There has always been something timeless about pie. Maybe it is the soft, flaky crust or the naturally sweet fruit…or perhaps it is the aromatic scent that fills the house while crisping in the oven!
Fruit pie never goes out of style, and it's a dessert that is always in season. With that said, enjoy this classic recipe adapted from James Beard's American Cookery featuring a delightful blend of fresh pears and prunes. Finish with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream if desired.
This Pear and Prune Pie is a comforting dessert- one that I especially love this time of year, but can be enjoyed any season!

Pear & Prune Pie
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
For the pie crust:
- 1 1/2 cups AP flour, sifted
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/3 cup butter
For the filling & topping:
- 4 cups peeled and sliced pears
- 1/2 cup chopped dried pitted prunes
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 3/4 cup AP flour
- Dash of cinnamon
- 1 cup of whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar
Instructions
For the crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Process all ingredients for the crust in a food processor until a soft, fine dough forms. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling out and fitting into a 9-inch pie plate.
For the filling:
- Mix pears, prunes, and grated ginger in a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. The mixture may be very smooth.
- Pour the fruit into the unbaked pie shell. Take the butter and sugar mixture and scatter pieces over the fruit. Bake pie for 30-40 minutes or until the topping is crusty and the fruit is tender. Transfer to a cooling rack.
- In a bowl, whip cream and sugar. Serve with pie and enjoy!
Notes
Adapted from James Beard's American Cookery
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes - overnight
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
And that's our recipe and tips for Pear and Prune Pie. If you enjoyed today's recipe, be sure to let us know in the comments below and if you make today's recipe, don't forget to tag us on social media! We always love hearing from you.
Happy Baking!
2




June says
I am reading your recipe and I have a question. For the crust, why do you have butter shown separately 1/3 cup and 3 Tbsps?
Is the shortening also supposed to be used?
Living the Gourmet says
Dear June, thank you so much for stopping by! My apologies for the oversight. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup butter and yes this crust features a combination of shortening and butter for the ultimate flakey result. Do enjoy!
Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme says
Hi Catherine! Your recipes look scrumptious! And this pie...oh this pie. It looks fabulous. I can't wait to do some more exploring through your recipes!
And thank you for stopping by my blog!
Petra says
Prunes are healthy, so this is a keeper! 🙂
Kathy says
This looks incredibly delicious! I love the combination of pears and prunes...yum!
La cucina di Molly says
Che dolce straordinario! Ti è venuta perfetta, bravissima!Ciao
Federica says
I love fruit cakes but I never made a real pie. Yours looks amazing, so comforting. the of Pears and plums is a great combination. Bye, have a good week
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow says
This pie looks fabulous. Fruit pie is my husbands most favorite treat! Thank you, Catherine. blessings ~ tanna