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French Pear Tart

French Pear Tart
  • Prep 45 min
  • Total 4 hr 0 min
  • Servings 12
A sweet sugar cookie crust topped with luscious pastry cream and fresh pears.
By Hungry Happenings
Updated October 4, 2017

Ingredients

Sugar Cookie Crust

  • 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ Cookie Mix Sugar
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
  • 1 large egg

Pastry Cream

  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus 2 more tablespoons
  • Pinch table salt
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold), cut into 4 pieces
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

Jam

  • 2/3 cup peach, pear or apricot jam (jelly or preserves)

Pears

  • 4 pears, cut into thin slices
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Steps

  • 1
    COOKIE CRUST: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8-inch round tart pan with non-stick baking spray and prepare cookie dough according to package instructions. Press half of the dough into an even layer in the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan. Reserve remaining half of the dough for another use. Freeze for 15 minutes, then bake 10-14 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.
  • 2
    PASTRY CREAM: Combine half-and-half, 6 tablespoons sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to simmer. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks in a glass mixing bowl for 10 seconds before adding 2 tablespoons sugar. Once combined, add cornstarch and whisk until the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 30 more seconds. Slowly drizzle the hot half-and-half mixture into the eggs, adding gradually and whisking constantly.
  • 3
    Return everything to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the pastry cream has thickened and 3 or 4 bubbles burst on the surface (mixture should appear thick and glossy). Immediately remove from heat and stir in the cold butter and vanilla until butter is completely melted. Pour pastry cream into a glass bowl, press plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for 1 hour until cool.
  • 4
    JAM: Heat the jam in a microwave-safe bowl on high power in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until jam is melted and thin, straining out any chunks of fruit. Brush 1 tablespoon of the jam over the cooled sugar cookie crust and set aside 15 minutes to dry. Stir the chilled pastry cream then pour it into the crust. Cover the tart with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours.
  • 5
    PEARS: Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet set over medium heat, then add in 1/2 cup of jam (save remaining 1 tablespoon for brushing over top of finished tart), sugar and pear slices. Stir in the lemon juice, tossing pears to coat, and heat for one more minute. Remove pears using a slotted spoon and discard liquid. Allow pears to cool at room temperature for 15 minutes, then refrigerate until cold.
  • 6
    Before serving, arrange the pears on top of the pastry cream. Reheat the reserved jam on high power for 10 seconds in the microwave until thin, and brush over the top of the pears. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

Expert Tips

  • Measure out all of your pastry cream ingredients before you begin—you won’t have time to do it during cooking.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
390
Calories from Fat
180
Total Fat
20g
32%
Saturated Fat
12g
60%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
140mg
47%
Sodium
170mg
7%
Potassium
170mg
5%
Total Carbohydrate
46g
15%
Dietary Fiber
2g
8%
Sugars
32g
Protein
4g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
4%
4%
Calcium
6%
6%
Iron
4%
4%
Exchanges:
1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 4 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • This impressive tart is surprisingly easy to make—and spares you the pastry shop sticker shock. Have you ever stood in front of a pastry shop or bakery case, drooling over the beautiful fruit-topped tarts? Wanting to buy one for that special date night meal or dinner party, but not wanting to pay the price? They are expensive desserts. So, why not make one yourself? I know, they can be time consuming, so I’ve created a shortcut for you and used Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix to create the crust. The soft, sweet crust pairs perfectly with the decadently rich pastry cream filling and delicate pear slices. This dessert is just as pretty and tasty as the expensive ones in the pastry shop, but can be made at a fraction of the cost. Be sure to measure out all of your ingredients before you begin—you won’t have time to do it while the pastry cream is cooking. Cut the finished tart into 12 slices and enjoy a piece while you soak up the compliments!
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