Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin Recipe

Tarte tatin is a French upside-down tart that is typically made with apples. In a savory onion tarte tatin, onions are caramelized on the stovetop, then cooked in the oven beneath a layer of buttery puff pastry. Before serving, the baker flips the tart out of the pan to reveal a crown of glistening caramelized onions and a crispy, crackly crust. This French-style onion pie has all the flavor of onion soup but is easier to serve.

The tarte tatin gets its name from the Hôtel Tatin, a hotel in the Sologne region of France which was operated by two sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline Tatin, in the 1880s. While the dessert is similar to the tarte solognote, an inverted fruit tart common to the region, there are two origin stories pertaining to the creation of the tarte tatin: According to one legend, hotelier Stéphanie Tatin was in the process of making a traditional apple pie, but accidentally left the apples to caramelize too long in the pan; seeking a quick fix, she tossed the dough on top of the pie filling and finished it all in the oven. The guests, of course, were taken with the mistake. This legend is countered by a slightly different origin story, which suggests that Stéphanie accidentally baked an apple tart upside down and chose to serve it anyway.

Follow these tips to make a beautiful onion tarte tatin at home:

1. 1. Make ahead. Onion tarte tatin can be made the day before and refrigerated. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving.
2. 2. Make individual tartes tatin for an appetizer. You can make mini tartes tatin in six-inch cast-iron skillets or baking dishes.
3. 3. Experiment with different onions. You can make onion tarte tatin with almost any member of the allium family, including sweet onions, red onions, shallots, leeks, and spring onions. For leeks or spring onions, cut the alliums lengthwise for a fun presentation.