Recipes

Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart

2 Mins read
0
32
0
Share
Scroll to recipe

Introduction

Embrace a sweet and spiced culinary delight with our Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart, an irresistible dessert that marries the flaky buttery texture of puff pastry with the warm, comforting flavors of caramelized pears. This recipe is perfect for those seeking a cozy treat to impress friends or simply satisfy their own sweet tooth.

Tips for this Recipe

Achieving the perfect Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart involves attention to detail. Ensure your puff pastry is well-thawed before use, handle it gently to prevent shrinkage during baking, and keep an eye on your caramel as it can quickly turn from golden brown to burnt. The pears should be ripe yet firm to hold their shape once cooked.

Why you will love this recipe

This Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart is more than just a dessert; it’s an experience. The symphony of spices complements the natural sweetness of pears, while the crisp puff pastry base adds texture contrast. It’s easy to make yet elegant enough for special occasions, making every bite feel like a celebration.

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed or one 14- to 16-ounce package all-butter puff pastry, thawed
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 3 whole cloves
  • Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 6 medium firm but ripe Anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise in half
  • 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Advised Equipment

  • Pie Dish (9-inch)
  • Digital Kitchen Scale
  • Mixer with Paddle Attachment (Stand or Handhentic)
  • Heavy-Duty Rolling Pin
  • Silicone Baking Mat
  • Pie Dough Roller (Wooden)
  • Digital Kitchen Thermometer
  • Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife
  • Mixing Bowls (Set of 2)
  • Electric Can Opener
  • Baking Mat (Silicone)

History of the Recipe

The Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart draws from a rich history of pastry making, where regional ingredients and local flavors come together to create delightful desserts. This particular recipe harks back to traditional French patisserie techniques while infusing them with the comforting essence of American pears.

Fun Facts about this Recipe

Did you know? The combination of caramel and fruit in pastries dates back centuries, as it’s a common method to preserve fruits by coating them in sugar. Today, we elevate that tradition with modern twists like vanilla infusion for a unique flavor profile.

Share
Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart

Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart

amanda

Equipment

  • - Pie Dish (9-inch) - Essential for shaping the tart base and holding the filling during baking.

  • - Digital Kitchen Scale - Accurate measurement is key in baking, especially for portioning ingredients like flour and butter.

  • - Mixer with Paddle Attachment (Stand or Handheld) - Useful for mixing pie dough and any caramel preparations that require a creamy consistency.

  • - Heavy-Duty Rolling Pin - Helps in rolling out the tart crust to an even thickness before baking.

  • - Silicone Baking Mat - Nonstick surface for placing dough or shaping pear slices, which can make it easier to transfer items without sticking.

  • - Pie Dough Roller (Wooden) - A handy tool for evenly rolling out the pie crust and maintaining its shape.

  • - Digital Kitchen Thermometer - Ensures that caramel reaches the correct temperature, preventing it from burning or crystallizing.

  • - Stainless Steel Chef's Knife - A versatile tool for slicing pears and other ingredients needed in the tart.

  • - Mixing Bowls (Set of 2) - Essential for mixing pie dough, caramel, and any additional filling components separately.

  • - Electric Can Opener - Useful if you opt to can some of your homemade pear compote or other fillings for later use.

  • - Baking Mat (Silicone) - Aids in evenly cooking the tart by providing a stable, heat-conductive surface underneath it during baking.

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed, or one 14- to 16-ounce package all-butter puff pastry (1 to 2 sheets, depending on brand), thawed

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 whole star anise

  • 3 whole cloves

  • Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt

  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

  • 6 medium firm but ripe Anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored

  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise in half

  • 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half

  • 2 whole star anise

  • 6 whole cloves

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour

  • 1 egg white, beaten to blend

  • Ingredient Info: All-butter puff pastry is available frozen at Whole Foods markets. One 14- to 16-ounce package contains two 11-inch rounds. Whole star anise is available in the spice section of some supermarkets.

  • 10-inch-diameter springform pan

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

Roll out pastry to 12-inch square and trim off corners, forming slightly rounded crust. (If using all-butter puff pastry, roll out to 12-inch round.) Transfer pastry to 10-inch-diameter springform pan, pressing pastry firmly onto bottom and 1 to 1 1/2 inches up sides of pan. Freeze crust until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep frozen.
2

Instruction 2

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over low heat. Add sugar and next 4 ingredients. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring until sugar melts and turns brown (color of peanut butter), about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add pears, rounded side down. Cook until pears are almost tender, turning and moving skillet around occasionally to ensure even cooking, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on ripeness of pears. Carefully turn pears over; continue to cook until pears are very tender, about 10 minutes longer. Remove skillet from heat; cool pears in skillet with spices (pears will release juice while cooling).
3

Instruction 3

Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Add cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Increase heat to medium; cook until butter is golden (watch to avoid burning), 3 to 4 minutes. Remove vanilla bean and spices from butter; discard. Whisk sugar, egg, and coarse salt in medium bowl. Whisk in flour. Gradually whisk browned butter into egg mixture. DO AHEAD: Pears and filling can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately; let stand at room temperature. Whisk filling before using.
4

Instruction 4

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Brush frozen crust with beaten egg white. Pour filling into crust; spread evenly over bottom of crust (filling will be very thin). Using slotted spatula, remove pears from skillet, allowing excess syrup to drain back into skillet; reserve syrup. Arrange pears, rounded side up, atop filling (about 9 around edge and 3 in center of pan).
5

Instruction 5

Bake tart until crust is deep golden and filling is set and brown at edges, about 1 hour. Run small knife around sides of pan to loosen tart. Release pan sides. Transfer tart to platter. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature to cool slightly until just warm.
6

Instruction 6

Just before serving, boil syrup in skillet until reduced to generous 1/3 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Discard spices. Drizzle syrup over pears. Serve tart slightly warm.
0
32
0
Share
You may also like
Recipes

hot-buttered-rum

1 Mins read
Introduction Discover the cozy warmth and delightful flavors of a timeless classic. The Hot Buttered Rum recipe invites you to indulge in…
Recipes

Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce

1 Mins read
Introduction Dive into the delightful world of flavors with “Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce”, a unique culinary experience that…
Recipes

Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette

2 Mins read
Introduction This Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette is a delightful combination of the earthy, slightly bitter flavors of Belgian…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *