a lovely spongy base for these salted caramel apples.Marcel Aucar

Breton pastry is a delicious cross between shortbread and sponge cake, which originated in Brittany in north-western France. It takes less time to make than other pastries because it requires no chilling or resting; just make and bake. There are so many options for topping this versatile biscuit; this recipe for salted caramel apples is incredibly easy, and the spicy apple flavour works well with the pastry's buttery richness.

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Ingredients

For salted caramel apples

  • 2 cups granulated sugar

  • 120g unsalted butter, at room temperature, diced

  • 1 cup thickened cream, at room temperature

  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice

  • pinch ground nutmeg

  • 1 tsp fleur de sel (or any other flaky sea salt)

  • 5 granny smith or fuji apples, peeled, cored and cut into 2cm-thick slices


  • For Breton pastry

  • 4 egg yolks

  • 175g castor sugar

  • 160g butter, softened

  • 220g  plain flour

  • 8g baking powder

Method

  1. For salted caramel apples

    Pour the sugar in an even layer over the bottom of a heavy, two to three-litre saucepan. Heat over medium-high, whisking gently as it begins to melt. The sugar will begin to form clumps, which will melt away as you whisk.

    When the sugar turns a deep amber colour, add the butter and whisk, being careful to not get burnt if it spits.

    Add the cream, spices and salt. Mix until well incorporated.

    Add the apples and cook gently for five minutes or until the fruit has softened. Let cool slightly, then serve on the Breton pastry with a scoop of creme fraiche.

    For the pastry

    Place yolks in a electric mixer fitted with a whisk and begin whisking on high speed. Add the sugar gradually and continue whisking until pale and creamy.

    In a separate bowl, beat butter until smooth. Turn speed down to low and add the butter to the mixer, one-quarter at a time, whisking well between each addition but not so much as to deflate the yolk mixture.

    Remove the bowl from the mixer and sift in the flour and baking powder. Using a rubber spatula, work the flour in gently until well combined. Scrape the contents of the bowl onto a work surface and bring the dough together, making sure not to overwork it.

    The pastry is ready to use either to line tart rings or rolled out to make biscuits. Spray 5cm tart rings with canola oil and dust with flour. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Gently press pastry into the ring, pressing it to the edges to form a border around the edge.

    Bake in a 165C oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the pastries have puffed up and are golden-brown. The pastry shrinks slightly as it cools. Place on a rack to cool before adding topping.

    Frank's tips
    The excess uncooked pastry can be frozen and kept for up to three weeks before being thawed and cooked.

    Alternative topping suggestions for Breton pastry: Chocolate mousse with roasted figs, crushed summer berries, or lemon verbena panna cotta.

     

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Frank CamorraFrank Camorra is chef and co-owner of MoVida Sydney and Melbourne's MoVida Bar De Tapas.

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