Description
This delightful French Pear Tart features a tender, press-in crust with a luscious arrangement of ripe pears topped with a crumbly, sweet glaze. Ready in under an hour, it combines simple ingredients to create an elegant dessert that’s perfect served warm or at room temperature. The recipe offers a vegan-friendly option by using margarine and plant-based milk, making it an effortless yet beautiful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust
- 1 1/2 cups flour (half whole wheat recommended)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1/4 cup mild olive oil
- 2 tablespoons milk or water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons margarine (or cold butter)
- 3-4 large ripe pears, cored and sliced about 1/3-inch thick (or peaches, stone removed and sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a piece of foil or a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any dripping juice during baking, protecting your oven from spills.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable/canola oil, mild olive oil, milk (or water), and vanilla extract. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently mix with a fork until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an 11-inch tart pan, covering the bottom and about halfway up the sides, avoiding the very top edge to prevent excessive browning.
- Prepare the Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons cold margarine or butter until the mixture becomes crumbly using your fingers or a pastry cutter.
- Assemble the Tart: Starting from the outside edge, arrange the pear slices in concentric circles over the crust, covering the entire base. Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the layered pears.
- Bake: Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the fruit juice appears shiny and bubbly and the crust starts to brown nicely.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool on a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This tart features a simple topping that melts into a beautiful glaze, enhancing both flavor and appearance.
- The press-in crust is quick and easy, eliminating the need for rolling out dough.
- Using margarine and plant-based milk offers a vegan-friendly option.
- To prevent the crust edges from burning, do not press the dough all the way up the tart pan sides.
- You can substitute pears with peaches or other firm stone fruits for variation.
- Protect your oven with a foil-lined tray on a lower rack to avoid sticky drips from the fruit juices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of tart)
- Calories: 352 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.03 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
