Description
This Beautiful French Pear Tart is a quick and elegant dessert featuring a tender, press-in crust and a luscious pear topping with a crumbly glaze. Ready in just 10 minutes of prep and baked to golden perfection, it’s perfect for any occasion and can be made vegan with simple ingredient swaps.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust
- 1 1/2 cups flour (half whole wheat suggested)
- 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
For the Topping
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons margarine or cold butter
For the Filling
- 3-4 large ripe pears, cored and sliced about 1/3-inch thick (or peaches, sliced with stone removed)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a piece of foil or a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drips from the fruit juices during baking and keep your oven clean.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar until evenly combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the vegetable or canola oil, mild olive oil, milk or water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently mix with a fork until a dough forms. Press this dough with your fingers into an 11-inch tart pan ensuring it covers the bottom and extends about halfway up the sides to avoid excessive browning.
- Prepare the Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons cold margarine or butter until the mixture becomes crumbly like coarse sand. This topping will create a beautiful glaze over the pears when baked.
- Assemble the Tart: Arrange the pear slices in concentric circles starting from the outer edge towards the center, covering the visible crust. Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the arranged fruit to ensure a balanced sweetness and texture.
- Bake the Tart: Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Bake until the fruit filling is shiny and bubbly, and the crust is golden brown around the edges. Keep an eye on the crust to prevent over-browning.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to cool on a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- The crust is designed to press in and does not require rolling out, making this tart a quick and easy dessert option.
- Use mild olive oil for a subtle flavor that won’t overpower the delicate pears.
- The topping melts into a glaze that enhances the fruit’s natural sweetness.
- For a vegan option, use plant-based margarine and plant milk alternatives.
- To avoid the crust browning too much above the fruit line, do not press the dough all the way to the top of the tart pan.
- Peaches can be substituted for pears depending on seasonality and preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- 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
