Pastries Recipes - Pears in Pastry Cases Recipe

Ingredients

SERVES 4

• 200g/7oz butter (cubed)

• 75ml/3fl oz white wine (warmed)

• Pinch of salt

• 50g/2oz caster sugar

• 300g/11oz plain flour (plus extra for dusting)

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 4 pears (peeled and cored, stems left attached)

• 1 egg yolk (beaten with 1 tablespoon water)

• 125ml/4fl oz double cream

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Method:

1. Add the butter, piece by piece, to the wine and beat the mixture with a whisk until it becomes creamy. Beat in the salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and all of the flour, spoonful by spoonful.

2. Roll the resulting dough into a ball, cover with a tea towel and leave for 2 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas mark 7. Mix the remaining sugar with the cinnamon. Roll the pears in this mixture.

4. Roll out the dough to 5mm/1/4in thick and cut it into 4 squares large enough to wrap around the pears.

5. Wrap each pear in a case of dough, leaving the stems sticking out. Brush the pastries with the egg yolk.

6. Put the pears on a floured baking tray. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Serve hot with cream.