Who out there loves fruit pie? Maybe in particular apple pie? Well you have got to try this amazing Apple and Pear Crostata. A Crostata is basically a free form pie, or open faced fruit tart. I really cannot say enough about how delicious it is. I don’t particularly love apple pie (I mean it’s good but not a favorite) but this dessert always knocks my socks off! The combination of apples and pears with the buttery, slightly salty crust, and the scrumptious spiced crumble on top… wow! I can’t wait for you to try it out!
If you love this Apple and Pear Crostata, be sure to try this Summer Fruit Crostata too. YUM!
PrintApple and Pear Crostata
Ingredients
Scale
For the crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated or superfine sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 pound (1 stick) very cold unsalted butter, diced
- 2 tablespoons ice water
For the filling:
- 2 tart apples
- 2 pears
- 1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup granulated or superfine sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
Instructions
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 pulse 12 to 15 times, or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water all at once through the feed tube. Keep hitting the pulse button to combine, but stop the machine just before the dough becomes a solid mass.
- Turn the dough onto a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
*You don’t need a food processor for this! You can mix together the flour, sugar, and salt then cut the butter into it using a pastry cutter or two butter knives. Then slowly pour in ice water one tablespoon at a time while gently stirring with a fork. When dough begins to come together in a loose ball then turn dough onto a well-floured surface and form into a disk. Handle dough as little as possible.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Flour a rolling pin and roll the pastry into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to a baking sheet.
For the filling:
- peel, core, and cut the apples and pears into 8ths. Cut each wedge into 3 chunks.
- Toss the chunks with the orange zest.
- Cover the tart dough with the apple chunks leaving a 1 1/2-inch border.
- 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. (again, you can do this with a pastry cutter.) Pour into a bowl and rub it with your fingers until it starts holding together.
- Sprinkle evenly on the apples.
- Gently fold the border over the apples to enclose the dough, pleating it to make a circle.
- Bake the crostata for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crust is golden and the apples and pears are tender. Allow to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Jancrs says
I made this again tonight, and it was a hit with everyone. I just LOVE this recipe!! 5 stars!
Marci says
I don’t really make pies much and have never made a crostata. I’m wondering if I could assemble this in the morning and wait til the evening to cook it. Any thoughts?
Marci says
I don’t really make pies much and have never made a crostata. I’m wondering if I could assemble this in the morning and wait til the evening to cook it. Any thoughts?
Mindy says
Oh wow! That looks fabulous. Amazing. Your crostata’s are amazing. I can’t wait to try this one.
Mindy says
Oh wow! That looks fabulous. Amazing. Your crostata’s are amazing. I can’t wait to try this one.
Heather or Kitchen Concoctions says
Yum! This looks like a fun twist on the traditional apple pie!
Heather or Kitchen Concoctions says
Yum! This looks like a fun twist on the traditional apple pie!