Pear Pie

This recipe for pear pie gives you the shortest, easiest route from fresh pears and basic dough to a finished pie that’s fruity, sweet, caramelized and crispy. You’ll be surprised how little fuss is involved. It’s a good recipe to try in late summer or early fall, when fresh pears are harvested, but under-ripe varieties are the ideal pick.

If you’ve made a cherry pie, apple pie or summer berry pie, you know how to make pear pie. However, we really recommend experimenting with some of the variations. The bourbon option, in particular, brings something really special out of the humble pear.

Pear Pie Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: This readily available flour is the best choice for making pie crust.
• Salt: A little salt goes a long way in any baking recipe.
• Shortening: Use your go-to solid shortening to make a more flexible dough.

Filling:

• Peeled and sliced fresh pears: Make sure the pears are not too ripe, as you want a little tartness and texture to them.
• Lemon juice: As well as adding citrus flavor, the lemon juice stops the pears from oxidizing.
• All-purpose flour: You’ll need to use some flour to give the pears a crispy coating as well.
• Sugar: Use some for sweetening the pears and the rest to sprinkle on top of the pie.
• Ground cinnamon: This wonderfully aromatic spice pairs perfectly with pears.
• Butter: Use salted or unsalted butter to seal the pie and give it that golden crust.

Directions

Step 1: Make the pie crust dough

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In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt, then cut in the shortening until the mixture is crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until the dough holds together when pressed. Divide the dough in half, and shape each half into a disk. Wrap the disks and refrigerate them for one hour or overnight.

Step 2: Prep the pears

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In a large bowl, toss the pear slices with lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix the flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon. Add the dry mixture to the pear mixture and toss to coat the pears evenly.

Step 3: Create the bottom crust

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On a lightly floured surface, roll one of the chilled disks of dough into a 1/8-inch-thick circle, evening out any bumps. Transfer the round of dough to a 9-inch pie plate, and trim the crust even with the rim.

Step 4: Add the filling

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Add the pear filling, and dot the top with the butter.

Step 5: Place the top crust

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Preheat the oven to 425°F. Roll the remaining dough to a 1/8-inch-thick circle, and lay it over the filling. Trim, seal and flute the edge, then cut slits in the top. Sprinkle the crust with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.

Step 6: Bake the pear pie

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Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. Cover the edge loosely with foil during the last 20 minutes, if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove the foil, and let the pie cool on a wire rack.

Editor’s Tip: To flute the edge of the pie, just pinch the edge with two fingers and push your thumb between them to create the teeth-like pattern.

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Pear Pie Variations

• Make a crumb topping: Replace the smooth crust with a crumb topping, or streusel, made from cold butter and flour that you then scatter on top of the fruit.
• Combine apples and pears: Split the fruit filling between the pears and tart apples, like Granny Smith or Red Delicious, for balance.
• Elevate the sauce: Make a wickedly indulgent filling by adding a dash of bourbon or salted caramel sauce to the fruit layer.

How to Store Pear Pie

Your instinct might be to refrigerate your pear pie, but doing so could actually give you a soggy crust. Instead, store it, covered, at room temperature for up to two days. Since it contains no eggs, it won’t spoil so quickly.

Can you freeze pear pie?

Allow your pear pie to cool completely, and transfer any leftovers to a freezer-safe bag, sealed completely. You can store it in the freezer for three to four months. When you’re ready to bring it out, reheat it in the oven at a gentle 375° rather than allowing it to thaw, so it doesn’t have time to go soggy.

Pear Pie Tips

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What do you serve with this pear pie recipe?

A hot, fruity pie like this will reach new heights with a topping of homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. The cream really takes any remaining edge off the tartness of the pears. You can also dress the pie with salted caramel sauce or warm custard.

What types of pear does this recipe require?

As with apple pies, you want a pear that’s firm and slightly under-ripe. The pear color itself isn’t a critical factor, but the type of pear is. You’ll have the best results with tart Bosc and Anjou or sweeter Bartlett pears.

How can I personalize my pie crust?

If you want to make this easy pear pie recipe look more complicated, use a pastry wheel to create a lattice pie crust, or create shapes to fit the occasion, from stars to hearts. You can then layer those on top.