Pear Skillet Bread

Sometimes I get something in my head and I’m not letting it go until I get what I want! This recipe is a perfect example. I love my Nana Skillet Bread, but bananas don’t agree with me…and I can’t have grains. But I believed I could make it work with pears and was absolutely determined! Darn thing wasn’t going to get the best of me. Most of the “failed” batches were delicious, but they were a pile of crumbs, so I was always “forced” to eat them. Quite a hardship! I generally make things in season, and started working on this at the beginning of pear season, and didn’t figure out how to make it work until a week ago. I have a stash of frozen pears, and methinks this is where they’re headed.

It’s not quite a bread, and not quite a cake. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or a snack, and it’s quite healthy, too! If you don’t have a skillet, you can do it in an 9 inch round, but the crust won’t brown as nicely. Lining the skillet with parchment is essential if you’re using a skillet, or it will totally get stuck. Salba or chia is a must, and flax won’t work. You’ll get a pile of crumbs. Tasty crumbs. Trust me. For more info on Salba, I have a two articles here. If you don’t have mesquite, add more almond flour instead, and add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and more spices.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup quinoa flour
¼ cup mesquite flour
1Tablespoons +1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
pinch of salt

Wet:
1 1/4 cups very ripe pears
1 tablespoon ground chia (Salba) seeds
2/3 cup agave (a little less)
3T oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple extract
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Line the bottom of a 10 inch cast iron skillet with parchment paper, then grease the paper and sides of the pan. Preheat oven to 350 and put skillet in the hot oven 10 minutes before adding the batter.

Thoroughly mix dry ingredients together. Dump wet ingredients in a blender. Let it roll until well blended. In my vitamix, that takes less than a minute. I would assume an ordinary blender would take a few minutes. Add wet to dry mix until well everything is combined, then stir in the nuts.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until top turns a beautiful golden brown. Almond flour browns a lot so don’t be surprised if it’s darker than you expect. Cool on a drying rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Top with sauteed apples if desired.

Yum.

~from Cheryl’s kitchen ©2008

About Cheryl Harris

Life played a funny trick on me. I've studied nutrition for years, and much to my surprise, found out that I could manage many of my health issues via diet. I've been GF for years, and I've got a bunch of allergies and sensitivities. But it definitely doesn't keep me from cooking, baking and enjoying my food. Thanks for stopping by.
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11 Responses to Pear Skillet Bread

  1. Ricki says:

    I’m just amazed at your innovation! That looks and sounds delicious, dietary restrictions or not! 🙂

  2. I love all breakfast foods, and things made with fresh fruit. What a cool innovation!

  3. Shellyfish says:

    What genius at work! I so wish I could get chia seeds here in France (I’m sure they’re available somewhere, but I can’t find them!). I love when super-healthy meets super-delicious!

  4. thanks a bunch!
    I’m so lucky that I’m able to find so many things pretty easily here. We’re spoiled!

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  7. Scrumptious says:

    Hi Cheryl,

    I just made this and it is super yummy! So moist, it reminds me of gingerbread somehow. The pear flavor really comes through, too.

    I didn’t have any quinoa flour (and I didn’t feel like getting out the food processor to make some) so I used sorghum. I don’t really know about GF baking yet, I mostly just follow recipes, so I’m not sure how that changed things. I also wasn’t sure when to take it out – it’s always so hard to tell with GF baked goods! It is very, very moist, but definitely cooked and holding together, so I am assuming it had enough time in the oven.

    Anyways, just wanted to give you some positive feedback on another great recipe!

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  10. Bea says:

    Interesting! My kind of cooking these days! But I am more of an apple lover… I assume apple would sub for pears?

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