This Is Ina Garten’s All-Time Favorite Dessert—and It’s Surprisingly Simple

It’s hard to emphasize just how much of an impact Ina Garten has had on the world of baking. She’s given home cooks so many helpful tips and tricks to make entertaining a breeze (like specifying why she prefers baking with extra-large eggs, or what kind of butter she uses for her recipes). In Ina we trust!

With all of the dishes she’s made over the years, it’s natural to wonder if she has a favorite. Personally, I would have thought it’d be her famous pot roast, or her “engagement chicken” recipe. But as it turns out, the Barefoot Contessa has a soft spot and a sweet tooth, because her favorite recipe is a dessert!

What is Ina Garten’s favorite dessert recipe?

In a recent interview with Today, Ina Garten mentioned that her absolute favorite recipe of all the ones she’s ever developed is a “simple and elegant” dessert creation: French apple tart! “It’s got a crisp crust and sweet apples and butter and sugar, and it’s easy to make,” she added. And while apples may be most associated with autumnal flavors, this is a great recipe to whip up year-round.

How do you make a French apple tart?

So, what’s the difference between an apple pie and an apple tart? It’s true that there are a lot of similarities when it comes to spiced desserts. The main way to distinguish them is that pies usually have a crust on top, whereas tarts are usually served open-face. This means that your baked fruit is on display and becomes a beautiful part of the finished product!

Ina’s recipe for a French apple tart is really customizable. You can make the dough from scratch, or if you’re strapped for time you can use a store-bought dough. Ina finishes off the tart with a jelly glaze, which helps the apples caramelize and adds another layer of sweetness. No matter how you prepare French apple tart, you’re in for a delicious treat!