Name: Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear Tart
Cook time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total time: 2 hours 50 minutes (includes baking and cooling time)
Yield: Makes 10 servings
Ingredients: 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed, or one 14- to 16-ounce package all-butter puff pastry (1 to 2 sheets, depending on brand), thawed; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 whole star anise; 3 whole cloves; Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt; 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise; 6 medium firm but ripe Anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored; 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter; 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise in half; 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half; 2 whole star anise; 6 whole cloves; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 large egg; Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt; 1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour; 1 egg white, beaten to blend; Ingredient Info: All-butter puff pastry is available frozen at Whole Foods markets. One 14- to 16-ounce package contains two 11-inch rounds. Whole star anise is available in the spice section of some supermarkets.; 10-inch-diameter springform pan

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Vanilla-Spiced Caramel and Pear TartHans Gissenger

The technique: No measuring, no mixing— just roll out puff pastry, trim to a circle, and transfer it to the pan. If you can find all-butter pastry, it's worth using here because of its superior flavor and texture.
The payoff: It couldn't be easier to use—or more flaky and buttery.

Recipe notes

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