Fresh Pear Pie

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Place a baking sheet on the bottom oven rack. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate with one pie crust. Set second crust aside.

Step 2
Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, lemon zest, and salt in a mixing bowl.

Step 3
Arrange pear slices in layers in prepared crust, sprinkling sugar mixture over each layer. Dot with butter and sprinkle with lemon juice.

Step 4
Moisten the rim of bottom crust with some water, then cover filling with remaining pie crust and flute the edges to seal; trim off excess pastry and cut several slits in top crust to allow steam to escape.

Step 5
Bake in the preheated oven on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C); bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes longer. Allow to cool several hours before serving.