Brown Butter Pear Cornmeal Cobbler
Juicy pears hide under a crisp cornmeal topping for a warm 40-minute dessert with a buttery edge.
Prep: 15 · Cook: 25 · Total: 40 · Serves: 8 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.9/5 (233 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
This original cobbler gives ripe pears a toasted cornmeal crown and a nutty browned-butter finish. Lemon keeps the filling bright beneath the sweet crust.
Story
Casey thinks pears deserve the same cozy treatment apples get, especially when there is brown butter involved. The cornmeal topping adds a sunny little crunch around the soft fruit. It smells like a Sunday kitchen before anyone has set the table. Serve it warm and let the ice cream make the sauce.
By Casey
Ingredients
- 5 ripe but firm pears, cored and sliced
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 F and butter a 9-inch round baking dish.
- Toss the pears with the brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt, then spread them in the dish.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook for 3 minutes until golden and nutty smelling.
- Whisk the flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
- Stir in the milk and brown butter just until a thick batter forms, then dollop it over the pears.
- Bake for 23 to 25 minutes until the topping is golden and the fruit bubbles at the edges, then serve warm.
Chef Tips
- Firm-ripe pears hold their shape better than very soft pears during baking.
- Watch the butter closely because it can move from golden to burnt quickly.
- Leave gaps between batter dollops so steam can escape from the fruit.
- Rewarm leftovers in a low oven to bring back the crisp topping.
Cook's Notes
- **Pears:** Slice them evenly so the fruit softens at the same pace.
- **Butter:** Brown it until fragrant and amber, then remove it from the heat.
- **Serving:** Rest the cobbler for 10 minutes so the juices settle before scooping.