Spiced Pear Tart Recipes

SPICED VANILLA PEAR TART WITH ALMOND WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Press pie crust firmly and up the sides of a 10-inch tart baking pan or a 9 inch pie plate. Line crust with parchment paper or aluminum foil and add pie weight or dried beans. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove parchment paper and pie weights. Bake for another 6 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely while you prepare the filling. Peel, core and chop 3 medium-sized Comice pears, set aside. Combine 1 cup sour cream and 3/4 cup half and half in a large bowl; beat until smooth. Whisk in pudding mix. Add 2 Tbsp. maple syrup, continuing to beat. Gently fold in the chopped pears. Pour the pudding mixture into prepared pie crust. Cover; refrigerate several hours (at least 3) or overnight. Just before serving, preheat broiler. Peel the final pear, and cut into thin slices. Arrange in a pattern in the center of the pudding mixture. Combine 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1/8 tsp. cloves in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over pears. Rim the edges of the tart with the 1/3 cup of chopped pecans. Broil 4 to 6 minutes or just until the sugar is melted and begins to crystalize, watching carefully not to burn the sugar. Prepare the whipped topping: Add 1 cup heavy cream, 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract and 1 Tbsp confectioners sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on low. Gradually increase the speed until soft peaks begin to form. Serve the pear tart immediately with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprig of mint, if desired. TIP: To easily peel pears, submerge the pears in a large pot of boiling water for about 10-15 seconds then place into a large bowl of ice cold water. Using your fingers, gently rub the pear skin from each pear.

SPICED PEAR TART

Steps:

• Poach the pears: Combine 2 cups/480 milliliters water, sugar, vanilla extract and star anise pods in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Place the pears in the poaching liquid and cover with a lid. Keep just below a simmer and cook until the pears are tender, about 40 minutes depending on the ripeness of the pears. Remove the pears from the liquid to a plate and cool completely. Slice each pear half crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Set aside.
• While the pears poach and cool, make the pastry: Trim a sheet of puff pastry to one 4 1/2-by-12 inch rectangle. From the remaining puff pastry, cut two 1-by-12-inch strips. Transfer rectangle and strips to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the beaten egg in a thin 1-inch strip along both long edges of the puff pastry, then place the strips of puff pastry on top. (You should have a rectangle of puff pastry with a puff pastry border down each of the long sides.) Use the back of a chef's knife or the tines of a fork to gently press the strips of puff pastry into the rectangle. Prick the pastry all over with a fork, then refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Brush the puff pastry all over with egg wash, then line the center with parchment and fill with baking weights or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove the parchment and baking weights. Bake until golden brown, about 3 more minutes. As soon as you pull it out of the oven, trim the edges with a knife so the layers line up, if necessary. If the center has puffed up, gently prick with a fork or toothpick to release air. Allow to cool completely.
• While the pastry bakes and cools, make the pastry cream: Combine the milk, vanilla extract, and half the sugar (using 2 tablespoons/30 grams) in a pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-low. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons/30 grams sugar and the cornstarch, then whisk in the yolks. Whisking the eggs and cornstarch continuously, carefully add 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, and whisk well to combine. Now, whisking the hot milk mixture in the pot continuously, add the egg yolks and cornstarch mixture to the pot. Continue whisking until it thickens. (It happens fast!) Immediately remove from the heat and whisk in the softened butter until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• While pastry cream cools, make the glaze: Combine the pear purée, sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer until slightly reduced and glossy, about 3 minutes. Strain and chill.
• Transfer the puff pastry to a serving platter. Spread about 1 1/2 cups pastry cream down the center of the pastry shell. Place the sliced pear halves over the pastry cream in alternating directions. Brush each pear with a thick layer of pear glaze. Garnish any areas between the pears with toasted almonds. Dust the whole tart with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

VANILLA-SPICED CARAMEL AND PEAR TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Roll out pastry to 12-inch square and trim off corners, forming slightly rounded crust. (If using all-butter puff pastry, roll out to 12-inch round.) Transfer pastry to 10-inch-diameter springform pan, pressing pastry firmly onto bottom and 1 to 1 1/2 inches up sides of pan. Freeze crust until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep frozen.
• For pears:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over low heat. Add sugar and next 4 ingredients. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring until sugar melts and turns brown (color of peanut butter), about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add pears, rounded side down. Cook until pears are almost tender, turning and moving skillet around occasionally to ensure even cooking, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on ripeness of pears. Carefully turn pears over; continue to cook until pears are very tender, about 10 minutes longer. Remove skillet from heat; cool pears in skillet with spices (pears will release juice while cooling).
• For filling:
• Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Add cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Increase heat to medium; cook until butter is golden (watch to avoid burning), 3 to 4 minutes. Remove vanilla bean and spices from butter; discard. Whisk sugar, egg, and coarse salt in medium bowl. Whisk in flour. Gradually whisk browned butter into egg mixture. DO AHEAD: Pears and filling can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately; let stand at room temperature. Whisk filling before using.
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Brush frozen crust with beaten egg white. Pour filling into crust; spread evenly over bottom of crust (filling will be very thin). Using slotted spatula, remove pears from skillet, allowing excess syrup to drain back into skillet; reserve syrup. Arrange pears, rounded side up, atop filling (about 9 around edge and 3 in center of pan).
• Bake tart until crust is deep golden and filling is set and brown at edges, about 1 hour. Run small knife around sides of pan to loosen tart. Release pan sides. Transfer tart to platter. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature to cool slightly until just warm.
• Just before serving, boil syrup in skillet until reduced to generous 1/3 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Discard spices. Drizzle syrup over pears. Serve tart slightly warm.

SPICED CRANBERRY-PEAR TART

Steps:

• For pistachio sugar:
• Combine 1/2 cup pistachios and 1/3 cup sugar in processor and blend until pistachios are chopped. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For crust:
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water; pulse until mixture begins to clump, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dry. Gather into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill overnight. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch. Fold in and press, forming double-thick sides and pressing up 1/4 inch above pan sides. Pierce all over with fork. Chill 30 minutes, then freeze 15 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Bake crust until golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 30 minutes. Cool on rack. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil; store at room temperature.
• For pear filling:
• Combine first 7 ingredients in large skillet; bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add pears; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until pears are tender when pierced with knife, turning occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes depending on ripeness. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish in single layer. Add cranberries to liquid in skillet; simmer until berries begin to soften but remain intact, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to plate in single layer. Cover; chill at least 3 hours. Boil poaching liquid in skillet until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, stirring often, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD Pears, cranberries, and syrup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill. Bring syrup to room temperature; whisk before using.
• Drain pears on paper towels 10 minutes. Brush bottom of crust with 2 tablespoons poaching syrup; sprinkle pistachio sugar over. Starting at outer edges of crust, arrange pears closely in starburst pattern with stem ends toward center. Arrange remaining pears in center. Brush pears lightly with some of syrup. Toss cranberries with 1 tablespoon syrup; scatter over pears. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Serve tart with vanilla ice cream.

SPICED PEAR SKILLET TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Add butter & brown sugar to skillet, place in oven about 4 to 5 minutes until butter is melted, remove from oven & whisk the butter and sugar together.
• In a separate bowl, stir & mix the dry ingredients flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
• By hand or with electric hand mixer, beat in eggs and oil.
• Stir in grated pear and ginger and set batter aside.

SPICED PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Pour melted butter into a 9-in. square baking pan; sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar. Arrange pears over nuts., In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition., Spread batter over pears. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

PEAR AND CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Roll pie crust disk out on lightly-floured work surface to 1/8 inch thick round.
• Roll dough up on rolling pin and transfer to 9 inch in diameter tart pan with removable bottom.
• Gently press into place.
• Trim and finish edges.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Line pastry with foil and fill with pie weights or dry beans.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Remove foil and weights and continue baking 10 more minutes.
• Cool.
• Arrange pears in pastry in concentric circles, overlapping slightly.
• Dot with butter; sprinkle with brown sugar; bake until pears are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Whisk light cream, egg, egg yolk, ¼ cup sugar and vanilla and almond extracts to blend.
• Pour over pears.
• Sprinkle lightly with ground nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Continue baking until custard is set, about 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR-MACE RUSTIC TART

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• FOR CRUST:.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the 1-1/4 cups flour, the 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon peel, the salt, and the 1/4 teaspoon mace.
• Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the ice water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork.
• Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl.
• Repeat moistening flour mixture, using 1 tablespoon of the remaining ice water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened.
• Form dough into a ball and on a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough.
• Roll dough from center to edge into a circle about 13 inches in diameter. Transfer dough circle to prepared baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• FOR FILLING:.
• Spread almonds on dough circle to within 2 inches of the edge.
• Place pears in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 cup sugar, the 4 teaspoons flour, the 2 teaspoons lemon peel, and the 1/2 teaspoon mace.
• Toss half of the sugar mixture with pears.
• Mound pear mixture on top of the almond-covered dough.
• Sprinkle remaining sugar mixture over pear mixture and dot with butter.
• Fold dough edge up and over pears, pleating dough gently as needed.
• In a small bowl, combine egg white and the 1 tablespoon water; beat with a fork.
• Brush mixture onto the top and side of the dough.
• Sprinkle with additional sugar.
• Bake about 45 minutes or until filling is bubbly, pears are tender, and pastry is golden.
• If necessary to prevent overbrowning, cover edge with foil for the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking.
• Cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Serve warm.
• If desired, serve with Spiced Whipped Cream or ice cream.
• SPICED WHIPPED CREAM:.
• In a chilled small bowl, combine 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, and dash ground mace.
• Beat with the chilled beaters of an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).

PEAR TART

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar, add egg and salt. When the mixture is reasonably amalgamated add the flour. The dough should need no water. The pastry can be mixed in a food processor, but you may have to add up to 1/4 cup additional flour.
• Chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Roll out the pastry and line a tart pan at least 10 inches in diameter. Line with foil and weight with dried beans or pastry weights. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the pastry is lightly colored, about 5 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, peel, core and halve the pears, then slice them. This can be done longways or across, keeping the halves in shape. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent discoloring.
• Beat together the cream, egg yolks and sugar.
• Arrange the pear slices on the pastry. Long slices go in concentric circles; the sliced halves should be put on the pastry and spread out slightly so they are flattened but still the shape of the halves, with the pointed ends toward the center. Pour over the cream mixture and return to the oven. Close the door and turn the heat down to 375 degrees and bake until the cream is nearly firm, about 30 minutes. It tastes best when not quite set in the center. Serve warm.