Last Updated on April 2, 2024 by Share My Kitchen
This spiced pear pie has a wonderful aroma and is packed full of fall flavor. The pears lend a touch of sweetness to the pie, and the texture is thick and gooey—just how I like it! With a delicious sticky topping baked right into the top of this pie, you are going to want to run to the store and grab some pears so you can make this recipe as soon as possible!
Fall is a season synonymous with spicy, warm, comforting flavors. You see it in the foods you eat. You see it in the clothes you wear. And you smell it in your home as you light candles and fill up your space with the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
If you include pumpkin as a fruit, it is believed that pumpkin, apple, and pear are The Big Three fall baking fruits. However, pears aren’t as prominent as pumpkins and apples. And it’s a shame because they are one of the tastiest fruits!
How to Make a Spiced Pear Pie
When you are ready to make your pie, start by cutting up the pears. You can either peel them or leave the peels intact.
The next step is to combine the pears with some flour and spices. The flour will help the pie filling thicken in the oven, and the spices will add some fall flavor.
Sprinkle some cane sugar on your pie crust before you fill it. This prevents the bottom crust from becoming soggy.
Then, add your pear mixture and even it out.
Top with the second crust. A lattice is possible, but it is preferred a simple topper is great as well. You can opt for a plain top crust, but don’t forget to make some holes in it to let the juices escape.
The best tip for a lattice-crust success is to freeze the pie dough strips on a cookie sheet prior to attempting the weave. It makes the job much easier!
Once you have topped your pie as you like, brush the top with heavy cream.
Bake the pie until it is golden brown and bubbly. If your pie is browning too fast, you may need to cover it with foil. You may also purchase adjustable silicone crust shields to save from using too much aluminum.
Then, finally, serve with a large dollop of homemade whipped cream. This is the perfect way to end a fall dinner. You could even eat it for breakfast!
NOTE:
This spiced pear pie has a drastically reduced amount of sugar. The whole pie contains only 2 tablespoons of sugar! You can increase the sugar amount to 1/2 cup if you prefer sweeter desserts. The sweetness of the pears will also affect how much sugar you need to add.
Spiced Pear Pie Recipe Card
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Cooling Time | 2 hours |
| Total Time | 1 hour 25 minutes |
| Servings | 8 people |
Ingredients
- 1 recipe for a double-crust pie crust (see note)
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 pinch cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unrefined cane sugar, divided
- 1/8 tsp unrefined salt
- 2 1/2 pounds ripe but still firm pears, cored and thinly sliced (about 10 small pears)
- 1 tbsp heavy cream, for brushing the crust
- homemade whipped cream, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, spices, salt, and 1 tablespoon of sugar using a whisk. Then, toss the pears with the vanilla and flour/spice mix in a large bowl.
- Next, roll out half of your pie dough, and line a pie dish with it. Sprinkle the rest (1 tablespoon) of the sugar on the bottom of the crust and pour the pear mixture on top. Then, roll out the other half of the pie dough and put it over the crush. The edges should be trimmed and crimped.
- Brush the top of the crust using heavy cream. Then, put the pie on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 425°F oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crust browns too fast, cover it with foil or a pie-crust shield.
- Take out of the oven and let it cool on a cooling rack for at least 2 hours before cutting. If desired, serve with whipped cream.
