Simple Rustic Pear Galette Recipe
This time of year, people tend to be more excited about sweet treats and less strict about their healthy eating habits. Since my new love language is baking, obviously I’ll be baking for the people I love. It is the tastiest time of the year after all! Lin’s sister sent us the incredible Harry + David pears so I made a delish easy rustic pear galette. Weighing in at around a full pound apiece, the Royal Riviera® Cream of the Crop Pears are the king-sized version of our famous pears. Expertly grown and handpicked, these premium pears have a soft, buttery flesh that's so sweet, you might want to save them for dessert which is exactly what I did! These juicy giants are also perfect for entertaining, whether divided up in a pear and blue cheese salad to share or set out as an impressive display in your fruit bowl. I used 4 of the 6 I received in my galette and I am actually using the other 2 in a Christmas sangria!!!
This recipe is so simple!!! I promise. This Rustic Pear Galette recipe is my new fave. The buttery and flaky homemade galette crust is to-die-for. And I am so stoked that I did not have to use gluten free flour. I used Ukrainian flour after seeing a post from @lizzyloveshealth. With a few basic pantry ingredients, you can create an amazing dessert everyone will love. Sweet pears, chopped almonds, and brown sugar top this rustic pastry. No fussy lattice, no crimped edges…just authentic flavor!!!!
This crust comes together so easily. The small amount of effort you put into this galette recipe pays off in a big way. The secret is using very, very cold butter. Work the dough quickly until the butter is in small pieces. Form the dough into a round disc, wrap with plastic, and toss into the fridge for 45 minutes! Roll the dough out into a sorta-circle shape. Sprinkle the prepared dough with brown sugar and chopped almonds. This sweet mixture collects all of the juices from the pears on top. You can use pecans too but I just do not like them!!!
Pears have such a firm texture that holds up well to baking!! You can also make this rustic galette recipe with apples, strawberries, cherries, berries. (And there’s always savory galettes.) Peel the pears if you like. We left half of ours unpeeled for added texture and color and nutrition. This is a rustic galette recipe, after all.
Layer the fruit on top of the dough. No need to be perfect. Trust me, it will turn out beautifully.
Just remember to leave about half an inch of dough uncovered. Fold the galette dough back on the pears. Pinch the dough to itself. If the dough tears, no worries. Just tear off a little piece and patch it up.
Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle liberally with sugar. Go ahead and sprinkle a little sugar on the pears, too.
Bake until beautiful. The buttery galette crust will be golden brown and flaky. Those little pockets of cold butter will melt and create that perfect pastry crust you love. Cook until the pears are tender but still firm, about 45 minutes.
Serve with vanilla ice cream and honey!!
Simple Rustic Pear Galette Recipe
Ingredients
4 medium pears
1 cup all purpose flour
1 stick of very cold butter divided
1/4 cup ice cold water
1/4 cup chopped almonds
2 tablespoons white granulated sugar divided
2 tablespoons brown sugar
pinch of salt
Honey + vanilla ice cream (optional)
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together flour, 1 tablespoon of white sugar, and salt. Cut 7 tablespoons of butter into 1/2 inch sized cubes. (Save 1 tablespoon for later.) Add cubes of butter to flour mixture. Using a fork, work the butter into the flour until it has a crumb-like texture. You want the butter pieces to be no larger than pea-sized. Work quickly so the butter stays cold.Sprinkle the cold water over the mix a little at a time. Stir with a fork to distribute. Continue to add water and stir. Press the dough into a round ball and flatten into a disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and core the pears. Slice into thin wedges. You can peel the pears if you like or leave the peel on.Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Place on a floured surface and roll into a 12 inch circle.Transfer the dough circle to parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle dough with the chopped almonds and brown sugar, leaving 1/2 inch bare. Arrange pear slices on dough. Fold edges of crust onto itself and the fruit.Melt remaining butter and brush outside of the crust. Sprinkle crust and top of the galette with the other tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Rotate during baking if needed to ensure even cooking.When the crust is golden brown, remove from the oven. Transfer the galette to a cooling rack. Allow the galette to cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
