Rustic Pear Galette

Ever found yourself in the kitchen, staring at a bowl of ripe pears and wondering what the heck to do with them?

It’s like they’re practically screaming at you, begging to be turned into something delicious and comforting.

And that’s exactly how my love affair with the Rustic Pear Galette started.. 🍐

If you’re wondering what a galette is, it’s a French term for a flat, round, or freeform rustic tart¹. It’s the laid-back, effortlessly chic cousin of the traditional pie.

It’s as if a pie and a fruit tart had a baby – and it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds.

“But I’m no pastry chef!” Hannah believe me when I say, I felt the same way when I first attempted this recipe.

But here’s the beauty of the rustic pear galette: it’s forgiving.

Its charm lies in its imperfections. So, even if you’re new to baking, you can create a dessert that’s not only mouth-watering but also Instagram-worthy.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Rustic Pear Galette

This pear galette is a simple and beautiful dessert that is perfect anytime of the year, but especially this time of year. When you have had your fill of apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies, and you are craving something different, give this recipe a try. 

Prep time: 50 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes, plus 10 minutes to cool
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

1-1/2 c. All-purpose flour, plus a few tablespoons extra for working the dough
5-1/2 T. sugar, divided
1/4 t. salt
10 T. cold butter, cubed
1/4 c. very cold water
3 large pears, sliced
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground cardamom
1 large egg, whisked with 1 T water or milk to make egg wash
1-2 T. turbinado sugar, to taste
powdered sugar, to serve

Directions:

1.    Make dough:  Add flour, 2-1/2 tablespoons of sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.

2.    Add cold butter cubes. Cut butter into the flour with a pastry blender or by using two forks to mash butter into the dry ingredients.  The mixture should be crumbly with very small pieces of butter sprinkled all throughout the flour.

3.    Pour in cold water and stir until the dough begins to come together.

4.    Sprinkle your work surface with a little flour and turn out the dough onto the floured surface. Work it into a ball and then flatten into a round disc. Wrap the disc in a piece of plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rest for at least 30 minutes.

5.    In the meantime, in the same bowl you used for the dough, toss the pears with 3 tablespoons of sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom. Place in the refrigerator while the dough rests.

6.    Preheat the oven to 400° F.

7.    Place a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface. Unwrap the disc of dough and place it on top of the parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a circle, anywhere between 10 and 12 inches in diameter.

8.    Add the pear filling to the center of the rolled out galette, leaving a 3-inch border of dough around the filling to allow for proper overlapping of the filling to create a beautiful rustic crust. Fold the dough over the pears, working in a circle, overlapping slightly as needed, and lightly pressing to seal dough any cracks. This does not need to be perfect.

9.    Brush the galette crust with egg wash mixture and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

10. Bake the galette until the crust is deep golden-brown, approximately 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. When ready to serve, sprinkle with a light dusting of powdered sugar. The galette will taste best if served warm on the day it is made. Enjoy!

And voila! You’ve just made a Rustic Pear Galette. See? I told you it was easy.

Now, take a moment to admire your creation before digging in.

I remember the first time I made this galette. I was nervous, doubting my baking skills. But when I took that first bite… oh, it was pure bliss. The flaky crust, the sweet, juicy pears, the warm spices – it was like a hug in dessert form.