Description
An elegant yet easy-to-make dessert featuring tender, honey-poached pears on flaky puff pastry, perfect for dinner parties or a special treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium ripe but firm pears (Bosc or Anjou), peeled and halved with cores removed
- 1/2 cup (150ml) mild honey (e.g., clover or orange blossom)
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean or extract
- 1 piece star anise (optional)
- 1 sheet (400g) store-bought puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar or turbinado
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1/4 cup almond slivers (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large skillet, combine honey, water, cinnamon stick, vanilla, and star anise. Heat over medium until honey dissolves and mixture simmers.
- Place pear halves cut-side up in the liquid. Poach for 15-20 minutes, basting occasionally, until tender but firm. Remove pears and set aside to cool. Reserve the syrup.
- Roll out puff pastry into a 12×12 inch square on a floured surface.
- Arrange cooled pear halves on the pastry, leaving a 2-inch border. Sprinkle with almond slivers if using.
- Fold the pastry edges over the pears to create a rustic border.
- Brush the exposed pastry edges with egg wash, then brush with melted butter.
- Sprinkle coarse sugar evenly over the pastry edges.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until pastry is puffed and deep golden brown.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to allow filling to set.
- Drizzle with reserved honey syrup and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Do not over-poach the pears; they should be tender but not mushy. Ensure pears are completely cool before assembling to prevent leaking. The reserved honey syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and used on pancakes or yogurt. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free puff pastry. For a vegan version, use maple syrup and vegan puff pastry, and brush with plant milk instead of egg wash.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of gale
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
Keywords: honey poached pear galette, pear dessert, puff pastry recipe, easy dinner party dessert, fall baking, rustic tart, honey dessert