For the Dough:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. On a clean, flat surface, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg and yolk, baking powder, sugar, vanilla, and butter. Work the ingredients together quickly to form a soft dough.
3. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.

For the Filling:

1. While the dough is chilling, add the diced pears, lemon juice, and water to a small saucepan.
2. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pears become soft and the liquid has evaporated. Adjust the heat and stir occasionally, to make sure they don’t turn burn. Remove from heat, add the sugar, and stir to combine well.
3. Remove the dough from the fridge, knead a couple of times, and divide in half. Roll out half of the dough to a thickness of about 1/8″.
4. Use a cookie cutter to cut into shapes. Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet with a little space between each.
5. Roll out and cut out the remaining dough.
6. Place a teaspoonful of filling in the middle of each dough cutout on the baking sheet. Top each with a second piece of dough.
7. Use your fingers to pinch the sides of the cookies closed. Dipping fingertips in water helps to seal.
8. Bake for approximately 13-15 minutes. Let cool completely on wire racks. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.