JOHN'S PEAR AND ALMOND-CREAM TART

John's Pear and Almond-Cream Tart image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 2h40m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 to 4 tablespoons ice water
1 cup blanched almonds
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1/2 cup apricot jam
2 cans (15 ounces each) pear halves, drained, patted dry, and sliced lengthwise

Steps:

Make dough: In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and granulated sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, gradually add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water).
Transfer dough (still crumbly) onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form into a 3/4-inch-thick disk; wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, pressing up sides. Run a rolling pin across the top of pan to trim the edge; refrigerate.
Make filling: In a food processor, pulse almonds with confectioners' sugar until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, salt, and almond extract; process almond cream until well combined.
Spread 1/4 cup jam on bottom of tart shell, then spread almond cream on top; chill for 15 minutes. Arrange pear slices in a fan pattern over almond cream; place tart on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and almond cream is puffed and set. Transfer tart to a wire rack; let cool in pan. Remove tart from pan. Melt remaining 1/4 cup jam; brush over tart.