Pear Tart With Cognac Glaze Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in the lower third. Unfold (if necessary) puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Working quickly, roll out dough to a 17-by-13-inch rectangle, slightly less than 1/8 inch thick. Cut off a 1-inch wide strip from each side; set aside
• Transfer puff pastry to a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Lightly brush a 1-inch border of water around the edges of the pastry. Score strips firmly, without cutting all the way through, in a zigzag pattern with a paring knife. Lay pastry strips on edges to create a border. Trim strips to fit, overlapping at corners. Press gently to adhere. Transfer to freezer for 10 minutes.
• Thinly slice pears crosswise, and brush with lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Within the borders of the pastry, use the tines of a fork to poke pastry all over, to prevent it from rising. Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Brush borders with egg glaze. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar evenly within the borders of the pastry. Top with pear slices arranging in rows, filling in any holes with chopped pears. Press gently to flatten slightly. Sprinkle pears with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Freeze again for 10 minutes.
• Bake tart for 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 375 degrees, and continue to bake until crust is puffed and deep golden brown and pears are tender, about 1 hour. If dough under pears begins to rise, use the tip of a paring knife to allow any air to escape. Transfer tart to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
• Heat jelly with Cognac in a small saucepan until melted, stirring until smooth. Brush over pears. Serve the tart at room temperature.

Steps:

• To prepare the crust, in a medium bowl whisk together the whole-wheat pastry flour, all- purpose flour, granulated sugar and salt. Add the butter and using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until you get a pebbly, course texture. In a small bowl combine the buttermilk and ice water. Using a fork, gradually mix the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture. Pat the dough into a 4-inch round and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, and prepare the filling. Peel the pears, core them and cut into 1/4-inch slices. In a large bowl toss the pear slices with the lemon juice. Sprinkle in the cornstarch, brown sugar and cinnamon and toss until the pears are evenly coated. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a large circle about nine inches in diameter. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and draping the dough over the rolling pin, transfer to the prepared baking sheet. If the dough breaks at all patch it up with your fingers.
• Arrange the pears in a mound in the center of the dough, leaving a 2-inch boarder. Fold the border over the filling. It will only cover the pears partially and does not need to be even.
• Bake the tart for 15 minutes, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, keeping the tart in the oven all the while, and bake for another 40 minutes, until the pears are tender and the crust is golden brown.
• In a small bowl stir together the honey and boiling water to make a glaze. When the tart is done remove it from the oven and brush the honey glaze all over the top of the fruit and crust. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly. Cut into 6 wedges and serve warm or a room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon together. Lay puff pastry sheet on a work surface brush with melted butter and sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar. Cut into 6 even pieces. Fan the pear slices over the puff pastry, using 1/2 a pear for each puff pastry square. Sprinkle tops of pear tarts with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake until pastry is golden and cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from tart from oven, sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese melts, 5 minutes more.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Beat butter, sugar and cinnamon until crumbly. Beat in flour and walnuts. Press onto bottom and up sides of a 9-in. fluted tart pan with a removable bottom coated with cooking spray., For filling, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Spread into crust. Arrange pears over top. Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over pears., Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°; bake until filling is set, 15-20 minutes. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Roll pastry out to 1/4 inch thickness and use it to line a 9-inch tart dish. Prick the pastry with a fork and then place into the freezer for 20 minutes to prevent pastry from rising during baking.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Set crust aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Heat a saucepan about 1/3-full of water to a low simmer, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat to lowest setting. Place a heat-proof bowl over the pan in such a way that it does not touch the water. Add chocolate to the bowl and allow to melt. Limit stirring to an absolute minimum to prevent chocolate from separating.
• Mix ground almonds, eggs, sugar, and butter together in a bowl. Add warm melted chocolate and stir to combine. Pour chocolate mixture into the baked pastry crust.
• Arrange pears on top of the tart by pressing them into the chocolate mixture.
• Bake in the hot oven until pastry is golden and mixture is firm, 35 to 45 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Coat a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom with cooking spray.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a small bowl until crumbly. Beat in flour and almonds. Press over the bottom and up the sides of the prepared tart pan.
• Beat cream cheese in another small bowl until smooth. Beat in sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Spread over the crust. Arrange pear slices over the cream cheese layer.
• Combine sugar, cardamom, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the pears.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), 15 to 20 minutes.
• Cool tart on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425. Using your favorite pastry recipe for 9 inch pie or one that has been commercially prepared, line a 10 inch tart pan with pie crust, molding to sides of pan. Prick bottom and sides with a fork and bake in preheated oven for 10 - 12 minutes.
• Prepare poached pears: Place pears, wine, sugar, and cloves in a large skillet. Bring to boil, then simmer pears uncovered until they are crisp - tender. Depending on the ripeness of your pears, this can take 10 - 15 minutes, or even up to 45 minutes. Remove the pears with a slotted spoon and continue to reduce the poaching liquid to 1/3 cup, creating a thick syrup. Discard the cloves. Bosc pears would probably work nicely, too. But the D'Anjou pear supposedly is not the best pear to cook with, even though it is delicious on its own.
• Prepare custard: Simmer Half & Half in a small sauce pan. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, flour, and brown sugar until smooth. Temper the egg yolk mixture by pouring some of the simmering Half & Half into it, then whisk mixture back into simmering cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to simmer and continue stirring constantly until custard is thick and smooth, a few minutes more. Pour hot custard into a clean bowl, and whisk in the almond extract, butter, and the syrup that was created from the reduced poaching liquid.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spread the custard evenly in the partially baked crust. Using a large kitchen knife, slice pear halves thinly, about 1/8 inch, and carefully fan out, keeping shape of pear intact. Using the knife, scoop fanned-out pear half up and gently slide onto custard, keeping the shape intact. (Chef Sarah uses a method of slicing the pear half ALMOST to the bottom, but leaving it intact, transferring it to the custard and then fanning the pear out. But this didn't work for me.) Repeat until the crust is filled with thinly sliced pears. If your pears are smaller, you will need to place a pear half in the center.
• Bake for 30 - 40 minutes until custard is set and lightly browned.
• Melt a pat of butter in a small skillet and toast sliced almonds lightly. Brush the warm tart with the melted apricot preserves to glaze, then sprinkle with toasted almonds. In the original recipe, the tart is topped with toasted chopped hazelnuts -- probably a better choice if using the hazelnut crust. Serve tart warm or at room temperature, topped with whipped cream.
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• If you would like to prepare the hazelnut crust used in the original recipe: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine 1 cup of lightly toasted and skinned hazelnuts, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 1/4 cups of four, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and pinch of salt in a food processor and mix thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter and 1 large egg yolk and process until the dough forms a ball. Press the dough over the bottom and up side of fluted tart pan. Place shell in freezer for 15 minutes. Prick the chilled tart shell on the bottom with a fork in several places. Bake 12 - 15 minutes until just lightly browned. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Proceed with recipe as above. If using the hazelnut crust, then top finished glazed tart with additional chopped hazelnuts.

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray 10-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides with nonstick vegetable spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; spray paper. Combine dried pears, 3/4 cup water and 1/3 cup sugar in heavy small saucepan. Simmer mixture over medium-low heat until pears are tender and liquid is syrupy, about 18 minutes. Transfer mixture to processor. Add pear brandy and purée until mixture forms thick paste. Set pear purée aside.
• Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Add pear purée, almonds and flour. Stir to blend well. Transfer mixture to large bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks in medium bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until mixture is very pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar to egg whites and beat until medium-stiff peaks form. Fold egg yolk mixture into chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Stir 1/4 of egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites in 3 additions.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Cover with foil, sealing foil around pan edges and tenting center to allow torte to rise while baking. Place cake pan in large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cake pan. Bake torte until top and sides are set and firm to touch and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool 20 minutes. Run knife around pan sides to loosen torte. Invert torte onto 10-inch-diameter tart pan bottom. Peel off parchment. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; chill.)
• Stir first 4 ingredients in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Place rack on baking sheet. Transfer torte atop tart pan bottom to rack. Pour 1/2 cup glaze over torte. Using icing spatula and working quickly, smooth glaze over top and sides, covering evenly. Freeze torte until glaze is set, about 10 minutes. Pour remaining glaze over torte and spread over top and sides until smooth. Freeze torte just until glaze is firm, about 15 minutes. (Torte can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Let torte stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.)
• Using spatula, transfer torte to platter. If desired, press tip of small sharp knife into 1 gold leaf sheet; gently peel off 1-inch free-form piece. Using knife as aid, carefully press gold leaf onto torte. Repeat with remaining gold leaf, spacing pieces decoratively.

Steps:

• Combine walnuts and dates in food processor. Make sure you remove pits if dates have them and cut off end where stem was. Process until well mixed and ground, but not smooth. About 40 seconds. It should be a coarse texture when done. Press evenly into a 9 inch tart pan. Set in refrigerator while making the filling.
• Squeeze the juice out of the lemon and combine with water in a bowl.
• Slice pears by cutting into quarters. Cut out core and slice crosswise in 1/4 inch thick slices. Put into lemon water while you finish cutting pears. Drain well in colander when done.
• Place pears in a large skillet with rest of the ingredients (excluding almonds) and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently on medium heat.
• Remove pears with a slotted spoon from hot pan to a bowl and cool completely.
• Add in almonds and then reduce liquid to about half the volume and cool separately.
• Spread pears evenly over crust. Brush syrup over pears.
• Can be served right away or will keep in refrigerator until needed. Keep tart covered in refrigerator so it doesn't pick up moisture. Top with a little vanilla yogurt if desired.

Steps:

• Make shell:
• Roll out dough on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 20-by 8-inch rectangle, reflouring surface as necessary. Transfer to tart pan, gently fitting dough into pan without stretching. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch, cutting off corners. Fold overhang inward to reinforce side, then trim flush with edge of pan. Reserve excess pastry for another use if desired. Prick bottom of tart shell all over with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights, then bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and weights and bake shell until golden brown all over, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool completely in pan.
• Poach pears:
• Put wine in a wide 4-quart pot and set a sieve lined with dampened flour sack cloth over it. Grate Bartlett pears (including skin) on large holes of a box grater into cloth, then bunch up cloth around mixture and squeeze as much clear juice as possible through cloth into pan with wine. Discard solids remaining in cloth. Transfer wine mixture to a 2-cup measure and add enough water, if necessary, to bring total to 2 cups liquid, then return to pan and stir in sugar.
• Carefully peel Seckel pears, leaving stems intact, then core through bottom with tip of vegetable peeler or a small knife to remove seeds.
• Bring wine mixture to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then add pears, in 1 layer if possible. Simmer, tightly covered, turning occasionally, until tender, about 20 minutes. Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a rack set over a 4-sided sheet pan to drain and cool, standing them upright. Transfer pear syrup to cleaned 2-cup measure, adding any juices from sheet pan under pears (you will have 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups syrup), and reserve for pastry cream and glaze.
• Make pastry cream:
• Whisk together egg yolks and cornstarch in a small bowl, then whisk in 1 cup pear syrup. Transfer to a small heavy saucepan and scrape in seeds from vanilla bean, reserving pod for another use. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking, then cook, whisking, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in poire William and butter. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely, its surface covered.
• Make glaze:
• Stir together poire William and gelatin in a very small bowl and let stand 1 minute.
• Bring remaining pear syrup to a boil in a very small heavy saucepan, then boil, if necessary, until reduced to about 1/3 cup. Stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Remove from heat.
• Remove side of tart pan. Whisk cooled pastry cream to loosen, then spread in shell. Stand pears upright on pastry cream, arranging them in 8 rows of 2 or 3.
• When glaze has cooled and thickened slightly (to speed cooling, set pan in an ice bath), brush it on pears. If glaze gels in pan, reheat very briefly.