The Best Ever Pear Pie
Pure and simple, this is a recipe you'll want to share, hand down, make again and again, and save in your recipe box.
Very close to the traditional apple pie, pears have a slightly different texture and a slightly different taste than do apples.Some people really prefer one or the other.
I really like combining apples AND pears in all of my fruit pies, simply because they are so similar. I don't need quite as many of each fruit, and so I can make these pies more often.
Just think, while all of your friends are bringing apple pies to the block parties, and dinner invitations, you'll have a delicious AND beautiful pear pie to bring with you!
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 (2-count) package refrigerated pie crusts
- 5 large pears
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar, separated
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 large egg white
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a large pie dish generously with cooking spray.
- Slice all pears very thinly. I suggest cutting them in quarters, coring them, and then slicing them super thin with a sharp knife for easier cooking.
- Roll out one of your refrigerated pie crusts into the bottom of your pie dish.
- Mix all dry ingredients (sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt) in a large bowl.
- Toss pear slices in dry mixture and pour half into your prepared pie crust.
- Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of your grated lemon peel, 1 tablespoon of your fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of your nutmeg over this layer.
- (If you would like a double-crust pear pie, this would be a great time to lay down your extra pie crust.)
- Pour remaining pear mixture into your pie crust and sprinkle remaining lemon peel, lemon juice and nutmeg over the top.
- Dot the top of your pie with the 3 tablespoons of sugar. (Do not mix. You want nice big dollops of butter for the cooking process.)
- Roll out your second refrigerated pie crust and lay it over the top of your pie. (I highly suggest rolling it out a little thinner with a rolling pin so you have extra to flute on the edge.)
- Flute the edges of your pie crusts together and cut symmetrical shallow cuts halfway between the center of your pie and the edges, mocking pie slices, to vent your pie during cooking.
- Optional: Brush top of pie with an egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
- If you would prefer the lattice look for the top of your pie, it's easy. Instead of rolling it out on top of your pie, roll it out really thin on a flat surface so you can cut it. Then, using a pizza cutter, slice your pie crust into long approximately 1" wide strips (or thinner if you prefer).
- I would recommend the easy way to create lattice on your pie, and first lay strips about 1" apart across one direction on your pie, and then do the same with strips the opposite direction. If you run out of long strips, just much them all together again and roll them back out. You can then cut them into strips again to use for the other direction.
- Optional: For a final touch, you might even want to decorate the top of your pie, like I have in the picture, with pear slices. These would go directly on top of the final pie crust, and I would recommend that you try for a pattern of some sort for a great look.
- Bake in oven for 10 minutes on 450 degrees F, and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 40 minutes.
- Let pie cool some before serving. I suggest ice cream!
- Yummy! Yummy!
Nutritional Information
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 out of 8 slices | |
| Calories | 45 |
| Calories from Fat | 153 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 17 g | 26% |
| Carbohydrates 52 g | 17% |
| Fiber 5 g | 20% |
| Protein 4 g | 8% |
| Cholesterol 4 mg | 1% |
| Sodium 318 mg | 13% |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
This recipe can be altered to use just about any other fruit, like apples, cranberries, raisins, etc. It also lends to mixing fruits to create just the right flavors.
Nuts also make an interesting addition.
A pear pie is an excellent choice if you're looking for a memorable pie for any occasion. Get great tasting desserts with all of my pie recipes. Feel free to check out my Traditional Homemade Apple Pie, my Apple Mincemeat, my Caramel Apple, my Pumpkin Pecan pies, and even my Double Crust Peach Cobbler to start. Yummy!
Your friends and family will all be humming for more! Get ready to be the neighborhood pie-maker.
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© 2013 Victoria Van Ness
