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Rustic Apple Cinnamon Galette

From Childhood Inspiration to Homemade Delights: Baking an Apple Cinnamon Galette

Growing up, our family home was a cozy, two-story red-brick cottage nestled along Sea Breeze Road. It was there, in the heart of our kitchen, that my earliest and most vivid memories of baking took root. I would often perch on the ledge of the kitchen door, a quiet observer, completely captivated as my mum immersed herself in the magic of baking for what felt like endless hours.

The kitchen, with its warm light-brown tiled floor, was a constant theater of culinary creation. Some days, she’d be meticulously mixing batter, the air thick with the zesty perfume of orange for her signature butter pound cake. Other times, the delicate scent of almonds would signal the making of my granny’s cherished almond cookies. And as Chinese New Year approached, the entire house would be enveloped in the sweet, tangy aroma of baking pineapple tarts, a truly unmistakable sign of festive joy.

I’d sit cross-legged on the floor, utterly enchanted. The intoxicating medley of citrus zest, the subtle sweetness of brown butter gently caramelizing in a pan, and the rich, comforting fragrance of pineapple tarts wafting through the air, all combined into an exquisite symphony of aromas. It was a sensory experience that, even as a child, left an indelible mark on my memory, though I couldn’t quite grasp its full significance then.

A beautifully baked Apple Cinnamon Galette, golden brown and rustic, invitingly presented on a wooden surface.

Despite being utterly drawn in by these incredible smells and the palpable warmth emanating from the kitchen, the true ‘magic’ of baking remained a mystery to me. I would watch my mum dedicate entire Sunday afternoons to kneading dough, mixing ingredients with precision, and carefully tending to her creations in the oven. In my childlike innocence, I often wondered what potent force compelled her to spend so much time there, tirelessly working, yet always seeming to find immense joy in the process.

An Unexpected Passion: From Childhood Observation to Personal Creation

Looking back at those early days, observing my mum with a blend of fascination and burgeoning curiosity, I find myself marvelling at how profoundly things have changed. Baking, an activity I merely admired from a distance as a young girl, has now blossomed into a completely unexpected, yet deeply fulfilling passion of my own. It’s a journey that mirrors my mum’s dedication, a journey of discovery and a profound connection to the culinary arts, especially the art of homemade desserts.

Close-up of a freshly baked Apple Cinnamon Galette, showcasing its flaky golden crust and tender apple filling.

Just last weekend, I found myself once again in the familiar embrace of my kitchen, standing before a warm oven, my hands dusted white with flour and pleasantly sticky with dough. The week prior, I had been contemplating another fruit tart. My first attempt, a strawberry and lemon mascarpone tart, had exceeded all expectations, proving to be a surprisingly successful endeavor. Then, upon seeing Shanna’s absolutely beautiful strawberry peach tart on a maple shortbread cookie crust, the idea of creating another fruit tart took such firm root in my mind that I simply had no choice but to bring it to life.

The allure of kneading dough, feeling its texture transform under my hands, and then shaping it into a delightful homemade tart was simply too powerful to resist. It’s a meditative process, one that connects me to a tradition of warmth, comfort, and the undeniable satisfaction of creating something truly delicious from scratch.

A rustic homemade Apple Cinnamon Galette cooling on a wire rack, ready for serving.

Crafting the Perfect Winter Comfort: A Rustic Apple Cinnamon Galette

While my heart initially yearned for a vibrant blueberry or a juicy peach tart, or perhaps another exotic fruit variation, the realities of winter produce gently guided my choice. With limited options for fresh, seasonal fruits, I happily settled on crafting a simple, yet profoundly satisfying, rustic apple cinnamon galette. This choice felt inherently right, tapping into the comforting flavors of the season and promising a delightful winter dessert.

Another appealing view of the baked Apple Cinnamon Galette, showcasing its perfectly golden, crimped pastry edges.

The beauty of a galette lies in its unpretentious charm and easy preparation. It’s not about perfect symmetry or elaborate decorations, but rather the honest, heartwarming combination of fresh ingredients baked to perfection. My vision was a galette filled with thinly sliced apples, gently tossed with sugar and a generous dash of fragrant cinnamon, all cradled within a wonderfully sweet and tender shortcrust pastry shell. The simplicity is its strength, promising a taste of pure, unadulterated comfort with every bite.

A close-up shot of the raw Apple Cinnamon Galette before baking, with thinly sliced apple pieces neatly arranged within the pastry.

Imagine the scent that fills your kitchen as it bakes – a rich, autumnal aroma reminiscent of a bountiful fruit orchard after harvest. It’s the kind of smell that instantly makes a house feel like a home, inviting and utterly tempting. The visual appeal is equally powerful; its rustic, free-form shape practically begs you to cut a generous slice. There’s an inherent comfort in the taste and smell of warm, tender apples, evoking nostalgic memories of sweet apple purée from our earliest days. The exquisite balance of sweetness with the subtle tartness of fresh apples, all warm and melting delightfully in your mouth, truly is a pure delight that speaks to the soul.

Ingredients for the apple filling: freshly sliced green apples, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon powder, ready to be mixed.

The Joy of Sharing and Anticipation

Adding to my excitement is the wonderful news that my mum and sister will be visiting me very soon! The thought of baking alongside my mum once again, sharing laughter and stories with Valerie, and simply enjoying their company fills me with immense joy. I’m thrilled to the bones at the prospect of these cherished moments, especially knowing we’ll be able to share these homemade treats together, perhaps even this very apple cinnamon galette. It’s the perfect comforting dessert to welcome them home.

Meanwhile, I encourage you to enjoy this delicious apple cinnamon galette, whether you bake it for yourself or to share with loved ones. May it bring warmth and sweetness to your week. Have a beautiful week!

A single slice of warm Apple Cinnamon Galette, served on a white plate with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

The finished, golden-brown Apple Cinnamon Galette, artfully arranged on a wooden board next to a cup of hot tea, ready for serving.

Apple Cinnamon Galette Recipe

This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Galette is designed to serve 4 people, making it a perfect treat for a small gathering or a cozy evening. The tender and flaky shortcrust pastry is lovingly adapted from A Cup of Mascarpone’s delightful Blueberry and Lemon Mascarpone Tart recipe, ensuring a superb base for our flavorful apple filling.

Ingredients:

For the Shortcrust Pastry:

  • 125g – 180g of all-purpose flour, sifted (start with 125g and add more if the dough is too sticky)
  • 115g of very cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 65g of icing sugar (confectioners’ sugar), sifted
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon of iced water (add gradually, as needed)
  • 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar (for sprinkling on the crust before baking)

For the Apple Cinnamon Filling:

  • 2 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored, cut into quarters, and then sliced as thinly as possible (Green apples, like Granny Smiths, offer a lovely slight sourness that balances the sweetness, but red apples or a mix of both will also work wonderfully for this rustic fruit tart).
  • 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/2 – 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon powder (adjust this amount to suit your personal preference for spice)

Instructions for Preparation:

  1. Prepare the Pastry Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sifted all-purpose flour, the cold butter cubes, and the sifted icing sugar. Use two knives, a pastry blender, or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture achieves a texture resembling fine breadcrumbs.
  2. Form the Dough: Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract to the flour-butter mixture and mix thoroughly. Gradually incorporate the iced water, adding it a tablespoon at a time, until the dough just begins to come together into a cohesive mass. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the pastry tough.
  3. Chill the Dough: Gently shape the dough into a smooth ball on a cool, flat, lightly floured surface. Flatten the dough into a disc, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes; this allows the butter to firm up and the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to handle.
  4. Prepare the Apple Filling: While the pastry dough is chilling, prepare your apples. Peel, core, and slice them into the thinnest possible pieces. In a separate bowl, combine the thinly sliced apples with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon powder. Toss gently to ensure the apples are evenly coated. Let this mixture rest for a while, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully and the apples to release some of their natural juices.
  5. Pre-heat Oven: Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit).
  6. Roll out Pastry: Once the dough has sufficiently chilled, unwrap it. Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper and roll it out into a rough circle. Aim for a size that will fit your tart mold, or if making a free-form galette, a circle roughly the size of a large pizza pan (around 12-14 inches in diameter).
  7. Arrange Apples: Carefully transfer the parchment paper with the rolled-out dough to a baking sheet. Leave at least an inch (about 2-3 cm) of dough free around the edges. Arrange the seasoned apple slices by overlapping them slightly in a beautiful circular pattern, starting from the outermost part of the circle and working your way towards the center.
  8. Fold and Finish: Gently fold the exposed edges of the pastry dough over the apple filling, creating a rustic, crimped border. This free-form folding is characteristic of a galette. Sprinkle a bit of the extra granulated sugar over the folded dough edges; this will caramelize and create a beautiful, crunchy crust.
  9. Bake: Bake the galette in your pre-heated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the pastry crust is beautifully golden brown and the apples are soft, tender, and slightly caramelized.
  10. Serve: Allow the baked apple cinnamon galette to cool slightly on the baking sheet before carefully transferring it to a serving plate. Slice and serve warm, perhaps with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream for an extra touch of indulgence. Enjoy your delightful homemade Apple Cinnamon Galette!

Visual Guide: Step-by-Step Apple Cinnamon Galette Creation

For a clearer understanding of each step in crafting this delicious galette, here’s a visual walkthrough of the process:

Step 1: Mixing flour, butter, and icing sugar. Use two knives or a pastry blender to cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Process of mixing flour, cold butter, and icing sugar in a bowl using two knives, creating a crumbly texture.

Step 1: The mixture after cutting in butter. Observe the fine, breadcrumb-like texture achieved by incorporating the butter into the flour and sugar.
Close-up of the pastry mixture resembling fine breadcrumbs after butter has been cut in.

Step 2: Adding egg yolks and vanilla extract. These wet ingredients are then mixed thoroughly into the dry crumbly base.
Adding rich egg yolks and aromatic vanilla extract to the prepared pastry mixture in a bowl.

Step 2: Incorporating iced water. Gradually add just enough iced water until the dough starts to come together into a cohesive, workable mass.
Slowly adding iced water to the pastry mixture, encouraging the dough to form a cohesive ball.

Step 3: Shaping the dough into a ball. Form the freshly mixed dough into a smooth ball on a cool, lightly floured surface.
The pastry dough, newly formed into a smooth ball, resting on a floured countertop.

Step 3: Flattening and chilling the dough. Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap it securely in plastic, and place it in the refrigerator to chill.
Pastry dough flattened into a disc and tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, ready for chilling in the refrigerator.

Step 4: Preparing the apple filling. Thinly slice peeled and cored apples, then mix them gently with sugar and ground cinnamon powder, letting the flavors meld.
Thinly sliced apples, mixed with granulated sugar and fragrant cinnamon, resting in a bowl for the galette filling.

Step 6: Rolling out the chilled pastry dough. Roll it evenly on parchment paper to achieve the desired galette size, about the dimensions of a large pizza.
The chilled pastry dough being rolled out on a sheet of parchment paper to form the circular base for the galette.

Step 7: Arranging the apple slices. Overlap the seasoned apple slices in an appealing circular pattern on the rolled-out dough, leaving a border free.
Carefully arranging thinly sliced apple pieces in an overlapping circular design on the rolled-out pastry dough, forming the galette filling.

Step 8: Folding the dough edges. Fold the free edges of the dough over the apple filling to create a rustic, free-form crust, then sprinkle with sugar for a golden finish.
The edges of the pastry dough being folded inward over the apple filling to create the rustic crust of the galette, then sprinkled with sugar.

Step 9: The baked Apple Cinnamon Galette. This image represents the final product: a beautifully golden brown crust and soft, tender apples, fresh and fragrant from the oven.