The first time I made this galette, I was trying to use up two tins of pears leftover from a Sunday roast pudding that never happened. I found this tucked inside Maryโs Cook and Share book and thought, โItโs fruit on spongeโhow hard can it be?โ
Well, Iโll tell you: the sponge came out weirdly dense the first time. Iโd skimped on drying the pears (rookie move), and the whole thing turned out a bit soggy-bottomed. But once I got that rightโand added a proper slick of redcurrant jelly on topโit turned into something brilliant. Juicy, jammy fruit on a light vanilla sponge with a crisp edge from the tin.
If youโre looking for a way to make a dessert that looks fancy but secretly takes 15 minutes to get in the oven, let me show you how I fixed it.
Why This One Works So Well
The genius here is that the sponge base bakes with the fruit right on topโso it sort of soaks up the flavour without turning stodgy. Most recipes ask you to blind bake or do some fiddly dough-chilling, but Mary skips all that with a quick all-in-one sponge.
I didnโt think the jelly glaze would matter much (I nearly skipped it)โbut it adds this glossy, tart-sweet finish that ties everything together. Itโs not optional. Itโs the cherry on top. Or rather, the currant.
INGREDIENTS + WHY THEY MATTER
- Butter (75g, softened) โ The backbone of the sponge. Soft butter blends smoothly and helps with even rise.
- Caster Sugar (75g) โ Fine enough to dissolve quickly for a tender crumb.
- Self-Raising Flour (115g) โ This gives lift without needing to faff with extra leavening.
- Baking Powder (1 tsp) โ Boosts the riseโespecially helpful with the weight of the fruit on top.
- Eggs (2 large) โ Binds everything. I once used medium eggsโbig mistake. The sponge was dry.
- Vanilla Extract (1 tsp) โ Brings warmth and flavour. Donโt skip it.
- Tinned Pears (2 x 400g) โ Softer and juicier than freshโplus always ripe. But dry them well.
- Fresh Blueberries (150g) โ They pop and burst into the sponge like little gems.
- Redcurrant Jelly (2โ3 tbsp) โ Adds tang, shine, and that proper โbakery look.โ
Want To Change It Up
- Gluten-Free โ I swapped the flour with Doves Farm GF self-raising once. It worked, but the sponge was slightly more fragile. Still tasty.
- No Redcurrant Jelly: Raspberry jam works in a pinch. Warm and sieve it first.
- Fresh Pears โ I tried fresh Conference pears once. They were fine but needed poaching first to softenโtoo much faff for a weeknight.
Mistakes Iโve Made (And How to Avoid Them)
What Went Wrong | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
---|---|---|
Sponge turned out dense | Pears too wet | Pat them dry thoroughly with kitchen roll |
Fruit sank into sponge | Pressed it down too hard | Just lay pears gently on top |
No shine or tartness | Skipped the glaze | Always melt and brush on redcurrant jelly |
How To Make Mary Berryโs Pear and Blueberry Galette
- Prep Your Tin โ Grease a 28cm fluted loose-bottomed tin. I use my old metal one for a crisp edge.
- Mix the Batter โ Toss all batter ingredients into a bowl and beat until smooth. Thatโs butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs, vanilla.
- Spread It Out โ Batterโs thickโuse the back of a spoon to nudge it to the edges.
- Sort the Pears โ Drain well, then slice each half into three strips. Pat dry like you mean it.
- Assemble โ Place pears cut-side down in a nice spiral (or whatever). Dot blueberries in the gaps.
- Bake โ 20โ25 mins at 200ยฐC/180ยฐC fan. Look for golden edges and a risen centre.
- Glaze โ Warm jelly gently and brush over while still hot.
- Cool a Bit โ Let it set slightly before slicing. Serve warm if you canโthatโs when it shines.

Tips From My Kitchen
- I slice the pears before dryingโitโs easier to get every surface blotted.
- If the middle is still pale at 25 minutes, give it 2โ3 mins more. Donโt rely just on colour.
- Use a metal tin, not ceramicโgives better browning underneath.
- My blueberries were on the tart side, so I sprinkled just a whisper of sugar over them before baking.
Storage + Serving
- Store โ Keeps 2โ3 days in the fridge in an airtight box. Sponge softens slightly but still tasty.
- Reheat โ 10 mins in a medium oven brings it back. Or microwave for 30 seconds if youโre impatient.
- Freeze โ Yes, but glaze it fresh. Wrap slices individually and defrost at room temp.
FAQs โ Real Query Answers
Q: Can I use fresh pears instead of tinned?
A: You can, but youโll need to peel and poach them first to soften. Tinned pears are much easier here.
Q: Do I need a fluted tin?
A: It helps with structure and looks niceโbut a standard loose-bottomed tin works too.
Q: What if I donโt have redcurrant jelly?
A: Warmed and sieved raspberry jam is your best backup. Just make sure itโs smooth.
Q: Can I make this ahead?
A: Yesโbake it, cool it, then reheat in the oven before serving. But the texture is best the same day.
Q: Can I use frozen blueberries?
A: I tested this! Yes, but donโt thaw them. Add straight from the freezer to stop them bleeding colour.
Try More Mary Berry Recipes:
- Mary Berry Lemon Drizzle Traybake
- Mary Berry Chocolate Traybake
- Mary Berry Chocolate Chip Traybake
- Mary Berry Lemon Lime Traybake
- Mary Berry Confetti Traybake
Mary Berry Pear and Blueberry Galette
Course: DessertsCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes25
minutes275
kcalCool slightly before removing from tin. Serve warm with cream or crรจme fraรฎche.
Ingredients
75g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
75g caster sugar
115g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ร 400g tins pear halves in natural juice
150g fresh blueberries
2โ3 tbsp redcurrant jelly
Directions
- Preheat oven to 200ยฐC/180ยฐC Fan/Gas 6. Grease a 28cm fluted loose-bottomed tin.
- Beat together butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Spread batter into the tin.
- Drain pears, slice lengthwise into thirds, and pat dry.
- Arrange pears on batter, cut-side down. Scatter blueberries in between.
- Bake for 20โ25 minutes, until golden and risen.
- Melt redcurrant jelly and brush over while hot.
- Cool slightly before removing from tin. Serve warm with cream or crรจme fraรฎche.
Notes
- I slice the pears before dryingโitโs easier to get every surface blotted.
- If the middle is still pale at 25 minutes, give it 2โ3 mins more. Donโt rely just on colour.
- Use a metal tin, not ceramicโgives better browning underneath.
- My blueberries were on the tart side, so I sprinkled just a whisper of sugar over them before baking.