Saturday, January 22, 2011

Apple Cheese Tart


January 23 was declared National Pie Day by the American Pie Council, and Jo Jo of the blog Jo Jo's Joys is celebrating on her blog today with a pie party! 

I love to make tarts, which are a form of a pie that has a shortbread pastry crust with an open top. I've shown Blueberry, Strawberry and Lemon tarts on my blog before, and I've even made savory tarts such as Smoked Salmon, Fig and Onion and a Tomato Tart.  (click on the links for all the recipes)

For today's pie party I made another family favorite, an Apple Cheese Tart. I discovered this recipe years ago when every fall my husband and my children would go to an apple orchard in upstate New York to pick apples and have a picnic. We'd return home with over a bushel of apples that I used in many apple and apple crumb pies, to the point where we'd begin to tire of them, so I began to make different apple cakes and tarts just for variety. This Apple Cheese Tart has a delicious buttery crust with a hint of cheesecake taste.  The fragrant cinnamon apples and nuts topping tastes delicious served warm or cold.

Apple Cheese Tart

Ingredients:

For the shortbread crust:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sifted flour

For the cheese layer:

1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese softened to room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or lemon or almond extract

Topping:

4 cups thinly sliced apples
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Crust:  Beat butter, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer until well blended. Slowly stir in flour till mix forms a soft dough. Press dough on bottom and sides of a 9 inch ungreased tart pan.  A 9 inch ungreased springform pan can also be used, press dough on bottom and 1 and 1/2 inch height on sides. 
Cheese Layer: Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with a mixer until blended, add flavoring extract of choice and egg, beating until just smooth. Pour into pan, spreading the cheese mixture to cover the bottom.

Topping: Combine thinly sliced apples, cinnamon and nutmeg with 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl and mix gently until all the apples are coated. Layer over the cream cheese and sprinkle nuts on top.

Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then lower oven to 400 degrees and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown (apples are soft when pierced with a fork), and filling is almost set.  Cool in pan on a wire rack and remove tart pan sides or springform pan ring.

Serve room temperature or chilled.  Leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.


It's so good!

Visit Jo Jo's Joys for her Pie Party today and see what's being served on all the participating blogs!



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50 comments:

dianasfaria.com said...

this looks so good! if I have time tomorrow, I am going to make this.

H said...

It looks very good, but I'm going to resist the temptation to make it, because I need to cut down my calorie intake :(

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is just georgous, almost a work of art. You must be a fabulous cook!

Denise said...

That looks yummy, but I'm going to check out your tomato tart. It looks good too, and if I end of snacking and picking away at it, I might not feel so guilty.

Yvette said...

This looks divine!! I love anything with cooked apples, most especially tarts! Add some cheese and what could be bad? Not much!
Gorgeous photos too. Thanks for the recipe, Pat. :)

pam said...

YUM...glory that looks good

Sarah said...

Pat, I make a similar apple tart. This one looks both beautiful and delicious. Wish I had a slice right now! ~ Sarah

Betty said...

Sounds so good. I like the combination of apples and cream cheese. I'm saving that one for future use. What I especially like is that there's no rolling out the pie crust...always a bad experience for me. I'll take press it into the botton of the pan any day. I have a metal mixing bowl with a dent in the side. I think it was back in the 1970's that I threw it across the kitchen in frustration after three failed attempts at rolling out the pie crust and getting it into the pan. It was the day before Thanksgiving and a bunch of people were coming. After that I learned to use the premade crusts which aren't as good, but a whole lot easier. I laugh whenever I look at that bowl.

Jojo said...

Pat this looks scrumptious and has such a beautiful presentation!!! I'll definitely be trying this recipe AND the smoked salmon tart.

I got a late start to grocery so I've got a few more steps to complete before I post my pie but it should be up shortly.

myletterstoemily said...

that is making my mouth water! thank you
for the recipe and the gorgeous photos.

yesterday, i made a mushroom and cheese
tart. will do that again!

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Wow this looks delicious. You are a talented baker. This is going in my to do box.

Buttercup said...

This looks great, but a little too ambitious for my teeny tiny Manhattan kitchen. I love the idea of the salmon tart, too. Happy pie day!

La said...

OH Pat, this looks delicious. I have all the ingredients too....

Happy Saturday! Stay warm! La

The Quintessential Magpie said...

OH, Pat... that looks divine! I'll be right over. Save a BIG piece for me! ;-)

XO,

Sheila

Old Kitty said...

National Pie Day!!! I'm all for having a National Pie Day!!! Everyone must go and bake PIE!!!!

And your Apple Cheese tart is so yummy I am drooling and about to eat my computer screen!!! How lovely!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful Pie Day!!!! Take care
x

Barb said...

yum....Barb

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love tarts and there's no better combination in my mind than apples and cheese. Really lovely Pat.
Sam

Michelle said...

Very nice! I always love the crust on tarts.

Lynn said...

This looks amazing Pat! I'll bet it's fantastic, gonna have to make it to find out:@)

Joyce said...

Oh but that is so delicious looking and I have to make it as soon as I am no longer on a diet ....like tomorrow:-)
Joyce

Beth said...

Pat, That looks delicious! Love your NYC blog and there is a possibility I may be able to visit NYC this summer. I sure hope so!
Your blog will provide me direction on what to see. Thanks!!
Blessings, Beth

Arlene Delloro said...

Pat, I've bookmarked this one. It looks and sounds absolutely perfect! You had me at "hint of cheesecake." What town was your upstate orchard in? We lived in Sugar Loaf for a time and there were many wonderful orchards in the Warwick area.

Claudia said...

This is definitely on my radar. Love the idea of the tart - with the cream cheese and oh my - love it all. Warming up as I dream about it. Looks so inviting, Pat!

Donnie said...

What a beautiful presentation that makes. Looks lovely and delicious.

Sue said...

Hi Pat....as usual this looks delicious...This whole pie day was somebody's great idea...Any excuse to make a good dessert and sit in a warm house and eat yourself silly....Bon Appetit!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Holy cow, does that look delicious!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Holy cow, does that look delicious!

Carol said...

It looks so good! I would love a big slice this morning with my coffee! What a great treat!

Pat said...

Absolutely yummy-looking! How I'd love a piece of your apple tart for breakfast this morning! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Tanna said...

OH, THAT ONE IS A DEFINITE! Mercy me that looks sooooooo good! The crust, the filling, the fruit and nuts! Oh, yeah! I'm on it!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thank you everyone for looking at my apple cheese tart! It's really easy to make and so delicious. I forgot to mention that you can also make the crust in a food processor.

Buttercup -- my Brooklyn kitchen is also small. You don't need too much counter space to make this as there is no need to roll out the crust. That is why I enjoy making tarts.

Arlene -- Yes, we often go to Maskers Orchard in Warwick, NY to pick apples! I blogged about our trip there this past autumn. It's such a popular place now that we might look for a less crowded orchard next year.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

This does sound like a delicious recipe, Pat! Definitely saving this one to try.

Kathleen said...

A bit like the apple cream pie. Cream cheese and apples are a winner!
It was 8 degrees last night on our way home! Absurd...:()

My name is Riet said...

Oh my goodness Pat this looks delicious. I will surely make it soon. I love homemade tarts too.So easy.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh....yummy! That looks delicious.
Hugs,
PEnny

Anonymous said...

Pat...just looking at this apple/cheese wonderfulness made me gain at least 5 pounds. I must stick to looking though...imagining how truly delicious it is! You really grabbed my attention when you said it had a cheesecake taste...cheesecake is my all time favorite dessert! Oh My...still looking, trying to take it all in...LOL

bj said...

omygosh, Mille Fiori....
this looks to die for.
I know we would love it and I'll save this recipe. Thanks so much.
xo, bj

Anonymous said...

Now THIS is a day I can celebrate!

Sounds luscious.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I was afraid this would be one of those apple pies with cheddar cheese but oh no, this is a cheese and apple tart I would LOVE.

Lisa said...

The thought of this tart is making my mouth water. You truly know your way around tarts. I have a new linky on my blog called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link this up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/01/sweets-for-saturday-1_21.html

Ebie said...

Hi Pat, I am saving your recipe. It looks so easy. I want to try and make individual ones.

eileeninmd said...

This Apple cheese tart sounds wonderful. I hope you do not mind me copying the recipe.

Barbara F. said...

Hi Pat, I just "discovered" your blog through my friend Kathleen in FL. She said to me that your blog was so "me", so I had to check it out. I enjoyed going through past blogs. I am also a Brooklyn girl, born and raised in the Gravesend section. I now reside on Staten Island. Your recipes look delish. I look forward to checking in again and again.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thanks everyone for all your nice comments!

Hi Barbara! It's always nice to meet someone from Brooklyn! Your Blogger profile is private, so I can't contact you if you have a blog, but if not I'm glad you left a comment non-the-less!

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

This sounds and looks totally and completely amazing! And...not so difficult??

Yesterday was Mike's birthday, too, but we celebrated with cupcakes. :-) I'll have to switch to pie next year now that I know he shares his special day with my favorite crusty friend!

GailO said...

I'm glad I didn't know it was national pie ....I'm trying to lose some weight:)

This looks delicious!

Splendid Little Stars said...

This looks seriously good! must try! and must go check out your other tarts. I like the idea of an open tart--and with a shortbread crust! YUM!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Oh this is beautiful Pat, I'll have to make this you know I already love your blueberry tart! i can't wait to make it again and again this summer!

steviewren said...

Sounds delicious! I wish I could look forward to a piece for breakfast in the morning.

Silvinha said...

Good morning mrs. Mille, congratulations on your wonderful blog. Beautiful really.
I spent a week in New York in 2009 on Thanksgiving (I was at Macy's and blow the credit card I bought Christmas ornaments). I loved the city and one day would love to come back, are wonderful museums, restaurants, concerts, theater ......
I love photography too, another hobby.
My name is Silvia I am from Brazil. I live in the south of the country, colonized by Germans, I'm retiring and I have two grown children. Then I started to sew and a weaver. I'm learning and I always need help and ideas. I like making new friends and practice my English too. I invite you to know my blog and follow me.
Good Week
Silvia Lückmann

http://tearpiaocupacional.blogspot.com/