PEAR FRANGIPANE TART

This exemplary French poached pear tart is made with a sweet-tart mixture and loaded up with poached pears and frangipane (almond cream). Serve over the Christmas season for an exceptional treat!

My family has been requesting Royal Riviera pears over the Christmas season for whatever length of time that I can recall. It has become a long-standing convention and one we anticipate every year.

They make for an awesome occasion blessing to send to loved ones as well. I'm about eatable endowments during this season. 

Fixing BREAKDOWN: ROYAL RIVIERA PEARS 

Handpicked at top development, Royal Riviera pears are rich, sweet, and unbelievably succulent. Like, so succulent that you'll need to remain over a sink while you eat them. They're fantastic, consistently show up in impeccable condition, and never under any circumstance frustrate.

So you can envision my fervor when two boxes of my preferred pears showed up close to home, and I was approached to make a fun new pear formula for you.

I conceptualized a couple of thoughts, yet continued returning to one of my preferred sweets ever: pear frangipane tart. Also called la Tarte bourdaloue.

An exemplary French tart made with pate brisee (a sweet-tart batter), poached pears, and frangipane (almond cream).

Step by step instructions to POACH PEARS

With regards to convention, this pear tart uses poached pears for the filling. While it's enticing to simply appreciate them all alone, Royal Riviera pears are fantastic for preparing, as they have an exceptionally rich surface and keep up their shape very well. 

For this tart formula, we'll be poaching entire cored pears in a straightforward syrup injected with cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and vanilla bean.

One significant thing to remember when poaching is to consistently utilize firm, marginally ready pears. You would prefer not to permit the pears to completely mature or they will separate during the poaching procedure.

WHAT IS FRANGIPANE?

Articulated fran-juh-container, frangipane is a sweet filling produced using ground almonds, spread, eggs, sugar, and a limited quantity of unbleached generally useful flour. It is once in a while alluded to as almond cream.

I completely came to acknowledge frangipane in culinary school. We utilized it continually for different applications and its capacity to change sweets never stopped to astound me. It ascends as it prepares, and has a magnificent surface and almond flavor that perfectly praises pears.

Frangipane is produced using finely ground almonds, otherwise known as. almond flour. While you can enhance frangipane in any number of ways, the frangipane filling for this tart is kept genuinely conventional.

I like to include new lemon get-up-and-go, a dash of dull rum (discretionary), and unadulterated vanilla concentrate.

Dazzle BAKING THE TART CRUST

Similar to the case with numerous tart plans, this pear frangipane tart expects you to daze prepare the tart batter before including the filling.

Daze preparing adds another progression to this formula, however, it is significant for the conclusive outcome.

It guarantees that the tart batter is cooked through totally, increases a profound brilliant shading (otherwise known as. flavor!), and guarantees a fresh, rich surface that adjusts the milder pear frangipane filling.

Step by step instructions to SERVE PEAR FRANGIPANE TART:

When heated, you'll need to permit the tart to cool totally before serving. I like to decorate it with a straightforward tidying of sugar. You can likewise brush the top with a straightforward apricot coat for a sparkle if you want.

The tart is best served all alone or with a straightforward touch of whipped cream. This would make an astounding treat for Thanksgiving or delighted in over the remainder of the Christmas season.

 

HOW TO MAKE IT AHEAD:

While this dessert does involve several components and steps, there are ways to prep it in advance and make the process more time-friendly. 

·         Sweet Tart Dough – prepare and refrigerate the tart dough several days in advance (or freeze up to a month ahead and allow to thaw in the refrigerator before rolling out)

·         Poached Pears – pears can be poached several days in advance and kept in an airtight container in the fridge. 

·         Frangipane Filling – frangipane comes together quickly and stores extremely well. Make it several days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. It also freezes well, just be sure to transfer it to the refrigerator in advance and allow it to thaw completely before using. 

INGREDIENTS

TART DOUGH:

 

• 1 stick and 3 tablespoons (155 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 2 cups (240 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed, spooned, and leveled
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup (70 grams) granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

 

POACHED PEARS:

• 2 strips lemon peel (without the pith), plus half a lemon
• 6 cups (1.4 L) cold water
• 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 star anise pod
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or 1 vanilla bean, scraped, or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)
• 3 Harry & David Royal Riviera Pears, firm yet slightly ripe

 

FRANGIPANE FILLING:

• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 stick (4 oz; 115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (115 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (115 grams) almond flour
• 1 tablespoon dark rum (optional)
•  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large whole eggs, room temperature

FOR SERVING

·          powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

·          lightly sweetened whipped cream (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the Tart Dough: Lightly grease a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Pulse until well mixed. Add the cold cubed butter and pulse repeatedly until the butter is well distributed into the flour. You shouldn't be able to see any distinguishable pieces. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and pulse continuously until the dough just starts to clump together. Note: It might appear very dry at first, but if you continue to pulse and process, it will come together. Be patient.
2. Transfer the dough and any smaller pieces to a clean countertop, and knead - pressing the dough down with the heel of your hand - until it is completely smooth. It will resemble a sugar cookie dough in texture. Press the dough into the greased tart pan (with a removable bottom) - it should be just under 1/4-inch thick, you should have some dough leftover - and chill in the fridge for a minimum of one hour, or freeze for at least 30 minutes. If you are preparing the dough ahead of time: press it into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 2 days. If following this method, take the dough out of the fridge at least 15 to 20 minutes before rolling, as it will be too hard to roll right from the fridge. Roll the dough out (between pieces of parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking), carefully pick up and transfer the dough to the tart pan, using fingers to push in dough and gently shape the tart. If it cracks, just simply patch or press the pieces back together. This is a forgiving tart dough. Make sure to press dough tightly inside corners and sides. The dough can be made up to 2 days in advance or frozen up to a month ahead.
3. Poach the Pears: As the tart dough is chilling, poach the pears. Combine the cold water and granulated sugar in a medium pot (roughly 3-quart capacity). Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise pod, vanilla bean paste, and lemon peel.
4. Peel the pears, leaving the stem on, and gently rub each pear with the lemon half to prevent the pears from oxidizing. Using melon baller or small paring knife, core the pears from the bottom end. Using a large spoon, gently lower the cored, whole pears into the poaching liquid. The poaching liquid should almost completely cover the pears.
5. Return the poaching liquid to a low simmer, cover the surface of the pot with a parchment round, and simmer the pears, occasionally flipping them during the cooking process, for about 12 to 15 minutes or until tender. Remember that you will be cooling the pears in the liquid, so do not overcook. You can test whether the pears are done by piercing the pear (through the bottom end) with a paring knife. The pears should be tender, yet not at all mushy.
6. Cool the pears to room temperature in the poaching liquid. Serve or transfer the pears to a large container and refrigerate for up to one week. The poaching liquid can be kept, discarded, or used to store the poached pears. Try reusing the liquid for poaching other pears or as a simple syrup in cocktails, etc.
7. Blind Bake the Tart Shell: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 C) with a rack in the center position. Lightly grease the shiny side of a piece of aluminum foil and fit it, buttered side down, against the chilled tart dough. Fill the foil with baking weights, dried beans, or granulated sugar (all options work well). Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the shell is lightly golden and cooked through. Set tart pan on a wire rack to cool completely before adding the frangipane and poached pears.
8. Make the Frangipane Filling: Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand-held mixer). Beat over medium speed until creamy. Over low speed, add the almond flour, alternating with egg until the ingredients are incorporated evenly. Add the flour and mix to combine. Add the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and rum (if using) and mix until just combined. Use right away if the other tart components are ready, or transfer to a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
9. Assemble the Tart: Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Fill the pre-baked tart shell with the frangipane filling and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula. Place the poached pears on a few paper towels to help soak up any excess poaching liquid (this will help prevent it from seeping into the frangipane). Cut the poached pears in half, removing the stem and any core that might remain. Slice the pear halves crosswise into thin slices. Using a spatula, carefully lift each sliced pear half and place on the frangipane, with the narrow end of the pear facing the center of the tart, fanning the slices apart slightly as you work. Repeat with the remaining pear halves, spacing them evenly around the tart.
10. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 C) for 40 to 55 minutes, or until the frangipane has risen substantially around the pears and is deep golden brown in color. Note: *If your oven runs hot, you may wish to reduce the temperature by 25 degrees. If the edges of the tart are gaining color too quickly, you can lightly cover them with a ring of foil - be sure to cook the filling through completely. Transfer the tart to a rack to cool until lukewarm or room temperature before removing the sides of the tart pan.
11. Before serving, dust lightly with powdered sugar. Serve plain or with whipped cream. While you can prepare several components of this tart ahead, it is best served the day of baking. Any leftovers can be kept at room temperature for 1-2 days.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• ·         It is very important to use firm, just barely ripe pears, whenever you are poaching. Otherwise they will become mushy and overcooked.
• ·         You can use uncooked pears for this recipe as well, however they won't have quite as much flavor as the poached pears. If following this method, use slightly riper pears (but make sure they are still fairly firm). For added flavor: Infuse the frangipane with 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom.