French Pear Almond Tart with Crust Recipe

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A French pear almond tart looks like the kind of dessert you’d spot in a bakery window, but it’s surprisingly manageable to make at home. Also known as a pear frangipane tart, it combines a crisp, buttery crust with soft pears and a rich almond filling that bakes up golden around the edges.

I especially like making this tart in the fall, when pears are at their best and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It feels special enough for a holiday table without being overly sweet or heavy, and it’s just as good served with afternoon coffee as it is after dinner.

Once sliced, you get a little of everything in each bite: tender pear, creamy almond frangipane, and a crumbly homemade crust. Serve it as it is or add a small spoonful of whipped cream on the side.

French Pear Almond Tart Recipe

Ingredients

For the Crust

• 1 ¼ cups of flour
• ½ cup of sugar
• ¼ tsp of salt
• ½ cup of unsalted butter (cold, cut into small pieces)
• 1 whole egg
• ½ tsp of vanilla extract

For the Tart

• Prepared sweet tart crust (about 10 inches)
• ½ cup of unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup of almond flour
• 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp of sea or kosher salt
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp of rum
• 1 tsp of almond extract (optional)
• 3 Anjou or Bartlett pears
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 3 Tbsp of apricot jam
• 1 tsp confectioners’ sugar (for sprinkling)
• 1 Tbsp sliced almonds (for sprinkling)

Instructions

Making the Crust

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Add Butter: Work the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Egg and Vanilla: In a small bowl, beat the egg with vanilla extract. Add this to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
4. Form the Dough: Gently knead the dough until it comes together. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Pre-bake the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough and fit it into a 10-inch tart pan. Pierce the bottom with a fork, line with parchment paper, fill with pie weights or dried beans, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment, and bake for another 10-15 minutes until lightly golden. Let it cool.

Making the Almond Filling

6. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a bowl, cream together room temperature butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
7. Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in almond flour, all-purpose flour, and salt.
8. Incorporate Eggs and Flavorings: Blend in the eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, rum, and almond extract (if using). Mix until smooth.

Assembling the Tart

9. Prepare Pears: Peel, halve, and core the pears. Slice them thinly and toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
10. Spread Jam: Brush the bottom of the cooled crust with a thin layer of apricot jam.
11. Add Almond Filling: Spread the almond filling evenly over the crust.
12. Arrange Pears: Arrange pear slices on top of the filling, fanning them out in a circular pattern.

Baking

13. Bake the Tart: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 40-45 minutes, until the filling is set and the pears are tender.

Finishing Touches

14. Glaze and Garnish: Brush the warm tart with apricot jam, then sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and toasted almond slices.

15. Serve: Let the tart cool before slicing. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Hey fellow foodies! 🍰 If you’re as excited about this scrumptious French Pear Almond Tart as I am, why not pin it to your Pinterest board? Sharing this beauty not only spreads the joy of baking but also inspires your friends and followers to discover this delightful recipe. Let’s bake the world a sweeter place together! 🍐

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