Nothing beats a pie for treating yourself and delighting the whole family. If you’ve been following me, you already know how much I especially love pies… and this pear and almond pie is as simple as it is delicious. It also brings to mind the classic tarte amandine: a crisp crust, a rich almond cream, and tender pears. A delicious pairing that’s both indulgent and delicate.
The Pastry
Lately, things have been quite busy, and I haven’t had much time for homemade baking. But the craving for something sweet never takes a break. So when I want to satisfy a small indulgence without spending hours in the kitchen, I use store-bought puff pastry [but always all-butter], which makes things much easier.
Of course, you can make your own puff pastry: whether it’s the traditional recipe, the inverted method, or the quick version, they all work well for this recipe.
And if puff pastry doesn’t appeal to you, a shortcrust pastry, sweet pastry, or sablé pastry will work just as well. It’s up to you to choose based on your preferences and the texture you’re looking for.
The Pears
Choosing the right pear variety is essential. Go for varieties that hold their shape well during baking and aren’t too juicy, so the crust doesn’t get soggy. Bosc, Concorde, or Forelle pears are excellent options.
And if you don’t have pears on hand, apples make a delicious substitute.
3 Good Reasons to Love This Recipe
– Easy and quick: a simple tart to prepare that lets you make a homemade dessert in no time;
– Full of seasonal fruit: using seasonal fruit lets you enjoy the best flavours while keeping the cost more affordable.
– Deliciously indulgent: the sweetness of the fruit combined with the richness of the almond makes this a generous and comforting dessert.
Baking Tips
I often receive questions about oven temperature and baking time. A quick reminder: these elements should always be adjusted to your oven. Every appliance has its own quirks, some ovens bake faster or more intensely than others.
Tips for Perfect Baking
– Stick to your usual routine: use the settings you normally use for baking pies.
– Keep an eye on the color: a beautiful golden color and a well-baked crust are the best indicators.
Pear and almond pie
Équipements
Ingredients
- 1 32-cm puff pastry
- 5 pears
- 1 handful of sliced almonds
- 50 g of almond flour
- 50 g of softened butter + a small piece
- 25 g of sugar + 2 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 lightly beaten egg (use half for the almond cream and the other half to brush the pastry)
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F)
- Place the puff pastry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate until needed.
- Cut the pears in half lengthwise and remove the cores. Slice them into thin strips.
Almond cream
- Mix the softened butter with 25 g of sugar.
- Add the almond flour, cornstarch, salt, and half of the beaten egg.
- Mix until smooth.
Assembling the pie
- Spread the almond cream over the puff pastry. Spread it out to form a thin layer over the top of the pastry, leaving a border of about 2 cm.
- Arrange the pear slices on top.
- Sprinkle a few sliced almonds over the top of the pie.
- Fold the edges of the dough over the pears.
- Brush the edges of the dough with the remaining egg.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top of the tart, then place small pieces of butter on top of the pears.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.
