Norman Tart facts for kids
Normandy Tart
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| Place of origin | France |
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| Region or state | Normandy |
| Main ingredients | Shortcrust pastry, apples, sliced almonds, sugar |
The Normandy tart is a delicious tart that comes from the Normandy region of France. It's a type of apple tart, but with a special creamy topping. Imagine a yummy shortcrust pastry base filled with apples, sliced almonds, and sugar. Then, it's covered with a rich, creamy egg custard and baked until the top turns a little bit caramelised. In French, it's called Tarte Normande.
Contents
What Makes a Normandy Tart Special?
A Normandy tart starts with a base of pâte brisée, which is a type of shortcrust pastry. This pastry is crumbly and buttery, perfect for holding the delicious filling.
Key Ingredients
- Apples: Fresh apples are sliced and placed on the pastry. They become soft and sweet when baked.
- Almonds: Sliced almonds add a nice nutty flavor and a bit of crunch.
- Creamy Custard: This is the secret ingredient! It's a mix of eggs, cream, and sugar that bakes into a smooth, slightly sweet topping. When it bakes, the top gets a lovely golden, caramelised crust.
Tart Sizes and Shapes
Normandy tarts usually come in two sizes. The larger one is about one foot (or 30 centimeters) across. This is like the size of a dinner plate. There's also a smaller version, which is about half or one-third the size of the larger one. These smaller tarts are perfect for individual servings.
How is it Different from Other Tarts?
You might have seen other apple tarts or egg custard tarts. The Normandy tart has some unique features that set it apart.
Normandy Tart vs. Egg Custard Tarts
Many egg custard tarts, especially those popular in the United Kingdom, are simply a creamy custard baked in a pastry shell. They don't usually have fruit or nuts on top. The Normandy tart is different because it always includes apples and almonds under its creamy custard layer.
Normandy Tart vs. Crème Brûlée
Another famous French dessert is crème brûlée. While it also has a creamy egg custard, it's usually served in a small dish called a ramekin. It doesn't have any pastry or fruit. Crème brûlée is known for its hard, glassy caramelised sugar top, which is made by grilling sugar directly on top until it's solid. The Normandy tart's caramelisation is usually softer and baked in.
Other Apple Tarts from Normandy
Normandy is famous for its apples, so there are other apple tarts from the region. Some of these tarts might have a layer of almond paste or frangipane (a sweet almond cream) instead of the egg custard. They often have beautiful patterns of apple slices on top, sometimes even with a pastry lattice design. These tarts are also usually made with shortcrust pastry.
Normandy Tarts Around the World
You can find Normandy tarts in different places. For example, in the UK, a French bakery chain called Paul sells a tart called "Flan Normand." They try to stick to the old, traditional recipe from the 1800s, giving it a rustic, homemade look.
However, many supermarkets might sell something called "French Apple Tart." These often don't have the creamy egg custard. Instead, they might have an almond or Frangipane paste under the apples, similar to some of the other apple tarts from Normandy. These supermarket versions might not always tell you exactly where the recipe comes from.
