Rustic Elegance: Ina Garten’s Dreamy Pear Tart Recipe

Sweet, buttery, and elegantly rustic, this Ina Garten pear tart recipe captures the essence of simple French desserts.

Delicate pears nestle in a golden, flaky pastry that melts in your mouth with every bite.

Seasonal fruit transforms into a stunning centerpiece that looks far more complicated than its straightforward preparation suggests.

The balance of flavors combines rich butter, subtle sweetness, and a hint of warmth from subtle spices.

Garten’s style shines through in this approachable yet sophisticated dessert that seems plucked straight from a Parisian patisserie.

Each slice promises a perfect harmony of textures and tastes that will impress even the most discerning dessert lover.

Grab your ingredients and get ready to create a show-stopping treat that celebrates the natural beauty of fresh pears.

Quick Recipe Overview

All the Ingredients for Ina Garten’s Pear Tart

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the tender, flaky crust that provides structure and delicate texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness, bringing out the subtle nuances of the tart.
• Sugar: Adds a gentle sweetness and helps with browning, creating a golden-brown crust.
• Vegetable Oil: Creates a lighter, more delicate pastry with a smooth, tender crumb.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients, ensuring a cohesive dough.
• Vanilla: Introduces a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the fruit beautifully.

• Pears: Select ripe but firm fruits with a vibrant color and sweet fragrance, ensuring optimal flavor and texture.

• Flour: Creates a crumbly, crisp texture for the delightful streusel topping.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps the topping caramelize during baking.
• Margarine: Delivers a rich, buttery flavor and helps create a crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth topping.

Bake Tools to Make the Perfect Pear Tart

• 11-inch tart pan: essential for creating the perfect tart shape and size.
• Mixing bowls: two separate bowls for mixing dry and wet ingredients.
• Fork: for gently combining flour and liquid mixtures.
• Measuring cups and spoons: precise measurements are key to baking success.
• Whisk: for blending wet ingredients smoothly.
• Baking sheet or foil: to catch any potential drips in the oven.
• Cooling rack: helps the tart cool evenly and prevents soggy bottom.

Follow These Steps to Bake Ina’s Pear Tart

• Pastry Foundation

Craft a delicate, buttery base that will cradle the sweet pears. Use flour, a touch of salt, and a hint of sugar to create a tender crust that melts in your mouth. The secret is gentle mixing and a light touch.

• Liquid Harmony

Combine oils, milk, and a splash of vanilla to bring moisture and depth to your pastry. This liquid magic transforms simple ingredients into a smooth, pliable dough that will hug the tart pan beautifully.

• Dough Embrace

Tenderly press the dough into an elegant tart pan, allowing it to climb partway up the sides. Your fingertips will become sculptors, creating a canvas for the fruity masterpiece to come.

• Pear Arrangement

Layer ripe, juicy pears across the prepared crust. Their golden curves will nestle into the pastry, promising a symphony of flavors that dance between sweet and subtle.

• Crumble Crown

Sprinkle a heavenly topping of flour, sugar, and margarine over the fruit. This crumbly layer will transform into a golden, crisp blanket during baking, adding texture and excitement.

• Oven Transformation

Slide the tart into a preheated oven, watching as it bubbles and bronzes. The kitchen will fill with an irresistible aroma of caramelized fruit and buttery crust. After 35-45 minutes, your creation will emerge as a stunning dessert ready to be savored.

Customize Your Pear Tart with Ina’s Twist

• Customize your pear tart with these delightful tips and twists.
• Swap pears for apples, plums, or peaches to create seasonal variations that keep the recipe exciting and fresh.
• Enhance the crumble by adding chopped nuts like almonds or pecans for extra crunch and depth of flavor.
• Serve this tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to elevate the dessert’s richness and appeal.
• Experiment with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg in the crumb topping to introduce warm, aromatic undertones that complement the sweet fruit perfectly.

Serve Pear Tart Like It’s Straight from Ina’s Oven

• Pair with Creamy Delight: Serve a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream alongside the warm pear tart for a luxurious contrast of temperatures and textures.
• Breakfast Transformation: Slice the tart into smaller pieces and enjoy with morning coffee or tea, creating a delightful breakfast pastry experience.
• Wine Pairing Magic: Complement the sweet and buttery flavors with a light dessert wine like Moscato or a crisp Riesling, enhancing the tart’s delicate pear notes.
• Garnish with Elegance: Sprinkle some toasted almond slivers or a light dusting of powdered sugar on top for an extra touch of sophistication and added crunch.

Save and Reheat Ina Garten Pear Tart with Care

• Slice and Serve Fresh: Enjoy the pear tart immediately after baking for optimal taste and texture, with the crust crisp and fruit filling warm and inviting.
• Refrigerate Smartly: Store leftover tart in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing moisture buildup.
• Reheat with Care: Warm individual slices in a preheated oven at 325°F for 5-7 minutes to restore the crust’s crispness and revive the fruit’s delightful flavor.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap the cooled tart tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month, allowing you to enjoy this delicious dessert anytime a craving strikes.

Rustic Pear Tart Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s classic pear tart delights with elegant French-inspired flavors from simple ingredients. Sweet pears nestled in buttery pastry create a delectable dessert that beckons you to savor each refined slice.

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Ingredients

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• 3 to 4 pears (large, ripe, cored, and sliced about ⅓-inch thick) or peaches (sliced with stone removed)
• 1 ½ cups flour (half whole wheat)
• ¾ cups sugar
• 2 tbsps margarine or butter (cold)
• ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
• ¼ cup mild olive oil
• 2 tbsps milk or water
• ½ tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsps flour

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and position an aluminum foil or baking sheet on the lower rack to catch potential drippings.
2. Dough Creation: In a medium bowl, blend flour, salt, and sugar. Whisk oils, milk, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then gently incorporate into the dry ingredients using a fork to form a soft, cohesive dough.
3. Tart Shell Formation: Press the dough into an 11-inch tart pan, using fingertips to distribute evenly across the bottom and sides, creating a smooth, uniform base.
4. Crumb Topping Development: Combine flour, sugar, and margarine, mixing until the texture resembles coarse, irregular crumbs that will provide a delightful textural contrast.
5. Assembly and Baking: Arrange pears in the prepared tart shell, sprinkle the crumb topping uniformly over the fruit, ensuring complete coverage. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the surface becomes glossy, bubbling, and the crust begins to brown.
6. Cooling and Serving: Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Allow the tart to cool completely, serving either warm or at room temperature to enhance its delectable flavor profile.

Notes

• Crumb Topping Technique: Blend ingredients until they form irregular, coarse crumbs for a perfect textural contrast in the tart.
• Dough Handling Tip: Avoid overmixing when combining liquid and dry ingredients to prevent a tough, dense crust.
• Baking Precision: Watch carefully during the 35-45 minute baking window, looking for a glossy, bubbling surface and initial crust browning as key doneness indicators.
• Cooling Strategy: Allow the tart to cool completely on a wire rack to set the filling and enhance overall flavor development.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 260
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg