Pear Cranberry Tarte Tatin Food

UPSIDE-DOWN PEAR CRANBERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Toss the pears, nutmeg and half of the lemon juice together in a bowl.
• Melt the butter with the remaining lemon juice, the salt and 3 tablespoons water in a heavy ovenproof 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the sugar into the skillet and stir to combine. Cook the mixture without stirring, letting it foam and bubble; the butter will separate, which is OK. Watch the mixture carefully while it cooks because once the water evaporates and the sugar begins to change color, things happen quickly. When it becomes the color of light brown sugar, about 10 minutes, remove it from the heat. Stir in the vanilla.
• Being careful not to burn yourself, sprinkle the cranberries and ginger into the caramel. Arrange the pears in the skillet round side-down in concentric circles as nicely as you can, fitting in as many pears as possible.
• Return the skillet to the burner over medium heat and cook until the pears start to soften when you poke them with a knife, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While your pears cook, roll out your Pie Crust on a flour-dusted surface to an 11-inch circle. Cover the crust with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Lay the crust over the pears, tucking it in around the edge of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Bake until the crust is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 30 minutes.
• Allow the tart to cool until you can handle it, about 10 minutes. Put a plate on top of the tart using heatproof pads and flip it over so the pears are on top. Slice and serve warm with creme fraiche, if using.
• Combine the flour, sugar, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse until the butter is evenly distributed but still visible in chunks. While pulsing, add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is just wet enough to hold together when pinched between your fingers. Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, form into a disc and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

APPLE, PEAR AND MACADAMIA TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with a handle over medium heat. Cook, swirling the skillet as needed to even out the color, until it is evenly very light amber, about 10 minutes. Add the butter and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and stir to combine, allowing the butter to melt. Carefully add the apples and pears, cut-side down. Finish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook the apples and pears for 12 minutes, then add the nuts, gently nestling the nuts with the fruit.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch round, then prick with a fork and lay on top of fruit. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the puff pastry is golden, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Remove and let cool for 15 minutes, then place a plate over the puff pastry and carefully flip the skillet over (use heatproof gloves). Let rest for 5 minutes, then lift the skillet off.
• Spoon into shallow dishes and garnish with whipped cream.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Core the pears, then peel as neatly as possible and halve. If you like, they can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge, uncovered, so that they dry out.
• Tip the sugar, butter, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon into an ovenproof frying pan, about 20cm wide, and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour.
• Lay the pears in the pan, then cook in the sauce for 10-12 mins, tossing occasionally, until completely caramelised. Don't worry about them burning - they won't - but you want to caramelise them as much as possible. Splash in the brandy and let it flambé, then set the pears aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a plate slightly larger than the top of the pan, cut out a circle, then press the edges of the circle of pastry to thin them out.
• When the pears have cooled slightly, arrange them in the pan, cut side up, in a floral shape, with the pears around the edge pointing inwards. Rest the cinnamon stick on the top in the centre, with the cardamom pods scattered around.
• Drape the pastry over the pears, then tuck the edges down the pan sides and under the fruit (see Gordon's guide). Pierce the pastry a few times, then bake for 15 mins. If a lot of juice bubbles up the side of the pan, pour it off at this stage (see guide). Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 15 mins more until the pastry is golden. Leave the tart to stand for 10 mins, then invert it carefully onto a serving dish.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Remove refrigerated pie crust from package, and follow manufacturer's suggestions for unrolling crust. Set aside.
• Combine nutmeg, ginger, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl.
• Peel, quarter, and core 4 pears. Slice each quarter into 3 slices, from core end to bottom, and place in a large bowl. Cut remaining pear in half; peel, and core one half and add to the bowl. Peel, core, and slice the other half as directed above and add to the bowl. Drizzle pears with bourbon and sprinkle with spice-sugar mix, tossing to evenly coat.
• Melt butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 2/3 cup white sugar and salt to the melted butter, stirring to combine until mixture bubbles, 2 to 3 minutes. Place the single pear half in the center of the skillet. Fan remaining pear slices around the center, core end to the outside of the skillet and stem end toward the center. If possible, turn the pieces in the same direction. Keep adding pear slices, filling in any gaps, until they are all in the skillet.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, undisturbed, until pears are fork-tender and color develops to the liquid, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place a baking sheet on a rack in the lower third of the oven.
• Remove skillet from heat and place unbaked pie shell on top of the fruit, using a fork to tuck the edges of the pie shell toward the bottom of the skillet. Place skillet on the prepared baking sheet in the preheated oven. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake until crust is brown, 28 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Place a heat-safe plate, larger than the skillet, upside down over the crust.
• Use oven mitts to grab the plate and skillet together and quickly flip the skillet contents onto the plate; this move is tricky and requires some forearm strength and dexterity. After the flip, if the contents are not centered on the plate, use a spatula to gently move to the center. Add any fruit that remained in the skillet, and drizzle any remaining liquid over the top of the tarte tatin.
• Allow to sit 15-20 minutes, then serve warm.

PEAR AND CRANBERRY CROSTATA

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and toss quickly with your fingers to coat each cube of butter with the flour. Pulse 12 to 15 times, or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the 1/4 cup ice water all at once through the feed tube. Keep hitting the pulse button to combine, but stop the machine just before the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured board and form into 2 disks. Wrap the disks with plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Roll each pastry disk into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer them to 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
• For the filling, peel, core, and quarter the pears. Cut each quarter into big chunks. Toss the chunks with the orange zest. Divide the pear chunks between the pastries, covering the dough and leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cranberries over the top of each tart.
• Combine the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and allspice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Pour into a bowl and rub it with your fingers until it starts holding together. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the two tarts. Gently fold the border of each tart over the pears, pleating it to make a circle.
• Bake the crostatas for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the pears are tender. Let the tarts cool for 5 minutes, then use 2 large spatulas to transfer them to wire racks.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• For the crust: Combine the butter, flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a food processor and pulse until it looks like finely grated Parmigiano. Add the egg yolk and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the ice water. Pulse, pulse, pulse until the mixture comes together. If it seems a bit dry, add a little more water and pulse, pulse, pulse until the mixture comes together into a ball. Dump the whole thing out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead the mixture only enough to make it a smooth ball, 1 or 2 times. Using a rolling pin or your fingers, roll or press the dough out into an even circle 11 to 12 inches in diameter. Transfer to a cookie sheet lined with plastic wrap and enclose the dough in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the sugar, apple cider, lemon juice and vanilla bean seeds in a 10-inch nonstick ovenproof pan and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, brushing down the sides of the pan occasionally with a pastry brush dipped in water, if necessary. Cook, swishing the pan around gently to promote even cooking, until the mixture turns light brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Continue to cook the mixture until it becomes a much deeper amber color, another minute or so. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, 2 pats at a time. The mixture will bubble up. That is okay, just be VERY CAREFUL not to get any of this on you. When all of the butter has been incorporated, begin to arrange the pears rounded-side down in circles. Try to do this neatly and in a pretty way. Remember, the bottom will be the top!
• Return the pan to the burner and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, then remove from the heat.
• Retrieve the chilled pastry and place it on top of the pears. Tuck the pastry in around the edges of the pan. Bake until the dough is golden brown and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let the tart cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a serving platter upside down on top of the pastry and CAREFULLY flip the platter and the pan over. Let the tart fall gently out of the pan.
• Slice tart into pieces and garnish with a dollop of sweetened mascarpone.

CRANBERRY APPLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Make the dough. Form into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic and chill one hour, or up to 3 days. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface, roll it to a 12-inch circle. Brush off any excess flour. Place the round on a sheet tray lined with wax or parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel, core and slice each apple in half. Slice each half in 3 sections and toss the apples in lemon juice. Set aside.
• Melt the butter, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice together in an ovenproof skillet measuring 10 inches across the top. (Bakelite handles are ovenproof.) Cook, stirring, until the mixture turns a light caramel color. Be careful not to overcook; it will continue to darken from the residual heat in the pan. Remove from heat.
• Arrange the apple slices, rounded side down, in a circle around the skillet and in the center. Scatter the cranberries between the slices. You'll have enough slices to stack them 2 deep.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and center it over the skillet. Using scissors, trim the circle so that it overhangs 1/2-inch all around. Tuck the edge down between the apples and the skillet. Lightly brush the dough with cold water and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake about 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and let sit on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Place a serving dish over the skillet and flip the whole thing to invert the tart onto the plate. (Don't forget to put a potholder over the skillet handle!) Serve with ginger whipped cream.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in bottom third of oven. Peel the pears, cut them in half lengthwise and core them. Place in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.
• Place the sugar in a 10-inch skillet or tarte Tatin pan over low heat. When some of the sugar begins to melt, begin stirring with a wooden spoon until all of the sugar is melted and begins to turn a pale golden color.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Arrange the pear halves in the pan spoke fashion, cut side up, with the narrow end of the pears toward the center, as close together as possible. Fill in the center with the remaining pears.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter over the pears. Place the pan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar turns a deep caramel color and the juices released from the pears are nearly evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll the dough and cover the pears according to the directions in the pastry recipe. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Run a small, sharp knife around the edge of the tarte to loosen. Place a large plate or platter over the skillet. Holding the plate and skillet together using 2 kitchen towels, carefully but quickly invert the tarte onto the plate. Let stand a few minutes to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve with or creme fraiche if desired.

PEAR TART TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll puff pastry to an 11 1/2-inch square; using a plate as a guide, cut out an 11-inch round. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a medium cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet, combine sugar, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons water. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in butter. Arrange pear wedges in a circle along the edge of skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until pears are crisp-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Drape chilled pastry round over pears, tucking edge under. Place a small oven-safe plate or pot lid on top of pastry; bake 15 minutes. Remove plate; continue to bake until pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Let tart cool in skillet, 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of skillet, and carefully invert tart onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

CRANBERRY PEAR TART

Steps:

• Press crust onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom; trim edges. Generously prick the bottom with a fork; set aside. , In a large skillet, cook the pears, cranberries, apple juice concentrate and apple pie spice over medium heat until pears are tender. Pour into crust. Bake at 375° until crust is golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

PEAR CRANBERRY TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Peel pears, sliced in half lengthwise, and core. Squeeze lemon over pears; set aside.
• In a heavy skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add sugar and stir constantly until dissolved. Cook, swirling pan, until mixture turns a deep amber. Place pears in caramel and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until soft.
• Fit 2 pear halves, cut side up, in each tart mold. Fill in gaps with cranberries. Pour remaining caramel over fruit. Let cool.
• Roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thick; cut out 4 4 1/2-inch circles. Lay one over each mold, tucking in all around. Chill 1/2 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Set tart molds on a baking sheet and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes. Place a dessert plate on top of each tart, quickly invert, and serve with creme fraiche or whipped cream.