Apple and Cranberry Crostata

Let's talk dessert. We all have our favorites, pumpkin pie, chocolate cake or sometimes a simple biscotti. Typically, I like to fill our dessert table with cookies, torrone, panforte and sometimes a tiramisu trifle. This year I want to make something different, but keep it simple. I thought a crostata would be the perfect addiction to my dessert table.

What's a crostata? The first time I tried a crostata was when I worked the garde manger station at Via Matta. If you worked garde manger, you also plated the dessert, which I secretly loved doing. One day the pastry chef took us aside to show us the plating for a new dessert on the menu, fig crostata. "What is that?", I thought. The pastry chef explained to us that a crostata is an Italian dessert and is similar to a tart. It is free formed and requires no special pan to bake it. The pastry is a combination of cold butter, flour, sugar, salt and water, typical tart dough. She showed us the simple plating of this dessert, crostata in the middle of the plate with a quenelle of whipped cream. The best part of learning to plate was getting to taste the dessert. I cut through the thin sliced figs, pastry cream and buttery crust and took a bite. Mmmmmm, perfect. The combination of the savory figs, pastry cream and soft crust was delicious. What I liked about this dessert was it's simplicity. There was not five tiny components on the plate in various shapes with instructions on hownto eat them, instead it was a dessert meant to satisfy your sweet tooth in one easy bite.

For my holiday crostata, I am going to toss apples and fresh cranberries with orange zest and then cover the crostata with some crumble. Here is my recipe for Apple and Cranberry Crostata......

For the pastry

1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 pound (1stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
2 tablespoons of cold water

For the filling

3 Gala apples
1/4 cup fresh cranberries
1/4 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

In the bowl of a food processor, place the flour, sugar, and salt and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse 15 times or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the water through the feed tube. Ensure all ingredients are combined and dough has come together. Turn onto a floured surface and shape into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Peel, core and cut the apples into eighths. Combine the apples, cranberries and orange zest in a bowl and toss together. Remove the dough from the fridge, unwrap and place onto a floured work surface. Roll into and 11" circle . Place the filling in the center and spread, leaving a 2" boarder all around the dough. Fold the border over the apples to form the crostata. In a bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and butter. Using your fingers, combine together and this will form the delicious crumbly topping. Spread the topping evenly over the apples. Bake in a 375 degree, preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm or at room temp. Enjoy!