Filo Apple Crowns With Cinnamon Custard

Directions

1. For the Cinnamon Custard: Combine the cream and sugar in a heavy small saucepan. Add in the cinnamon stick, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and let sit for 1 hour.
2. Slowly whisk the yolks into the cream mix. Add in the rum. Stir over medium-low heat using a wooden spatula till the sauce has thickened sufficient to leave a path when a finger is drawn across the spatula. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl. Throw away the cinnamon stick. Add in an ice cube to the mix and cold to room temperature, then cover and chill till chilled, 4 to 6 hrs. This can be prepared 1 day in advance.
3. For the Filo Pastry: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Trace four 4-inch circles onto the parchment paper. Invert the parchment paper. Brush inside the circles lightly with the melted butter and sprinkle each circle with about 1 Tbsp. sugar.
4. Remove filo from package and unroll it. Remove 1 sheet, and cover the remaining filo with plastic wrap and a damp towel. Brush the sheet of filo with melted butter, and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. sugar. Cut the filo in half crosswise. Turn one of the 1/2 filo sheets over (buttered and sugared side down), and crumple it till it conforms to the contours of one 4-inch circle on the parchment. Place on a circle. Crumple the second half of the filo sheet, and place on another circle in the same manner. Repeat the process with the remaining 3 filo sheets. Rewrap the remaining filo dough, and chill or possibly freeze for another use. Press the filo circles down gently to flatten them. Bake till golden brown, about 15 min. Transfer to a rack sugar-side up. (These can be prepared ahead and set aside at room temperature.)
5. For the Caramelized Apples: Heat the butter in a large heavy nonstick skillet over low heat. Add in the sugar, and stir till dissolved. Add in the apples, increase heat to medium-high, and cook till just tender and caramelized, about 15 min. (This can be prepared ahead, cooled, covered, and set aside at room temperature.)
6. To serve, place 1 round of pastry, sugar-side down, on each plate. Overlap a quarter of the apples on top of the pastry. Top with another round of pastry, sugar-side up. Ladle cinnamon custard around the pastry. Serve immediately.
7. This recipe yields 4 servings.