Description
Pear Tarte Tatin is a classic French upside-down tart made with semi-firm pears caramelized in butter and sugar, then topped with a flaky pastry crust and baked until golden. It’s a rustic yet elegant dessert that balances sweetness and spice with a rich caramel glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup ice cold water
- 5–6 small semi-firm pears
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in cold cubed butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in ice water until dough comes together. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Peel, halve, and core the pears. Toss them in a bowl with lemon or orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Refrigerate to keep them fresh and allow the flavors to meld.
- In a medium oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir constantly for about 3 minutes until bubbly and caramelized.
- Arrange pears cut side up over the caramel in the skillet. Roll out the chilled dough into a circle slightly larger than the skillet. Place the dough over the pears, tucking the edges in around them.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and bake for another 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Carefully invert the tart onto a serving plate, allowing the caramel to coat the pears. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use semi-firm pears like Bartlett or Bosc for best results.
- Don’t overwork the dough to maintain a flaky texture.
- Cool slightly before inverting to allow caramel to set.
- Serve with whipped cream, crème fraîche, or ice cream for added indulgence.
- Caramel can burn quickly, so stir continuously and monitor closely.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Pear Tarte Tatin, French tart, upside-down tart, caramelized pear tart, homemade dessert