Salted Caramel Pear Tarts

Have you ever walked into a European style bakery and felt absolutely in awe of the craftsmanship, skill and creativity? I know I am always amazed at all the tasty little things displayed. Would you be happy if I told you that for some of them you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn and get baking?

These delectable pear tarts took me 30 minutes to make. True story.  What is even better I’ve prepared a step-by step tutorial on how you can do the same and perhaps even wow your friends and family at your Thanksgiving feast!

This dessert is beautiful and delicious despite the simplicity of preparation. I also love that it uses a very plain fruit like pear and turns it into a real star! I’ve used prepared and already rolled puff pastry which made the whole process pure joy. All you really need to do do is assemble the tarts – kind of like craft, actually.

Ingredients: {Makes 8 tarts}

• All Butter Puff Pastry- 1 sheet/375 gr
• Egg (beaten)- 1
• Pears-4 small or medium
• Demerara Sugar (or brown sugar)- 8 tsp.
• Double Cream/Whipping Cream- 8 tsp.
• Coarse Sea Salt- a pinch

Method:

Preheat your oven to 375F/190C. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out your puff pastry. If you are using a block dust your work surface with some flour and roll out a rectangle 1/4″ thick. Divide your rectangular shaped puff pastry into 8 squares. With a sharp knife, cut an “L”  into 2 opposing corners, don’t cut all the way but leave  a ½-inch in two corners. Brush with the beaten egg . Pick up the cut corners of the pastry, cross them over each other (one over, one under) and lay them flat (now on opposite sides).
Brush the tops of the pastry with the eggwash and put the tray in the refrigerator to chill.

Now prepare the pear filling. Peel the pears and split them in half lengthwise, core them, and slice in 1/4″ slices. Take the pastry shells out of the fridge and set it on your work surface, place one pear half in the centre of each tart. Then sprinkle with a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of double cream per tart, then add a pinch sea salt on top. Brown sugar, cream and sea salt turn into salted caramel in the oven without you doing a thing! Genius.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until pears are soft and pastry is golden.

These tarts have a very delicate taste and are not too sweet. I’ve served mine dusted with powdered sugar.

But some of them got golden sugar treatment. 🙂

Recipe source: Anna Olson