Apple-Pecan Tartlets
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup finely ground toasted pecans
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • Pastry Cream (recipe follows), cold
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small organic Pink Lady apple, very thinly sliced*
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 6 (3-inch) removable-bottom fluted tartlet pans on prepared baking sheet. Spray tartlet pans with cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, pecans, ¼ cup sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter. Divide mixture among prepared tartlet pans (approximately ¼ cup per pan), pressing into bottom and up sides.
  3. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Spread desired amount of cold Pastry Cream into each cooled tartlet shell. Carefully remove tartlets from pans.
  5. In a large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add apple slices and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar to skillet. Cook until apple slices are slightly softened and pliable but not mushy, 3 to 4 minutes, using tongs to gently move apple slices in pan to coat well with sugar mixture. Remove from heat and let cool in pan for 10 minutes.
  6. Allow excess sugar mixture to drip from apple slices before arranging in desired pattern atop tartlets. Serve immediately or place in a covered container, refrigerate, and serve within 2 hours.
Notes
*For best color, organic apple is recommended. We used a mandoline to slice apple very thinly and evenly.

Make-Ahead Tip: Tartlets without the apple slices can be prepared up to 8 hours in advance, placed in a covered container, and refrigerated until needed. Top with apple slices before serving, but no more than 2 hours in advance.

Kitchen Tip: Use a ¼-cup metal measuring cup to press graham cracker mixture into tartlet pans.
Recipe by TeaTime Magazine at https://teatimemagazine.com/apple-pecan-tartlets/