Spiced Pear Tarte Tatin

I was recently given a bunch of pears from some friends who have pear trees and have been cooking and baking away with them. Tarte Tatin is one of my favorite apple desserts, so I decided to try it out with pears and a little added spice. It turned out equally delicious as the original version. The caramelized pears melt in your mouth. It is a perfect fall dessert and great with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Crust Ingredients

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold butter cubed

3 tablespoons ice water

In a food processor, add flour, sugar, and salt and pulse a few times. Add in the cold butter and pulse until the butter look like little balls. Add in the ice water and blend until the dough is combined. Make a large ball with the dough and cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

Ingredients

6-8 pears*, peeled, quartered, and cored

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon cardamon

½ cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter

Directions

In a large bowl toss the pears with the lemon juice and cardamom and set aside. Heat the butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add in the sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. 

Add the pears to the pan with the outer sides of the pan face down, forming a circle. The pears can be packed tightly since they will cook down. Place a few pear pieces in the middle of the circle. Any remaining pear pieces can be placed on top. Return the pan to medium low heat and cook for 20-25 minutes. Press pears down occasionally while cooking so they are tightly packed. The caramel can burn easily so monitor and adjust heat if needed.

During the last 10 minutes, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper and place another piece of parchment paper on top. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle. Remove the top piece of parchment and tidy the edge of the dough. When the apples are done cooking, remove from heat. Carefully take the piece of parchment paper with dough circle on it and slowly flip the dough so it lays on top of the apples. Tuck in any remaining dough on the top. Bake for 35 minutes.  Let rest for 15 minutes.

Place a large plate over the top of the pan. Using oven mitts, hold the plate tightly against the pan and carefully flip the pan over so the tarte falls on the plate. Carefully lift the pan up and you should have a beautiful pear Tarte Tatin! 

*If the pears are smaller, go with 8

Vegan friends, this turns out beautifully with vegan butter