Pies and Tarts Dessert Recipes - Pear Meringue Pie Recipe

Ingredients

• 75 g/3 oz dried pears

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups water

• 5 cm/2 in piece of cinnamon stick

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup butter

• 225 g/8 oz/1 cup caster (superfine) sugar

•  4 eggs

• 100 g/4 oz/1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour

• 30 ml/2 tbsp corn flour (cornstarch)

• 15 ml/1 tbsp lemon juice

• Chocolate Custard, to serve

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Method:

1. Soak the pears in the water overnight. Place in a saucepan with the cinnamon stick and granulated sugar. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender.

2. Leave to cool, then discard the cinnamon. Grease a 20cm/8 in sponge flan tin (pan). Beat the butter and half the caster sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in 2 of the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift the flour over the surface and fold in with a metal spoon. Turn into the greased tin and smooth the surface.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 for about 20 minutes until the centre springs back when lightly pressed. Cool slightly, then turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Transfer to an ovenproof serving plate. Lift the pears out of the cold syrup and chop. Blend the corn flour with the lemon juice and stir into the syrup.

6. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in the chopped pears. Separate the remaining eggs and beat the yolks into the pear mixture.