German Pancake with Caramelized Seckel Pear

What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest then with a German Pancake. I've been making this recipe for years and we love it every time. There are only 6 ingredients, so it's simple to prepare and it's fun to watch the pancake puff up in the oven. This will serve 2-4 depending on how you slice it.

Seckel pears are the smallest of all commercially grown pears, and they are exceptionally sweet. So sweet, they are sometimes called sugar pears. I only used one thinly sliced pear, but you can use more depending on your taste.

German Pancake:

3 large eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup milk (or almond milk)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs to combine. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Add the milk, salt and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

Add the butter to a cast-iron skillet and transfer to oven until the butter melts. Remove from oven and quickly pour the batter into the hot skillet. Return to oven and bake until the pancake is puffed and golden, about 15 minutes.

While the pancake is in the oven, caramelize the pears in a skillet with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for about 5 minutes.  Remove from pan as soon as they become golden brown. You can top the pancake with whatever you have on hand, fresh fruit or preserves are also delicious.

When the pancake is puffed and golden, its ready.  It will come out of the oven very puffy, but will reduce quickly. Top with caramelized pears, maple syrup and powdered sugar.

Guten Appetit!