Appeltaart is a traditional apple pie that is very often accompanied by a cup of hot coffee. Although it is essentially the same as most apple pies, Dutch appeltaart differs from the classic American apple pie in many ways: it is baked in a spring-form pan, making it deeper; it is drier on the interior; it is full of big chunks of apple, currants, and raisins, and it is full of speculoos spices such as cinnamon, lemon juice, and other warm spices.

Appeltaart dates back to the Middle Ages and it is believed that the baking time was measured by the number of prayers one had to say until it was ready to be taken out of the oven since ovens with temperature controls didn't exist at the time. In the Netherlands, appeltaart is usually served at room temperature and topped with a dollop of whipped cream, what is known as appeltaart met slagroom. 

While the traditional version couples only two elements, shortcrust pastry or pâte brisée and juicy mirabelle plums, modern varieties of this classic occasionally place the plums on a bed of pastry cream or creamy custards. Before baking, the tart is sprinkled with powdered sugar (alternatively, the top can be drizzled with mirabelle brandy), and it is then caramelized under a broiler or with a blowtorch.

This autumnal French dessert is often associated with the regions of Lorraine and Alsace, where mirabelle plums are traditionally grown. Because their season is very short, they are a prized ingredient in the French cuisine.

The delicate buttery crust in this classic Neapolitan tart holds a rich filling of cooked wheat berries, ricotta, and pastry cream, enriched with candied orange peel and flavored with orange blossom water. Pastiera is traditionally enjoyed for Easter, though its origins are said to be traced back to pagan times.

According to one legend, to celebrate the return of spring, the priestesses of Pompeii would prepare similar wheat pastries as an offering for Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain crops and fertility. However, the pastiera we know today originated in the convents of Naples. 

A decadent version of the classic apple pie, tarte Tatin consists of sliced apples seasoned with butter, sugar, and cinnamon, topped with a buttery pie crust pastry, and baked until the apples become golden and syrupy. The whole cake is then inverted upside-down on a serving platter.

The name of this dessert honors the Tatin sisters, the owners of a restaurant near the city of Orléans who invented the recipe in the early 1900s. However, the cake gained huge popularity when the famous Maxim's Restaurant put it on their menu. 

Even though their name and origin stem from Italian tradition, pastafrola tarts have become an integral part of South American cuisine. They traditionally combine buttery shortcrust pastry and various fillings such as quince cheese, dulce de leche, guava, sweet potato jam, and various fruit preserves.

The top of each tart is traditionally decorated with a wide lattice pattern that reveals the colorful filling. Pastafrola tarts can be enjoyed as a simple, appetizing dessert or a sweet afternoon snack.

One of the most famous Chinese desserts is the classic egg tart, a delicious pastry consisting of a flaky outer shell with a creamy, but firm egg custard in the center. The origin of this traditional Chinese dessert is vague. It is believed that it grew out of Chinese contacts with western culinary traditions, but it is also likely that some form of an egg custard existed before the influence of the West.

Chinese egg tart variety is believed to be a cross between the classic British egg custard, which is much creamier than the Chinese tart, and the famous Portuguese tarts, known as pastéis de nata, which are especially popular in Macau. 

Originating from the Limousin area in France and dating back to at least the mid-1800s, clafoutis is a traditional, crustless French flan, tart, or a type of thick pancake typically consisting of layers of batter and fruit. Its name stems from the French word clafir, meaning to fill.

The flan is traditionally topped with pitted black cherries (although some insist that the cherries should be left unpitted), which lend their rich flavor to the clafoutis as it bakes. It is typically served warm, dusted with a hefty dose of powdered sugar, and sometimes with a dollop of cream on the side. 

This Italian dessert consists of cheese or cream and fruit in a crusty pastry, similar to fruit-filled pies. The most commonly-used fruit in crostata are cherries, berries, apricots, or peaches. It can be prepared as an open-faced dessert or covered with a top crust, usually in the form of a lattice.

Its name is derived from the Latin crustata, which means crust. The earliest mentions of crostata in print can be found in cookbooks such as Libro de Arte Coquinaria by Martino da Como and Cuoco Napolitano, both from the 15th century. 

This French classic hails from Normandy, a region famous not only for apples but also for its Calvados apple liqueur, both of which are essential ingredients of tarte Normande and make the perfect match for the delicately sweet almond frangipane cream filling, while the base is made with pâte brisée or shortcrust pastry.

Norman apple tart is typically served with a dollop of crème fraîche on the side, and it is best enjoyed while still warm.