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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 60 Minutes |
Ready In: 75 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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Looking for a fast weeknight dessert? Johnnycakeessentially a cross between a pancake and corn breadisn't fancy, but it's delicious when made with delicate pears and maple syrup. Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter |
2 tablespoons sugar |
4 firm-ripe anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cored |
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg, divided |
1 cup all-purpose flour |
3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal (preferably white) |
2 teaspoons baking powder |
1/2 teaspoon baking soda |
1/2 teaspoon salt |
3/4 cup whole milk |
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (preferably dark amber or grade b) |
2 large eggs, lightly beaten |
accompaniments: pure maple syrup (for drizzling); sour cream |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
2. Melt butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Brush a 9-inch cake pan (2 inches deep) with 1 tablespoon melted butter and reserve 6 tablespoons in a small bowl. Sprinkle sugar evenly over butter remaining in skillet. Arrange pears, cut sides up, in skillet and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, then turn pears over and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Cook until liquid pears give off has evaporated and cut sides are lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes more.
3. Transfer pears, cut sides down, to cake pan.
4. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg in a bowl. Whisk in milk, syrup, eggs, and reserved butter just until smooth. Pour over pears and bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then run a knife around edge of cake to loosen and invert onto a platter.
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