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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Crumb Topping Development: Combine flour, sugar, and margarine, mixing until the texture resembles coarse, irregular crumbs that will provide a delightful textural contrast.
- 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.
- 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