Spiced Pear Puff Pastry Tarts (Printable Version)
Golden puff pastry with spiced pear slices, baked until crisp and caramelized.
# Ingredient List:
→ Fruit
01 - 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
→ Spices & Sugar
03 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - Pinch of salt
→ Pastry & Extras
08 - 1 sheet (about 9 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
09 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
10 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
11 - 2 tablespoons sliced almonds, optional
12 - Powdered sugar, for dusting, optional
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the sliced pears with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
03 - Unroll the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 6 equal rectangles or circles. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush the pastry edges with beaten egg to create a golden finish.
05 - Drain excess liquid from the pears. Arrange the slices neatly on each pastry piece, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
06 - Brush pears with melted butter. Sprinkle with sliced almonds if using.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp.
08 - Let cool slightly. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Elegant enough for dinner parties but simple enough for Tuesday dessert
- The puff pastry does all the fancy work while you handle the easy part
- That moment when warm fruit meets crisp pastry is absolutely worth it
02 -
- Drain the pears well before arranging them. Too much liquid will make the pastry soggy in the center.
- Work quickly once the pastry is unfolded. If it gets too warm, it becomes difficult to handle and may not puff properly.
- The egg wash is not optional if you want that professional golden finish and slightly crisp edges.
03 -
- Slice your pears as uniformly as possible so they bake evenly and look professionally arranged.
- A light sprinkle of turbinado sugar over the almonds before baking adds extra crunch and caramel flavor.
- For a dinner party, you can assemble everything on the baking sheet and pop them in the oven as you clear the main course plates.