Cranberry Pear Tart (Printable version)

Buttery crust filled with fresh pears and tart cranberries spiced with cinnamon and orange

# Ingredient list:

→ For the Crust

01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 2–3 tablespoons ice water

→ For the Filling

07 - 2 large ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
08 - 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
09 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
10 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - Zest of 1 orange
14 - 1 tablespoon orange juice
15 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Finishing

16 - 1 tablespoon coarse or Demerara sugar (optional)
17 - Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and 2 tablespoons ice water, mixing just until dough comes together. Add more water if needed.
03 - Press the dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
04 - In a large bowl, gently toss pears and cranberries with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla until well coated.
05 - Arrange the fruit mixture evenly over the chilled tart crust. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.
06 - Bake for 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
07 - Cool the tart on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The buttery crust comes together in minutes without any rolling pin required
  • That gorgeous crimson and amber arrangement makes you look like a professional pastry chef
02 -
  • Working quickly and keeping your butter cold prevents the crust from becoming tough or losing its flaky texture
  • That 30 minute cooling time is non negotiable or the filling will slide right out when you try to slice it
03 -
  • If your pears are very ripe, reduce the sugar to one third cup to keep the filling perfectly balanced
  • Place the tart pan on a baking sheet to catch any potential drips and save your oven from a mess