Russian Apple Tart

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a small cookie sheet.

2. Mix apple slices with lemon juice in a bowl. Stir lemon zest, walnuts, and cinnamon together in a separate bowl.

3. Mix sugar and butter together in another bowl. Mix in egg, followed by flour until a dough forms.

4. Spread dough over the prepared cookie sheet with your hands. It will be thin. Sprinkle walnut mixture evenly over the dough and press it in with your hands. Arrange the apple slices over top.

5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

6. While the tart is baking, heat the apricot jam in microwave or stovetop until it reaches a liquid consistency, about 1 minute.

7. Remove the tart from the oven and brush it with warmed jam. Return to the oven and bake until golden and set, 15 to 20 more minutes.

8. To serve, pour cognac into a ladle, carefully light with a match, and pour over the whole tart. The alcohol will burn off.

Cook's Notes:

You can turn up the heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) after the first 30 minutes of baking if you like.

Using cognac is optional.