Spiced Pear Tart

This is an easy tart that looks pretty and tastes so good. We include this recipe in Episode 159 of our podcast. Cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon add delicious spices and make your house smell amazing! There are 3 components to this recipe, crust, filling, and spiced crumb topping, and you can make each ahead of time and chill them until you’re ready to assemble. Spiced Pear Tart is also very easy to make gluten and dairy free with our substitutions.

You can make this delicious tart with pears, or apples, or both. We’re giving the pears some love because we feel like they’re under appreciated, especially around the holidays. We love their sweetness and depth of flavor. We think that Spiced Pear Tart with whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream is the perfect way to end a holiday dinner.

This tart can be dressed up, with fruit in concentric rings, or it can be homey and comforting, with the fruit dumped in like a pie. It is delicious either way, and it smells heavenly while it’s baking. You can also make mini Spiced Pear Tarts if you have happen to have mini tart pans.

If you’re looking for more holiday desserts, try our Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce or our Flourless Chocolate Cake. Like the Spiced Pear Tart, both of these delicious recipes can be made gluten and dairy free.

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Spiced Pear Tart

This is an easy tart that looks pretty and tastes so good. Cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon add delicious spices and make your house smell amazing! There are 3 components to this recipe, crust, filling, and spiced crumb topping, and you can make each ahead of time.

You can arrange the pears slices in concentric rings if you're feeling fancy, but you can also just dump them into the crust for a more rustic but just as delicious tart.

Bakes at 400℉ for about 40 minutes. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

Equipment

• 1 Tart Pan

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 ¼ cups of flour or all purpose gluten free flour
• 1 stick of butter half cup
• ½ teaspoon of sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 2-3 tablespoons of ice water

Filling

• 4-5 ripe pears cored and sliced
• 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• ¼ cup Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

Crumb Topping

• 1 tablespoon flour or gluten free flour
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter or dairy free butter
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon cardamom

Instructions

Crust

• Place all ingredients except the water into the bowl of your food processor or use a medium sized mixing bowl and pastry blender. Cut butter into the flour with your pastry blender or by pulsing the food processor. Add the ice water and pulse or blend until the dough sticks together. Shape it into a disc, wrap it, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• When you’re ready to assemble the tart, roll out your dough and carefully transfer to the tart pan. Press the dough across the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Trim excess dough at the top of the tart pan. Use it to patch any cracks in the crust. Place the crust back in the fridge.

Filling

• Add the sliced pears, lemon juice, cornstarch, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large bowl. Toss until combined. Set aside.

Crumb Topping/Assembly

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl and cut together with a pastry blender, 2 knives, or your fingers.
• Arrange the pears in the tart shell. Sprinkle the topping over the tart.
• Bake the tart for about 40 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown, and the topping is lightly browned. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy