Well, I’ll be dipped in melted Valrhona Le Noir Gastronomie 61% Chocolat! Not only does this week mark the first anniversary of Tuesdays with Dorie, but the woman who inspired it all, our beloved Dorie Greenspan, actually selected the recipe for us to bake this week for the occasion. Dorie chose her French Pear Tart, which she considers to be one of her favorite recipes from her baking bible, Baking: From My Home to Yours. It is a wonderful recipe - elegant, yet unfussy and oh, so French! I can see why she loves it so. Dorie explains that the tart is a classic of French pastry and a staple in patisseries all over France.
This particular French Pear Tart is also special to me as well. Not only was it the first recipe I ever tried from Dorie’s excellent book, but it was also the first time I ever made a dough from scratch. Many of you may remember that when I started this blog, I was something of a “doughaphobe”. If it didn’t come out of the refrigerator case at the market, I didn’t use it. When I saw that Dorie’s Sweet Tart Dough required no rolling and could just be pressed into place, I breathed a sigh of relief and dove right in!
Afterward, as I took that first bite into its burnished, buttery crust, and the creamy-cakey almond filling laced with delicate poached pears made its way past my lips, I knew I had stumbled upon something very, very good.
There are three elements to this tart: the sweet tart dough, which is basically a fancy cookie dough; an almond cream, which is another staple in French baking; and poached fresh or canned pears. Both the dough and the almond cream can be whizzed up in the food processor in no time flat. I was quite surprised to learn that not only are canned pears an acceptable option for this tart, but that they are widely and blatantly used by French bakers. Who am I to flout convention? I used canned pears too.
When I served my tart, I drizzled a little butterscotch-caramel sauce over the top of each slice, to make it…..well…..over the top. And, it was!
To see a few hundred other French Pear Tarts, stop by and check out the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll. If you’d like to try making this tart for yourself, the recipe can be found in Dorie’s book and also on her web site. Try it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
C’est merveilleux!
Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Fruits, Pies and Tarts, Recipes, Tuesdays with Dorie
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On January 06, 2009 at 10:37am, Astra Libris said...
Oh my goodness, I am in awe of your beautiful tart… Your tart belongs in a museum, it’s so gorgeous!
On January 06, 2009 at 11:19am, Karen said...
Sounds yummy - I was surprised by the canned pears! Beautiful presentation too!
On January 06, 2009 at 11:51am, Jessica said...
Butterscotch caramel sauce . . . YUM! You found a way to make something that was already great even better. I’m dying to try it with the sauce now. Your tart looks fantastic!
On January 06, 2009 at 11:57am, LyB said...
Merveilleux, indeed! Butterscotch caramel sauce, now why didn’t I think of that!
On January 06, 2009 at 12:11pm, Madam Chow said...
This dessert has now become my husband’s favorite. Who would have thought that such a simple thing would be so fantastic?
On January 06, 2009 at 12:41pm, Tartelette said...
That brings back wonderful memories of many sunday dinners bak home! Gorgeous!
On January 06, 2009 at 12:58pm, juju73 said...
oh.my.Lord.
I think I’m having palpitations…butterscotch caramel sauce would be DIVINE on this tart! GENIUS!
On January 06, 2009 at 2:11pm, Manggy said...
Oh, pears and caramel is a combination near and dear to me
I wonder if a slice’ll last in the mail? 😉
On January 06, 2009 at 2:58pm, The Food Hunter said...
Oh My! that looks so good.
On January 06, 2009 at 3:07pm, Cakelaw said...
OMG - this tart was terrrifc on its own, but with butterscotch caramel sauce, it is so good as to be X-rated.
On January 06, 2009 at 3:40pm, Jodie said...
Oooh, that sauce sounds wonderful! Great job!
On January 06, 2009 at 3:44pm, Emily Rose said...
mmm…looks wonderful with that butterscotch sauce! I used fresh pears and mine was delicious- but you better believe that I’m going to try it with the canned too! How many fancy tarts can you make with canned fruit?!
On January 06, 2009 at 4:34pm, Amy said...
Oh wow! Definitely the best looking tart I’ve seen today!! I love that last picture!!
-Amy
http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com
On January 06, 2009 at 5:12pm, Isabelle said...
superbement gourmand …surtout avec ce caramel
On January 06, 2009 at 5:27pm, Maryann said...
Isn’t that pretty!
On January 06, 2009 at 5:46pm, Kimberly Johnson said...
Beautiful tart! Glad you’re overcoming your fear of dough!
On January 06, 2009 at 5:54pm, rainbowbrown said...
Oh, over the top looks so delicious.
On January 06, 2009 at 6:30pm, Bria said...
Stunning tart! The butterscotch caramel sauce would have been delicious too.
On January 06, 2009 at 6:59pm, pinkstripes said...
Your tart looks absolutely amazing!! And the butterscotch caramel takes it over the edge. YUM!
On January 06, 2009 at 7:20pm, Steph said...
Your tart looks gorgeous! It looks perfect!! I agree, it’s so sophisticated, yet unfussy.
On January 06, 2009 at 7:27pm, slush said...
I agree, it looks absolutely perfect. I love the addition of the caramel sauce too. Fab idea!
On January 06, 2009 at 8:20pm, vibi said...
Oh! How I love that background that puts the emphasis on the simplicity and beauty of your very darn close to perfect tart! Amazing!
On January 06, 2009 at 8:21pm, Patsyk said...
Stunning! I love how you took it “over the top” by adding the caramel sauce. No one could resist it, I’m sure!
On January 06, 2009 at 9:15pm, Peter M said...
The tart is mucho beatiful and the photo, the background…it’s PeeWee Herman! Love it!
On January 06, 2009 at 9:34pm, Proud Italian Cook said...
Canned pears, who’d a thought!! Looks outragiously good!
On January 06, 2009 at 9:55pm, Gretchen Noelle said...
The first recipe you made from the book?!? I had never even noticed it before. Your tart looks terrific!!
On January 06, 2009 at 10:02pm, Rebecca said...
Mmmmm, pears with a butterscotch-caramel sauce. Can’t argue with that.
On January 06, 2009 at 10:05pm, Katrina said...
Beautiful! I knew yours would be. Hey, I made mine with a little ice cream and caramel drizzle on top! SO good!
Love it!
On January 07, 2009 at 7:02am, Half Baked said...
Oooh drool! That is one gorgeous tart! The caramel sauce definitly puts this one over the top!!
On January 07, 2009 at 7:50am, Nina Timm said...
Over the top it is, but who gives a d…. With a dollop of fresh cream, I could be elevated into tart heaven!
On January 07, 2009 at 8:58am, City Girl said...
That looks amazing
On January 07, 2009 at 9:46am, chocolatechic said...
Heavens to Betsy!
Your tart looks superb!
On January 07, 2009 at 10:40am, The Short (dis)Order Cook said...
Gorgeous. What a nice TWD celebration.
Canned pears? Why not? Whose to argue with the French?
On January 07, 2009 at 10:42am, Karen @ Mignardise said...
Looks like it came from a French patisserie - gorgeous and delicious I’m sure.
On January 07, 2009 at 12:37pm, Chez Us said...
Looks fantastic especially with the gooey sticky sauce on top - YUM!!
I loved this recipe as well it brought me back to Paris with every bite!!!
Happy New Year!
On January 07, 2009 at 12:50pm, maggie said...
Oh my, it looks so good with that caramel sauce.
On January 07, 2009 at 1:54pm, Rhiani said...
The butterscotch caramel sauce sounds like a great addition and your tart is beautiful!
On January 07, 2009 at 3:53pm, Mila said...
That looks heavenly!
On January 07, 2009 at 5:17pm, Jeena said...
Happy new year.
Your pear tart looks fabulous.
On January 07, 2009 at 5:55pm, noble pig said...
That last shot has me drooling. I can only imagine what that sauce did to an already perfect dessert! Wow.
On January 07, 2009 at 6:52pm, TeaLady said...
Yowzza!! Batman. That tart is absolutely beautiful. So many TWDers used so many different designs when they fanned their pears, but yours is the only one I saw like this.
On January 07, 2009 at 7:20pm, MaryBeth said...
Absolutely wonderful looking tart.
On January 07, 2009 at 7:31pm, Linda said...
Your tart is a treat for the eyes (as well as your tummy)!!!
Linda
http://www.tendercrumb.blogspot.com
On January 07, 2009 at 11:24pm, CookiePie said...
Oooooh - that looks so luscious and beautiful! The sauce dribbling down the sides is just amazing.
On January 08, 2009 at 4:14am, michelle of bleeding espresso said...
YUM! Gorgeous and tasty too I’m sure
Susan, in case you haven’t heard, please do check out Bren’s contest over at FlaNboyant Eats…she’s giving away five of her favorite things including a pressure cooker (I know nothing about pressure cooking but I’d sure love to learn) 😉
Good luck!
On January 08, 2009 at 10:38pm, Jules Someone said...
Gorgeous tart! Excellent work.
On January 09, 2009 at 1:19am, mikky said...
Cheers to all of you… lovely tart you have there…
On January 09, 2009 at 5:25pm, Belinda said...
Oh my gosh, Susan! This tart looks truly unbelievably amazing! Wow! And your photos have always been gorgeous, but when did you turn into a professional photographer?! These photos are more than magazine-worthy!
On January 09, 2009 at 6:24pm, Meg said...
Simply beautiful!
On January 10, 2009 at 10:49pm, jackie said...
I love that first photo - typically busy backgrounds don’t work well in food shots, but you’ve thrown that rule out the window…and succeeded!
Plus the tart is making my mouth water 😉
~ j
On January 11, 2009 at 3:27pm, Babycakes said...
oh looks wonderful! Caramel goes so well with apples and pears.
On January 17, 2009 at 12:12pm, we are never full said...
butterscotch caramel sauce? that would make it for me. this really looks tempting.
On January 21, 2009 at 3:51pm, Margie said...
I come back to your blog again and again, I can’t wait to find some time to try some of your recipes. Thanks for sharing!