- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 2 hr 15 min (includes soaking and chilling times)
- Active: 20 min
- Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
Raisins:
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup Mulled Wine, recipe follows
Dough:
1 cup all-purpose flour
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cubed
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Tart:
1 1/2 pounds Bosc pears, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup almond paste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of kosher salt
Juice of 1 orange
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Mulled Wine:
12 whole cloves
10 peppercorns, cracked
4 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise buds
2 bottles dry, fruity red wine, such as Shiraz or Malbec
1/2 cup honey
2 lemons, zest removed with a peeler and juiced
2 lemons, zest removed with a peeler and juiced
2 oranges, zest removed with a peeler and juiced
2 oranges, zest removed with a peeler and juiced
1/2 cup brandy
Directions
- For the raisins: In a small bowl, soak the raisins in the Mulled Wine for 1 hour.
- For the dough: In a large bowl, add the all-purpose flour, butter, sugar and salt. Using a pastry cutter, mix the ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Use just enough cold water, about 2 tablespoons, to bring the mixture together. Form a disk with the dough and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a clean surface, roll the dough to a large circle roughly 12 inches in diameter. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet.
- For the tart: Spread the pears in the center of the dough, leaving a 3-inch border on the outside. Remove the raisins from the wine and put on top of the pears.
- In a small bowl, mix together the almond flour, almond paste, butter, cinnamon, salt and orange juice. Sprinkle the mixture over the pears and raisins. Fold over the edges of the dough to encircle the pears. Bake until the pears are tender, about 20 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Mulled Wine:
- Begin by placing the cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon and star anise into a large piece of cheesecloth. Make a pouch and tie it with kitchen twine.
- In a large nonreactive pot over medium heat, add the wine, honey, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice and the cheesecloth of spices and bring to a simmer (be sure not to bring to a boil). Simmer for 30 minutes, and then add the brandy.
