• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1 disk pate brisee
• 1 cup blanched almonds
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut up
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1/2 cup apricot jam
• 8 large canned pear halves, well drained, patted dry, and thinly sliced lengthwise


• Pate Brisee
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup ice water, plus more if needed

1. Preheat the oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 12-inch round. Fit dough into a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan lifting into and pressing up sides. Refrigerate while you prepare almond cream (frangipane).
2. In a food processor pulse almonds and sugar until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, salt, and extract and process until well combined.
3. Spread 1/4 cup jam over bottom of tart shell. Spread almond filling over; chill 15 minutes. Arrange pear slices on top, fanning them out. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and almond cream is puffed and set. Transfer to a wire rack and cool in the pan. Remove from pan. Melt remaining jam and brush over tart. Cool before serving.

Pate Brisee

For the flakiest crust, make sure all ingredients (including the flour) are cold before you begin.

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt; pulse to combine. Add the butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces remaining, about 10 seconds. (To mix by hand, combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then cut in butter with a pastry blender.)
2. With the machine running, add the ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, just until the dough holds together without being wet or sticky. Do not process more than 30 seconds. Test by squeezing a small amount of the dough together; if it is still too crumbly, add a bit more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. Turn out the dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, and place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into flattened disks. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. The dough can be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.