Pear Pancakes

Every Saturday morning growing up, my father would make pancakes or waffles for the family.  The comforting smell of the pancakes would flow through the entire house and wake us all up.   This was a special treat for breakfast because during the week there would be no time for a warm breakfast as we were rushing to get ready for school.   Everyone looked forward to Saturday’s warm breakfast. 

It was fun family time where we would all sit together on Saturday morning talking, laughing and discussing weekend plans.   When I moved out of my parent’s house, I knew I needed to take the pancake recipe along with me to my house and continue this tradition with my husband.  I like to add fruits, nuts, or chocolate to the pancakes to create a new experience every time.  This morning, we made pear pancakes and they definitely hit the spot.

Pear Pancakes Recipe

Makes 8 Pancakes

1 ¼ cup flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pear (cored and cut into ¼ inch cubes)

Sift together all dry ingredients and put in large mixing bowl.  Combine egg, milk, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl.  Add wet ingredients to large bowl with all dry ingredients.  Fold in cut up pear into mixture.  Measure out batter onto a hot griddle that has been greased.  Cook on both sides until golden brown. 

Serve with warm maple syrup

Tips:

1)      I have also used apples, peaches and blueberries as a substitute for the pears

2)      If you don’t have fresh fruit you could always use dried fruit like cranberries, blueberries, coconut, or apricots

3)      If you want to add a crunch to your pancakes add cut almonds, walnuts, pecans or macadamia nuts

Warm Cinnamon Pears with Honey Yogurt



I have a sweet tooth and it usually gets the best of me.  The other day I was craving something sweet, but wanted to try to keep it healthy.  We had some pears in the fridge that were very ripe and bruised.  They probably would not have been able to survive in a lunch bag to work, so I salvaged them into my sweet treat. 

Taking fruit that is close to being over ripe and baking it in a pie or making a compote to go over oatmeal is a great way to not waste the produce you spent hard earned money on.  I hate to throw food away, so this is a good way to bring it back.  

Warm Cinnamon Pears with Honey Yogurt

Serves 4
Preheat the oven to 350^o

2 ripe pears

2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon brown sugar

2 cups plain yogurt (I like to use Greek yogurt)

2 teaspoons honey

Halve and core the pears.  Place them on a baking dish cut side up.  In a small bowl, mix together 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and brown sugar.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over pears.  Add a little water to the bottom of the baking dish to help create a sauce while cooking (about 1 tablespoon).

Bake the pears in the oven at 350^o for 15-17 minutes or until the pears are soft.

While the pears are baking, mix the yogurt and honey in a bowl.  Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the yogurt mixture.  Once mixed, add roughly 1/2 cup of the yogurt mixture to individual serving dishes.  

Cube the warm pears and place on top of the yogurt mixture.  With a spoon, scoop the sauce from the baking dish and drizzle over the top of each bowl.  If desired, drizzle additional honey on top. 

Serve and enjoy!