This pear frangipane tart includes a fluffy almond mixture that puffs when baked and pairs beautifully with the pear slices embedded on top. While you certainly could use a classic pie crust to hold the amaretto-infused almond filling, making a coconut flour crust would be an excellent way of turning this tart into a gluten free dessert.
PB2 Powdered Almond Butter
This post is brought to you by PB2 whose Powdered Almond Butter gives the filling of this Pear Frangipane Tart its amazing roasted almond flavour.
PB2 is a company that has created a line of powdered peanut and almond butter. You can enjoy the high protein nature of peanut and almond butter while reducing the amount of fat they usually contain. In fact, PB2 powdered almond butter contains close to 70% fewer calories than full-fat almond butter.
PB2 makes its powdered almond butter by roasting almonds and then pressing most of the oil out of them, before grinding them into a fine powder. The ingredient list for this almond butter is very simple, considering that it includes just ground almonds, sugar, and salt. Sugar and salt are present for flavour.
Besides being healthy, high protein, and lower in fat than other almond butter, it is also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. In fact, since it is powdered in nature, you can use it as flour in gluten-free baking. Additionally, it is easy to blend into smoothies for added protein. You can also rehydrate it with a little water to turn it into a more traditional, spreadable nut butter.
About this Pear Frangipane Tart
This pear tart begins with a pie crust. If you have a dough recipe or even a store-bought crust you already love, feel free to use that. I like to use either my Coconut Flour Pie Crust for a gluten-free tart crust or my Flaky Butter Pie Crust as a more traditional choice for tart dough. Both versions will give you a flaky crust that is sturdy enough to hold the frangipane. You can also make them in a food processor for convenience if you like.
Once you have prepared your tart dough, you can roll it out and fit it into a 10-inch tart pan, preferably a tart pan with removable bottom. You can purchase a tart pan with a removable bottom from a trusted store online or a specialty bakeware shop. The tart crust should be blind-baked (with weights) for 15 minutes at either 400°F or 350°F depending on the type of crust you decided to use. The lower temperature is preferable for the coconut flour crust as it can burn easily at higher temperatures. After you remove the weights, the crust should bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until golden and baked through.
How to Blind-Bake a Crust
Blind-baking is a method to prevent the pie crust from shrinking on the sides and puffing up from the bottom. To bake the crust, you should line the inside of the tart with a sheet of parchment paper that hangs over the edges of the crust. You will need to be able to grab onto the edges to lift the weights out after baking. The parchment paper will mold itself to the pie shape easier if it is crumbled up first.
Next, you can fill the parchment paper with either traditional pie weights if you have them. Otherwise use pantry items like dried beans or lentils, rice, or granulated sugar to weigh down the crust for the first 15 minutes of baking. Once the crust has partially baked, you can lift out the weights with the parchment paper and bake the crust for another 5 to 10 minutes until it is golden brown, and no longer opaque and has a crisp texture.
Making the Frangipane
Frangipane, also called almond cream, is an Italian pastry cream. It is based on traditional butter, sugar, and egg custard that is flavored with almonds - either in the form of ground whole almonds or almond meal. This recipe uses PB2 almond powder which gives the tart a rich, nutty, roasted almond flavor.
To make the frangipane, you start off by whipping butter with sugar until fluffy and creamy. Next, you beat in one of the eggs followed by half of the PB2 powdered almond butter until smooth before repeating with the remaining egg and almond butter. Afterward, you beat in the baking powder and flavourings which include amaretto and vanilla. Amaretto is a lovely liquor with an almond taste that makes a great addition to the frangipane filling. However, if you don't have any available to you or would prefer not to use it, you can replace it with some almond extract instead.
This creamy frangipane gets added into the baked pie crust and spread into a smooth and even layer. However, it can also be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days if you aren't prepared to use it yet.
Slicing the Pears
For the pear topping, I recommend using ripe d'Anjou or Bartlett pears (if you have extras freeze them for sorbet). Start by peeling them before removing the stem and coring them with a melon baller or a paring knife. Next, slice each pear half into ⅛-inch slices. Gently fan out the slices and place the pear halves on top of the frangipane. Push the pears into the frangipane a little to ensure they stay in place.
Baking the Frangipane Tart
You should bake the tart at 350°F, which is a suitable gentle heat to bake the frangipane filling. During baking, the frangipane will puff up around the fruit and become somewhat set. The total baking time will be between 30 and 40 minutes depending on your oven.
Finishing and Serving the Pear Frangipane Tart
Optionally, you can warm some apricot jam to brush over the hot pears as the tart comes out of the oven. This will give the sliced pear a shiny glaze finish. Allow the tart to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into slices. Better yet, let it come all the way to room temperature. Then dust with a little icing sugar just before serving.
If you like, you may also dollop the room temperature tart with a little whipped cream or coconut cream. Consider adding a little maple syrup or honey to the cream for sweetening and some warming cinnamon for another dimension. You could even spike the cream with a little amaretto for yet some more almond flavour.
This 10 inch tart should serve 8 people. Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Random Questions
Frangipane tart consists of a flaky pie crust filled with a rich, almond-flavored cream called frangipane. It typically includes butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds or almond meal.
No, marzipan and frangipane are different. Marzipan is a sweet almond paste used for icing and candy, while frangipane is an almond-flavored cream used in pastries.
Yes, traditionally, frangipane is almond-based. It's a cream made with ground almonds, butter, sugar, and eggs, providing a rich and nutty flavor.
In America, frangipane refers to an almond-flavored cream used in pastries and desserts. It's a luscious filling with a velvety texture, often paired with fruits like pears in tarts.
Other Tart Recipes You'll Love:
Recipe
Pear Frangipane Tart
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust use my classic or gluten free crust recipe
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1-¼ cup PB2 Powdered Almond Butter
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon Amaretto or ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 pears preferably ripe d'Anjou or Bartlett (these will soften without prior poaching)
- 1 tablespoon heated apricot jam optional
- powdered sugar for topping
Instructions
- Make a pie crust and blind bake in a tart pan for 15 minutes at 400°F (350°F for coconut flour crust) to keep it from shrinking. Then bake for another 5-10 minutes until the bottom looks crisp like a cookie and no longer opaque.
- In the meantime make the frangipane (almond cream). In a bowl whip together the butter and sugar with your electric hand mixer until light and fluffy looking.
- Mix in 1 egg, then half of the PB2 Powdered Almond Butter. Repeat with the other egg and remaining almond powder. Finally add baking powder, amaretto (or almond extract), and vanilla extract and mix in. (The almond cream can be prepared ahead up to this point and refrigerated for 2-3 days until ready to use.)
- Peel the pears and cut in half. Pull out the stem and remove the core (with a melon baller). Slice each pear half into thin half moon shapes but keep them together.
- Spread the frangipane into the pre-baked pie crust. Fan out each sliced pear half and arrange on top of the almond cream filled tart. Lightly press the fruit into the filling.
- Bake the pear frangipane tart for 30-40 minutes at 350°F until the frangipane filling is puffed up and no longer glossy on top.
- After removing the tart from the oven, you can optionally brush the baked pears with heated apricot jam for a shiny finish. Let the tart cool for at least 30 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Pin for later?
Leave a Reply