I love luxuriating in big chunky knits, but I don’t sew or crochet and I definitely can’t knit, so this is the closest I’ll come to fashioning any sort of cozy sweater with my own two hands. Rows of apples snuggle together on a bed of peanut butter mousse that’s as soft as cashmere, and the flecks of color in the crust elevate the entire ensemble from frumpy pullover to hip thrifted vintage gem. With no risk of needle jabs or itchy wool, this tart is by far the sweater option.
1 baked Funfetti Oreo Crust, cooled
PEANUT BUTTER MOUSSE
1 cup (237 milliliters) heavy cream
4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup (125 grams) creamy or chunky peanut butter
2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup (57 grams) powdered sugar
1. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks with an electric mixer. Set aside.
2. Combine the cream cheese, peanut butter, and butter in a large bowl and beat with the electric mixer. Sift in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add the whipped cream and mix on low until just combined.
3. Scoop the mousse into the baked and cooled crust and smooth the surface with an offset spatula. The tart crust and filling can be made a day ahead. Store wrapped in the refrigerator until ready to decorate.
HERRINGBONE SWEATER DESIGN PROCESS
2 or 3 green apples, such as Granny Smith
2 or 3 yellow apples, such as Golden Delicious or Opal
Paring knife
1. Cut four sides off each apple, slicing as close to the core as possible but avoiding the seeds. Place the apple sections skin-side up and cut them into ½-inch-wide columns. Rotate 90 degrees and cut the columns every ¼ inch. Each apple rectangle should measure approximately ½ inch by ¼ inch.
2. Starting at the center of the tart, insert a row of green apple pieces in a zigzag herringbone pattern, using the peanut butter mousse to stabilize the apples and hold them in place. Then tightly nestle a row of yellow apple pieces underneath.
3. Continue row by row, alternating colors, until the entire tart surface has been covered.
4. Serve immediately.
SUGGESTED SUBSTITUTIONS
Crust alternatives: Speculoos Cookie Crust, Chocolate Tart Pastry Shell
Topping alternatives: Red apple, pear
NOTE
As a design variation, cut the apples into squares instead of rectangles. Puzzle the apple pieces tightly together in the mousse, randomizing the color order and creating a pixelated visual. Or use a variety of apples across the natural color spectrum (reds, yellows, greens), cut the apples into cubes, and mimic the design process of Berried Treasure to create a columnar ombré.