Almond Pear Clafouti

Pears

Cooking tip: When you need pears to hold their shape in a recipe choose firmer varieties like Bosc, Anjou, or Concorde. Softer varieties like Bartlett and Comice are better for snacking and smoothies. 

Almond Pear Clafouti
Cook’s notes: Clafoutis pronunced klafuti and sometimes spelled clafouti is a baked French dessert of cherries arranged in a buttered dish and covered with a thick flan-like batter. The clafouti is dusted with powdered sugar and served lukewarm. This is a variation of the traditional recipe that serves 4-6 and was adapted from Midwest Living Fall Living. A comfort dessert that is a satisfying finish to any meal. Cinnamon and almond flavors are a perfect combination for this dessert. 

Ingredients:

• 4 medium pears, peeled, cored and diced
• 2 TB. butter
• 1 TB. Saigon cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 TB. Amaretto or 1 tsp. almond extract
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• ¾ cup sliced almonds
• powdered sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 1-1/2-2 qt, au gratin dish or a 8 x8 glass plan. 
• In a large skillet melt butter. Over medium heat cook pears mixed with cinnamon for 5-6 minutes or until tender. Arrange cooked pears in prepared baking dish. 
• In a medium bowl combine rest of ingredients except almonds and powdered sugar.
• Pour batter over pears. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake uncovered 45 minutes or until puffed, lightly browned and a knife inserted off center comes out clean. The clafouti will fall as it cools.
• Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.