I spent the first part of my pregnancy making wedding cakes. A LOT of wedding cakes. We found out I was pregnant in early October, the beginning of wedding season in Austin, Texas. Just as my morning sickness began to set in, I had my first cake order to fulfill. What followed was two months of perseverance, prayer, and an amazing team made of my husband and a few special friends.
I couldn’t stand the smell of sugar during the early stages of my pregnancy. And when you make a wedding cake, you use copious amounts of sugar. I would prop every window open and suck on a lemon while I was frosting a wedding cake. Ryan probably thought I was crazy, but it was the only way I could get through those long days of decorating. What I craved (instead of a vanilla cake with a rich buttercream) were the pastries and desserts we ate in Paris. In particular, my favorite: an apple croissant from Du Pain et Des Idées, the best bakery in Paris.
The apple croissants from Du Pain et Des Idées are made the traditional way: an organic apple is sliced in half, the skin left on, and it is wrapped, simply and elegantly, with a luxuriously flaky croissant dough. Once we found the bakery, I ate at least one every single day we were in Paris.
This simple french tart is just as delicious as my favorite pastry. With hardly any sugar in the recipe, the natural sweetness of the apple shines. I use Dufour Puff Pastry, and I highly recommend you shell out the extra four or five dollars to pick up a box. Quite simply, it is the best product available. And once you try it? You’ll never go back.
We’re approaching 20 weeks, which means I’m almost half-way there, and we’ll soon be finding out if we’re having a little boy or girl. We’ve already chosen names: Lucille Amelia and Alden Robert. The names have ties to our family, and we like the old-fashioned feeling each evokes. At this point in my pregnancy, I’m feeling energized, almost too energized (thus the reason I’m awake at 6am on my day off), and I’m constantly hungry. Last night, I had to have one more slice of this french apple tart before going to bed. And I’m making my third batch of crepes in one week. One week! Needless to say, this baby has a french appetite.
Simple French Apple Tart
1 package Dufour Puff Pastry
4 large granny smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 TBSP butter, melted
2 TBSP sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup apricot jam, warmed
1. Follow the instructions on the back of the puff pastry packet. Allow at least 3 hours for your pastry to thaw in the refrigerator before beginning this recipe.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Carefully unfold puff pastry into rectangle, patching any broken parts. Slightly fold in the perimeter of the puff pastry (about 1/2 inch) to create the edge of your tart.
3. Arrange your thinly sliced apples in neat rows. There isn’t a “right” way to do this, but the more careful you are, the prettier your tart will look. Brush the apples lightly with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake in oven for 40 minutes, or until the puff pastry is a rich golden brown.
4. Immediately brush the top of the tart with the warmed apricot jam. Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream (if you’d like).
Hi Monet, you are looking great! I can literally smell your apple pie from across the screen… If only you could send me a slice.
You are still looking fabulous and radiant. I can only imagine how horrible the first trimester was with all of the sugar.
Good to see you are past that and have found your appetite…I love your name chooses and can’t wait to see which one you will be using.
Have a great day Monet!
First off, I’m not sure I’ve ever taken the time to congratulate you and your husband! Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy (:
Now on to this tart! I have no idea why I’ve never made one because I’m always drawn to the recipes and photos. Yours is no exception. Maybe it will be just the inspiration I need!
Hi Monet,
You are looking good! And that apple tart looks delicious with nice golden colour!
Hope you have a great delicious weekend!
Just a beautiful tart – the French do know how to bake. Also smiling at the names – there is something about bringing a baby into the world with a history and remembrance of past times. The past, present and future together. Just lovely.
Oh dear… I had no idea that there was a smell to sugar. But I guess when you’re pregnant, things are heightened. That must have been a struggle!
This apple tart looks glorious. I’m such a sucker for simple, rustic desserts like this. And this one hits the spot.
Love the name choices- you look great!
I love those baby names!!! I so wanted to name one of our girls Amelie but somehow an Irish last name did not make it happen. Maybe someday I can convince the hubby. 🙂 You look simply gorgeous girl!
Such beautiful names! If I remember correctly, isn’t Lucille your grandmother’s name? So happy you are feeling better. Love to you and all the family.
I haven’t been on your site for a while…sorry!:( But What a lovely surprise to see your happy face and that you are expecting…Congrats, I am so happy for you! And those are beautiful names..you are going to be an awesome mom!
Now that tart looks amazing and very delicious!
Enjoy your weekend sweetie!xo
I will look for that puff pastry because I used puff pastry frequently. I never had morning sickness with my two boys. I couldn’t, however, stand the smell of coffee which I love. The names you are thinking of are wonderful. I’m especially fond of Amelia as I’m reminded of the Amelia Bedelia books.
Best,
Bonnie
Aww 20 weeks! So exciting! I love the names you picked out! I was a fan of the classics too!
I think it’s so fun to see how pregnant women crave such different things. I can’t imagine it. You’re lucky that you want French goodies! The tart does look amazingly delicious. I’ve never heard of the brand of pastry, but I’ll keep an eye out for it.
Hi Monet,
Congratulations to you and Ryan! You look gorgeous. The names you have chosen are great and love that they have special connections. As for the tart even though I’m not pregnant I would also need a slice before bed.;) Have a great weekend!
you are looking more beautiful every post! This apple tart is as close as I am going to get to France. It looks divine!
beauuuuuutiful tart….beauuuuuuutiful names!!! Oh what a joy it is to be in this stage, planning, dreaming, anticipating….I’m on tip toe waiting to hear which name it shall be….hugs!!!
Aww Moment you are beaming! 🙂 Nothing simple about this gorgeous tart, Trust me I would manage to mess it up. Love it and would love a slice.
You are just the cutest pregnant person! You look amazing. And I love those names. I’m a big fan of a lot of the more old fashioned names. They’re more timeless than some of the new crazy ones people are coming up with.
Looking good, mama! And this apple tart looks just wonderful – i wish I could have a slice right now!
I love those names! Classic and cool just like this beautiful apple tart. I’m going to try to get my hands on that puff pastry and make this. Greg will surely enjoy it too. Have a wonderful weekend!
Just wanted to say I love the names you picked out 🙂
The best bakery in Paris? Oh man, those are fighting words! (Not that I have a favorite Parisian bakery myself…) I think a simple fruit-filled tart like this sounds just about perfect, especially for breakfast. 🙂
Aw, you look so cute!! Finding out the sex is SO fun– plus you can do a lot more planning after you know!! Beautiful names– I love old-fashioned names like that.
Great tip re the best bakery in Paris – I need to visit the next time I go! A beautiful tart – I’m sure it delivers on flavour very well. Great that you are able to enjoy baking again 🙂
Monet,
This such a special time for you and Ryan, and you just glow in every picture I see of you. It is so nice that you are choosing names with personal connections.
As for that tart, it is amazing. I’ll have to look for that brand of puff pastry. I would like a slice of that right now.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Monet, it’s been such a long time and I’ve found out that your blog adress has changed. It’s not the only change though. It’s great to see that you’re pregnant! Congratulations! You look beautiful! Guess what? I’m 22-week-pregnant! And we’re going to have a son! We are so excited!
And the tart looks fantastic! It could be painful to see such wonderful foods on the screen when pregnant:)
Best wishes to you both and your baby!
Love,
Zerrin
Does the lemon thing work? For the minute, I love the smell of sugar 🙂 I also love pastries! You have popped out! I hope everything is going well and you and baby are happy and healthy.
Wow, a cake decorator who can’t handle the smell of sugar….EKKK! I am glad to hear that is not a challenge now, whew! So I have never heard of Dufour puff pastry, is it usually found in any grocery store? Or somewhere else? I adore French Patisserie’s, and look forward to a trip to France:-) Your tart looks wonderful, I would totally want more than one slice too:-) Love your baby names, they are beautiful! Hugs, Terra
Monet, you are glowing and I absolutely love the names you have chosen! All three of my boys have old-fashioned names as well. Glad you are feeling better, I wouldn’t have been able to resist the tart either.
Sounds like you did an amazing job of getting through wedding cake season! And, what a great-looking tart. I have no excuses for my cravings, but I would have had an extra piece of this tart before bed too!
Now that I’ve seen this tart, I want nothing but it and a strong cup of coffee for my breakfast today. The unfortunate thing is that I can’t seem to find gluten free puff pastry. However, I see stuffed apple cinnamon rolls in my future. 🙂 I can’t wait until Lucille or Alden get to really eat all the French food that you’re craving during your pregnancy. I also can’t wait to find out who we’ll be meeting. In the meantime, bon appetit, sweet friend!
A wonderful tart! So tempting.
These baby names are lovely…
Cheers,
Rosa
Those baby names are beautiful! you must be so excited to find out what you’re having! I love Paris, I went a couple of years ago and am dying to get back there. This tart looks beautiful, what a lovely way to evoke memories of such a fantastic city xx
Hi. This tart looks so simple and delicious! I love French tart too. Good Luck with your pregnancy!
Ciao from an Italian living in Sweden.
As usual, you are GORGEOUS!! I love your hairstyle, too 🙂
I can’t even imagine how awful you must have felt having to work for hours with ingredients that made you feel queasy. Thank goodness that stage has passed! I love the baby names and am so excited to find out if you and Ryan are having a girl or boy 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your beautiful tart!
That must have been so hard on you, you poor dear. Hating the smell of sugar is never a good thing, when you make cakes!
This tart, just looks almost too good to eat!! Almost.. 😉
Hi Monet!! I’m so excited for you!!!
Your tart looks wonderful, I would want that extra slice in the evening even if I’m not hungry,lol!!
You look positively radiant and very french;-)
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