French Custard Pie with Apples (Flan Parisien) Recipe
This French Custard Pie with Apples, also known as Flan Parisien, is a classic dessert featuring a flaky puff pastry crust filled with thinly sliced apples and a rich, creamy custard. The custard is gently cooked to a silky smooth texture, then baked with the apples until perfectly set. Lightly dust with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes plus chilling time
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed if frozen
Apples
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
Custard
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Additional
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for greasing)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch tart or pie pan thoroughly with the unsalted butter to ensure the pastry doesn’t stick while baking.
- Prepare the pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to fit your 9-inch tart pan. Line the pan with the pastry, pressing gently into the edges. Chill the lined pan in the refrigerator to keep the pastry firm before filling.
- Make the custard: In a saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream and heat gently over medium heat until just warm, not boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract until smooth. Slowly pour the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Return the combined custard to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the pie: Arrange the thinly sliced apples evenly over the chilled puff pastry in the tart pan. Pour the warm custard carefully over the apples, spreading it out to cover all slices.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the custard is set and the top is lightly golden. For a firmer texture, you may bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to fully set before serving.
- Serve: Optionally, dust the top with powdered sugar before slicing and serving for a delicate, sweet finish.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious for the best texture and flavor.
- The custard can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to use, making assembly quicker.
- For a firmer custard texture, extend the baking time by an additional 5 minutes.
Keywords: French custard pie, Flan Parisien, apple custard tart, puff pastry dessert, classic French dessert
