Pear Calfoutis Coffee Cake

 

I do really love desserts and sweet things, but not as much in the morning. Pastries, doughnuts, and coffee cakes are things I adore, but not until about three in the afternoon. 

A special exception is made when I am making breakfast for other people. Other people really enjoy a sweet treat in the morning, so I do make things like this for others. This pear coffee cake is really delicious and not too sweet. It is still morning after all. 

Clafoutis is a French dessert traditionally made with cherries. It's really just an upside down cake that is a little less sweet. This is so perfect for a brunch or breakfast menu dessert. It's lightly sweet with a puffy cake layer and a bit of fruit over the top. You can top this with maple syrup, honey, powdered sugar or enjoy it as is.

Either way it is a delicious treat to end a morning meal or as an afternoon snack.

Ingredients

1 pear
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Add the milk and vinegar to a large bowl. Let this sit for about ten minutes or until the milk has curdled. Then add in the remaining ingredients. Make sure to mix the batter gently to not crush the bubbles out of the mixture.

Trace a 9 inch cake pan around the outside edge on parchment paper. Cut out the cake pan's shape. Spray the cake pan with cooking spray and place the parchment circle in the center of the pan. Spray the parchment as well

Slice the pear and fan the pieces out into a circular shape. They do not need to be perfect. If the pattern comes out ugly, you can always serve it with a heavy covering of powdered sugar.

Pour the batter over the fruit. Spread the batter out gently so the bubbles are not squished and the cake comes out extra fluffy.

Bake the cake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is browned and a toothpick comes out of the center clean. As it cools, run a butter knife around the outside edge. Let the cake cool for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the cake has cooled for a bit, flip the pan onto a plate. Sprinkle the top with some powdered sugar or honey.

My husband, Tyler really loves to drizzle a bit of maple syrup over the top of this delicious cake. It's very similar to an upside down pancake we love at a favorite restaurant so it is a perfectly sweet topping.