French Pear Flan

Indulge in the elegant simplicity of a classic **French Pear Flan**, a dessert that combines a buttery, flaky tart crust with tender, poached pears embraced by a creamy vanilla-infused custard. This recipe is a masterclass in French patisserie, featuring ripe pears steeped in a delicate sugar and lemon syrup, perfectly complemented by the rich aroma of vanilla bean. The custard's velvety texture pairs beautifully with the pears' natural sweetness, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. Perfectly golden and lightly dusted with powdered sugar, this flan makes for a stunning centerpiece at dinner parties or an indulgent treat any day of the week. Easy to follow yet irresistibly impressive, this pear tart recipe is destined to become a favorite in your dessert repertoire.

Nutriscore Rating: 54/100

Prep Time:45 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:95 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 200 grams All-purpose flour
• 100 grams Unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
• 50 grams Granulated sugar
• 1 Egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons Cold water
• 3 Pears (ripe)
• 500 ml Water
• 100 grams Sugar (for poaching)
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 200 ml Heavy cream
• 100 ml Milk
• 3 Eggs
• 80 grams Granulated sugar (for filling)
• 1 Vanilla bean pod, split and seeds scraped
• 1 tablespoon Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the tart crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add the cold, cubed butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 2

Add the egg yolk and cold water. Mix gently until a dough forms. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in cling film, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Poach the pears: Peel the pears, slice them in half and core them. In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and add the pears.

Step 4

Simmer the pears for 15 minutes or until tender. Remove them from the liquid and let them cool. Slice the pears thinly.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Roll out the chilled dough and press it into a 9-inch fluted tart tin. Trim the edges and prick the bottom with a fork.

Step 6

Blind bake the crust: Line the crust with parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the weights and parchment and bake for another 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Step 7

Prepare the filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the cream, milk, and vanilla bean pod with seeds until just simmering. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod.

Step 8

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar (for the filling). Gradually pour in the warm cream mixture while whisking constantly.

Step 9

Assemble the flan: Arrange the sliced pears beautifully in the baked crust. Pour the custard mixture over the pears carefully.

Step 10

Bake the flan in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the custard is set and slightly golden around the edges.

Step 11

Remove the flan from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Step 12

Slice and serve the French Pear Flan as a showstopping dessert!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1183.6 grams (1183.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1990

Total Fat 102.30g	131%
Saturated Fat 58.90g	295%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 970mg	323%
Sodium 294mg	13%
Total Carbohydrate 247.30g	90%
Dietary Fiber 0.40g	1%
Total Sugars 245.10g
Protein 26.00g	52%

Vitamin D 187IU	933%
Calcium 293mg	23%
Iron 3mg	19%
Potassium 457mg	10%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.7%

Protein: 5.2%

Carbs: 49.1%