Chocolate Honey Pear Tart
A baked dessert tart with an almond-paste crust, filled with pears and a rich chocolate filling.
Ingredients
All-purpose flour (sifted)
165g(5.5oz)
Caster sugar
30g(1oz)
Chopped almonds
30g(1oz)
Salt
1/2tsp
Unsalted butter (chilled and cut into small pieces)
125g(4oz)
Ice water
3-4tbsp
Dessert pears (depending on size)
4-5
Caster sugar
1 1/2tbsp
Unsalted butter
90g(3oz)
Cocoa powder
45g(1.5oz)
Egg
1
Sugar
180g(6oz)
All-purpose flour
45g(1.5oz)
Vanilla extract
1tsp
Powdered sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
1
Pastry Shell Preparation
Sift the flour, sugar, chopped almonds, and salt together into a bowl. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and enough water, then gently stir with a fork until the dough forms a sticky mass.
2
Step 2
Place the dough on a work surface and quickly knead into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3
Step 3
Dust the work surface with a thin layer of flour, roll out the dough, and line a prepared tart pan. While making the pear filling, place the tart shell in the freezer to chill.
4
Step 4
Peel, core, and quarter the pears. Prick the tart shell all over with a fork, then sprinkle with some fine sugar. Arrange the pears on the unbaked tart shell, then bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool until the temperature drops enough to add the filling.
5
Step 5
Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Add cocoa powder to the melted butter and mix well. Beat the egg with sugar, then pour in the chocolate butter mixture and combine. Sift the flour over the mixture and fold it in, then add the vanilla extract and mix well. Pour the filling over the pears and use an offset spatula to smooth the surface as much as possible.
6
Step 6
Return the pear tart to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the filling is set. Remove and place on a wire rack to cool. Before serving, dust the top of the tart with a thin layer of powdered sugar for decoration.
