Fresh Pear Pie, a refreshing change from the more typical apple pie, is a lovely, simple way to enjoy the delicate pomaceous fruit. The especially great thing about this recipe is that it's gluten free!
In our back yard, we have an old pear tree that drops fruit to the ground in abundance each fall. Pears may be my husband's favourite fruit. These two factors combine to create tremendous incentive for me to make pear pie! Before the days of Pinterest, it was surprisingly difficult for me to find a basic recipe for fresh pear pie. There was a French cream pie and pear crumb pie, but not a basic one with a crust on the top and bottom. So when you can't find a recipe, you create your own!
This is the recipe I developed. It's made with the Best Gluten Free Pie Crust, fresh pears, and a few basic ingredients that you're likely to have on hand.
You might also like Gluten Free Peach Pie.
Pears
I used bartlett pears for my pie. This is a very juicy variety not known for holding its shape well; but nevertheless, I like them fine for this pie. Bosc pears would also be a good choice.
If your pears are very firm when you get them, you can leave them out on the counter for one to three days to ripen up. To speed the process up, put them into a brown paper bag and close the top to trap ethylene gas inside. Ethylene gas is released naturally by fruits as they ripen. Keeping it concentrated around your fruits will help them to ripen faster.
Once your pears have achieved ideal ripeness, store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator until you're ready to use them.
Method
Here are the steps I find best to follow as I assemble Fresh Pear Pie.
Crust
I often have a batch of the Best Gluten Free Pie Crust already made and sitting in the fridge or freezer. The recipe makes enough for three double-crust pies or six singles, so there is generally some available. If you haven't already, making the pie crust is your first step.
Pears
Peel, core, and slice the pears, tossing them in lemon juice as you go. The lemon juice helps them to retain their nice colour rather than turning dark.
Dry Ingredients
Whisk the dry ingredients together, and then toss them with the sliced pears.
Assembly of Fresh Pear Pie
The dry ingredients will absorb some of the juice from the sliced pears as you roll out your bottom pie crust. There are videos of the crust process with the recipes for the Best Gluten Free Pie Crust and Tortierre. Place the crust in your pie plate, roll out the top crust, pour the pear mixture into the bottom crust, place top crust over it, and bake.
You'll have a lovely dessert to enjoy with family, friends, or by yourself!
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR THIS RECIPE
I like to roll my pastry on this tempered glass cutting board. I don't cut on it, but it's awesome for rolling pastry! Then, I just pop it into the dishwasher to clean up. This is not an affiliate link. I've just placed it here for your convenience.
Recipe
Fresh Pear Pie
Ingredients
- 2 crusts gluten free pie pastry
- 5 cups fresh pears peeled, cored, and sliced (about 4 large ones)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup organic raw sugar
- ¼ cup organic cornstarch or arrowroot starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Toss pear slices with lemon juice.
- Preheat oven to 450 F.
- Combine the sugar, starch, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl. Then stir the mixture with the pear slices.
- Pour it all into a 9-inch prepared pie shell. Top with a top crust. Poke a few holes into the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 450 F. Reduce heat to 350 F, and continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes, until pears check tender when poked with a knife.
Nutrition
Sally says
I too have a large, old, productive pear tree. I have frozen several bags of them and was wondering if you could substitute them for fresh in this recipe?
Cathy says
I think that would work. I have baked pies successfully with frozen apples. I would make the pie while they're still a bit frozen, if that's possible. I'm thinking they would be thawed just enough to move slices around. You might have to adjust the baking time accordingly. It's certainly worth a try!
Shirl Frana says
I do not see the recipe for the gluten free, dairy free pear pie. I wanted to make it for Thanksgiving.
Cathy says
I am so sorry for this glitch, Shirl! The recipe should be there for you now. Happy Thanksgiving!