Caramelized Pear Tart with Cream Cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
2. In a bowl, mix all purpose flour and granulated sugar.
3. Add unsalted butter cut into small pieces and rub with fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, mix until dough forms a ball.
5. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
6. Roll out dough on a floured surface to fit a 15 cm tart pan.
7. Place dough in tart pan and press evenly, trim excess dough.
8. Prick dough base with a fork to prevent bubbling.
9. Bake tart shell in preheated oven for 12 minutes until lightly golden.
10. Remove tart shell and let cool.
11. In a skillet, melt unsalted butter over medium heat.
12. Add sliced ripe pears and cook for 3 minutes.
13. Sprinkle granulated sugar over pears and cook until caramelized and golden, about 5 minutes.
14. Remove pears from heat and let cool slightly.
15. In a bowl, beat softened cream cheese with milk until smooth and creamy.
16. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled tart shell.
17. Arrange caramelized pear slices on top of cream cheese layer.
18. Dust tart with powdered sugar before serving.