Delicate and delicious pear tart, thinly sliced Bosc pears arranged over frangipane almond paste, glazed with apricot jam, in an all-butter crust.
Simply Recipes guest author Garrett McCord prepared this lovely pear tart for us the other day. Perfect for the season and absolutely addictive. Enjoy! ~Elise
There are certain staple recipes every home baker should have in their repertoire: a rich chocolate cake good for any occasion, a go-to cookie for cravings and fund raisers, a tarte tartin for those extravagant dinner parties. Undoubtedly, a pear tart must be included in this list.
While is may look intimidating this pear tart recipe is simple!
Bosc pears are smartly laid out over a layer of frangipane (a fancy name for almond filling) on a pâte brisée crust. The entire thing is then brushed with a bit of apricot jam or honey glaze.
The result is a posh pear dessert that will leave eaters in a quiet hush as they savor each ornate, little bite. Perfect for out-of-town guests or finishing a family meal.
Pear Tart Recipe
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
Crust:
Filling:
- 1/3 cup almond paste (not marzipan)
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- 1 egg
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
- 3 large Bosc pears
- lemon juice
Glaze:
- 1/4 cup apricot jam
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- piece of lemon peel
- 2 tablespoons Reisling or water
Method
1 Prepare the pâte brisée crust: Roll the crust dough out to a 13-inch circle and press it into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom (if you don’t have a tart pan, a pie plate is just fine). Fit the dough into the edges and then trim off the excess dough leaning over the top.
Put the crust in the freezer to chill for a half hour.
2 Preheat the oven to 375°F.
3 Prepare the frangipane: Beat together the almond paste and sugar to break it apart. Beat in the butter. Mix in the egg, flour, salt, and almond extract and beat until light and fluffy.
Don’t fret if there are a few little chunks of almond paste. Also, don’t worry if it seems like you didn’t make enough as the frangipane will rise during baking.
4 Prep the pears: Peel and core the pears, and then slice them thinly, about 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick. Places the slices in a bowl with the lemon juice to help preserve their color.
5 Assemble the tart: Spread the frangipane over the bottom of the tart shell. Next, carefully arrange the pear slices in a decorative pattern (they can slightly overlap, but don’t build them up in layers or the tart will lack a refined appearance).
6 Bake: Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes or until the pears take on a bit of color and the edges of the tart shell are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
7 Make the apricot glaze: While the tart bakes, place the apricot jam, lemon peel, vanilla extract, and water or Riesling into a small sauce pan and warm over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, constantly stirring. Once the mixture has reduced and thickened take it off the heat and set it aside.
8 Glaze the tart and serve: Once the tart is out of the oven brush the apricot glaze over the pears. Serve.