Pear Bettys Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Coarsely crush with a rolling pin so that the largest pieces are the size of peas.
• Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in breadcrumbs, sugar, spices, salt, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cider, and the lemon juice. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Peel pears; cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Place a heaping 1/2 cup pears in each of 6 small (5-inch) pie plates or ramekins. Top each with 1/4 cup breadcrumb mixture; drizzle each with 1 tablespoon cider. Top with remaining pears, then with remaining breadcrumb mixture.
• Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper; cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until topping is browned and juices are bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening or cooking spray; light flour.
• Peel, core and chop 2 of the pears; place in blender. Cover; puree until smooth. Measure 1/2 cup of the puree. Reserve remaining puree for another use.
• In small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup pear puree, the oil and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl between each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture; beat just until combined.
• Peel, core and chop remaining 3 pears. Fold chopped pears into cake batter. Pour into pan.
• Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 15 minutes. Place cooling rack upside down over pan; turn rack and pan over. Remove pan. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• To make icing, in 2-quart saucepan, cook butter, brown sugar, salt and cream over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. With whisk, beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Immediately pour over cooled cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray eight 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups with vegetable spray; coat each with 3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar. Cut bread into 1/4-inch cubes; place on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool. Raise oven temperature to 400 degree.
• Slice pears in half lengthwise; core. Cut each half crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, brandy, and 4 tablespoons pear nectar; toss to combine.
• Place bread cubes in a bowl; add melted butter and half the liquid from pear mixture; toss to combine. Place 1 heaping tablespoon bread in each ramekin to cover bottom. Distribute half the pears among ramekins. Add 1 heaping tablespoon blueberries to each; cover with remaining pears. Divide remaining bread over pears; drizzle with remaining pear liquid.
• Cover each ramekin with foil; press down on tops and place on a baking sheet. Place a baking pan on top of ramekins and fill with dried beans to weight it. Bake until puddings are golden, about 50 minutes. Remove weight and transfer ramekins to a wire rack; let cool for about 20 minutes. Remove foil. Unmold onto serving plates.
• Meanwhile, whisk yogurt with remaining tablespoon brown sugar and pear nectar. Serve yogurt sauce on the side.