Let me start off by saying that my kitchen is the size of a shoebox and I generally dislike cooking and all of the stress and mess that comes with it. But every so often between the cool fall weather and the holiday season approaching, I have the urge to bake something. I look for recipes that are simple, with a short ingredients list and minimal effort required. One of my favorite recipes to turn to is this French apple tart from the one and only Barefoot Contessa. Ina Garten even claims it’s her favorite dessert to make! It looks elegant and rustic, but really only requires 4 main ingredients. It’s the perfect recipe to turn to for the holidays or entertaining - and I promise everyone else is going to love it.

I’ve made a few modifications to make the recipe even easier and save myself a trip to the liquor store. Yes - there is booze in this. Have I sold you on it yet? The recipe offers the option to make your own pie crust, but I’ve taken Ina’s mantra of “store bough is fine” to heart and use premade puff pastry dough. It saves you time and it doesn’t make any difference in the result. The original recipe also calls for Calvados, which I’ve never heard of, or rum, which I don’t have stocked in my kitchen. But I do have Grand Marnier on hand (hello, margaritas!) and I think it makes a wonderful swap. Definitely give this recipe a try and tell me what you think!

Ingredients

FOR THE PASTRY (or buy premade puff pastry, such as Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets and follow package instructions)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 12 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, diced

• 1/2 cup ice water

FOR THE APPLES

• 4 granny smith apples

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, small-diced

• 1/2 cup apricot jelly

• 2 tablespoons Calvados, rum or water (or Grand Mariner)

METHOD

Click here for Barefoot Contessa’s instructions.