Food and Recipes Recipes Pear-Plum Tartlets These tartlets were made for fall mornings. By Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto is a recipe tester and developer who's been working in Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2017. Her recipes and writing have appeared in over 10 nationally distributed print publications as well as on various digital platforms. Anna's recipes have been showcased on the covers of magazines such as Food & Wine and Southern Living. Anna earned her BS in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida and a degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier Birmingham chapter. When not in the kitchen, Anna enjoys hiking with her son, husband, and 2 dogs. She also loves fostering puppies for a local animal rescue group. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 16, 2021 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Active Time: 20 mins Bake Time: 35 mins Cool Time: 20 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins Servings: 6 Jump to recipe This fall, we're shining a light on one of the most underrated fall fruits: Pears. Apples have historically gotten all of the attention, but these fall fruits are just as sweet. These Pear-Plum Tartlets are the pastry of our autumn fantasies. We promise you that these cute tartlets taste just as good as they look. Made from homemade pie dough and a fruity filling, these hand-held treats are great for on-the-go snacking. It all starts with a buttery crust that has a nice golden-brown bottom, sturdy enough to be easily transferred to plates or eaten by hand. Chilling the dough before using is important to hydrate the flour and creating those flaky layers. The filling, composed of thinly-sliced plums and pears, strikes a balance of sweet and tart. Pro tip: Stir together the filling just before assembling to avoid creating too much liquid. This recipe calls for Bartlett pears. Available in red or green, this kind brightens and turns sweeter as it ripens, unlike other pears. You can also use black plums if red plums are not available. Excellent served warm or at room temperature, these make-ahead desserts look super impressive. You could make these earlier in the day and quickly reheat in the oven just before serving. These double as an excellent breakfast, served alongside some coffee. Ingredients Pie Dough All-purpose flour, for work surface 3 medium-size firm-ripe Bartlett pears, thinly sliced (about 4 cups sliced) 2 firm-ripe red plums, thinly sliced (about 2 cups sliced) ½ cup granulated sugar 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 large egg, beaten 2 tablespoons sanding sugar or sparkling sugar Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll Pie Dough into a 12½- x 18½-inch rectangle (about ⅛ inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Cut 6 (6-inch) squares; place on prepared baking sheet. (They will overlap slightly.) Chill dough squares. Stir together next 5 ingredients in a bowl. Spoon about ¾ to 1 cup fruit mixture into center of each chilled dough square. Fold up edges to create a ½-inch rim; pinch corners to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet. Top with cubed butter. Brush edges with egg; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake in preheated oven until golden and filling is bubbly, about 35 to 40 minutes. Cool slightly on pan, about 20 minutes. Print