Frozen Snowy Pear Tart with Vanilla Custard

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-30 · Updated 2026-03-30

A delicate tart featuring tender poached pears, a buttery shortcrust shell, and a silken vanilla custard filling, finished with a sparkling sugar snow glaze that shimmers like an icy winter wind’s ice magic. This modern european-inspired desserts ready in about 75 minutes layers all-purpose flour, (1 stick), cold unsalted butter, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), cold unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 4 Bosc pears, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes pears
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a food processor, pulse 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup cold butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 egg yolk until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Chill for 15 minutes.
2. Step 2: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line the tart shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove weights and bake 5 more minutes until golden. Let cool completely.
3. Step 3: In a saucepan, combine 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/2 cup diced pears. Cook over medium heat until the pears soften and the mixture thickens slightly, about 8 minutes. Set aside.
4. Step 4: In a bowl, whisk 1/2 cup milk, 2 tbsp cornstarch, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Pour this into the saucepan with the pear mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
5. Step 5: Pour the warm custard into the cooled tart shell. Chill for at least 2 hours until set.
6. Step 6: In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp water until smooth. Spoon the glaze over the chilled tart, letting it drizzle in delicate patterns. Chill for 15 minutes before serving.