pears in lace
pear tartlets
poached pear dessert
almond cream tart
vanilla pastry cream
caramelized almonds
french pear tart
individual pear tarts
elegant dinner party dessert
make ahead pear dessert
26 March 2025

Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream

JojoM

Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream

Delicate pear tartlets with crisp sweet pastry, almond cream, vanilla pastry cream and caramelized almonds for an elegant French-style dessert.

Pears in Lace Tartlets 🍐✨

These Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream bring together everything we adore about refined French pâtisserie—crisp sweet pastry, silky vanilla pastry cream, fragrant almond cream, and soft poached pears that melt beautifully into every bite. Finished with caramelized slivered almonds, these tartlets deliver elegance, texture, and warm autumnal comfort all at once.

What Makes These Tartlets Special 🍮🌿

This dessert layers classic French components to create an impressive, bakery-quality result. The sweet dough is rolled ultra-thin to achieve a delicate “lace” look once baked. Almond cream adds richness, while the vanilla pastry cream provides a smooth contrast to the tender poached pears. Each tartlet is finished with crisp caramelized almonds for a delightful crunch.

The combination of pear tartlets, almond cream, vanilla custard, and caramelized nuts makes this dessert perfect for dinner parties, fall gatherings, or any occasion where you want to serve something truly special.

Poached Pear Perfection 🍐💛

Poaching the pears slowly in vanilla syrup infuses them with fragrance while keeping their shape beautifully intact. Prepare them a day ahead so the flavor deepens—this also makes assembly much easier.

The tenderness of the pears pairs wonderfully with the almond cream baked inside each tart shell. As they sit, the flavors meld and the textures form a balanced harmony between crisp, creamy, and juicy.

The Lace Tart Shell 🥧🌸

The signature lace effect comes from rolling the dough incredibly thin—ideally using a pasta machine. This creates those gorgeous crisp edges that elevate the visual appeal. Chilling the lined tartlet molds ensures the dough bakes flat and holds its sharp detailing.

These shells stay crisp even after filling thanks to the almond cream layer baked directly inside.

Vanilla Pastry Cream Layer 🌼🍮

A silky vanilla pastry cream brings moisture and a gentle sweetness, tying the dessert together. Stabilized with gelatin and enriched with mascarpone, it sets cleanly and pipes beautifully into the tartlets, creating a luxurious base for the pears.

Caramelized Almond Crown 🌰🔥

Caramelized slivered almonds add aromatic crunch and a glossy finish. Scatter them around the pears right before serving to keep every bite crisp. This simple touch adds bakery-style refinement with minimal effort.

Assembly Brings It All Together ✨

Each tartlet becomes a little jewel:

  • crisp lace shell
  • baked almond cream
  • swirl of vanilla pastry cream
  • poached pear nestled on top
  • caramelized almond halo

It’s a dessert that looks elaborate but is perfectly achievable with preparation and chilled components.

Make-Ahead Magic ⏳💛

This recipe is ideal for advance preparation:

  • Sweet dough: 1–2 days ahead
  • Poached pears: 1–2 days ahead
  • Pastry cream: up to 2 days ahead
  • Almonds: same day for freshness

Final assembly takes just minutes, making this a perfect make-ahead pear dessert for entertaining.

Final Thoughts 🌟

These Pears in Lace Tartlets combine refined technique with approachable steps, resulting in a stunning dessert worthy of a French pâtisserie. Whether you're hosting a festive dinner or indulging in fall fruit bakes, these tartlets will always impress—with their textures, flavors, and irresistible presentation.

Enjoy crafting these elegant treats and savor every bite!

Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream

JojoM

Delicate pear tartlets with crisp sweet pastry, almond cream, vanilla pastry cream and caramelized almonds for an elegant French-style dessert.

Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream image
pears in lace
pear tartlets
poached pear dessert
almond cream tart
vanilla pastry cream
caramelized almonds
french pear tart
individual pear tarts
elegant dinner party dessert
make ahead pear dessert
Prep Time
90 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
315 mins
Servings
5

Chef's Tips

  • Poach the pears a day ahead so they have time to chill and absorb the vanilla syrup fully.

  • Roll the sweet dough very thin and chill it well in the molds to keep the lace effect sharp.

  • Add the caramelized almonds just before serving to keep them crisp against the pastry cream.

Ingredients

USMetric

Sweet Dough Tart Shells

Almond Cream Filling

Vanilla Pastry Cream

Poached Pears

Caramelized Slivered Almonds

Instructions

Sweet Dough Tart Shells

  1. 1

    Prepare the sweet dough the day before so it has time to rest.

  2. 2

    Cream butter and confectioners' sugar, then add almonds, salt, and vanilla.

  3. 3

    Mix in the egg, then fold in flour to form a soft dough.

  4. 4

    Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

  5. 5

    Roll thinly to 2.5 mm using a pasta machine or rolling pin.

  6. 6

    Line tartlet molds and chill again for 1 hour.

  7. 7

    Bake blind at 160°C (320°F) for 15 minutes.

Almond Cream Filling

  1. 1

    Cream butter and sugar until smooth.

  2. 2

    Mix in ground almonds.

  3. 3

    Add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined.

Vanilla Pastry Cream

  1. 1

    Heat milk, cream, and vanilla to a simmer, then infuse.

  2. 2

    Whisk sugar, custard powder, flour, and yolks.

  3. 3

    Temper with hot milk, return to heat, and cook until thick.

  4. 4

    Whisk in cocoa butter, gelatin, butter, and mascarpone.

  5. 5

    Chill completely before using.

Poached Pears

  1. 1

    Make a syrup with water, sugar, and vanilla.

  2. 2

    Peel pears and poach until tender.

  3. 3

    Cool in syrup, then chill.

Caramelized Slivered Almonds

  1. 1

    Toast almonds at 165°C (330°F).

  2. 2

    Dust with confectioners' sugar.

  3. 3

    Caramelize at 240°C (465°F) for 2–3 minutes.

Assembly and Finishing

  1. 1

    Bake a layer of almond cream in tart shells at 170°C (340°F).

  2. 2

    Top with pastry cream.

  3. 3

    Trim pears and press into pastry cream.

  4. 4

    Decorate edges with caramelized almonds.

  5. 5

    Chill 1 hour before serving.

Comments & Reviews

  • Mia

    11/1/2025

    The caramelized almonds added such a lovely crunch!

  • Lorenzo

    7/2/2025

    A bit of work but the result was elegant and delicious.

  • Amelie

    4/10/2025

    Made these for a dinner party—an absolute show-stopper!

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 tartlet (1 of 5)

Calories 650
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 45g58%
Saturated Fat 18g90%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 165mg55%
Sodium 80mg3%
Total Carbohydrates 55g20%
Dietary Fiber 5g18%
Sugars 35g
Protein 12g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Pears in Lace Tartlets with Almond Cream