posts may contain Amazon affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you buy (but doesn't cost you anything extra). Occasionally I receive free products and/or run sponsored posts—this will always be stated clearly in the post. Thank you for supporting this blog.

This website contains some quotations, excerpts, and screen clips from copyrighted material. These uses fall well within the copyright doctrine of "Fair Use".
Monday, March 9, 2015

Savory Havarti Dutch Baby w/ Pears

Sponsored Post - Feed Your Creativity with Castello Havarti. All opinions are my own. Get creative with any of Castello's uniquely crafted cheeses. 
Savory Havarti Dutch Baby w/ Pears #CastelloHavarti
I've always loved the combination of sweet and savory. Fat pretzel rods dipped in chocolate, ham and pineapple pizza, chocolate covered raisins or peanut butter candies in a crunchy shell scattered throughout my popcorn are all good examples. The breakfast or brunch table is much the same. Whenever I serve orange rolls, I also serve bacon or sausage and slices of cheese to balance out the sweetness. Maybe I just love balance. This version of a Dutch Baby, sometimes known as a puff pancake or German pancake, is the perfect example.

The pancake itself is infused with shreds of rich, creamy Castello Aged Havarti cheese. The buttery taste of the cheese is right at home with the egginess that runs throughout the tender center and puffed, golden edges. And actually, it's perfectly delicious straight out of the oven, without adornment.

But I fancy a little adornment, so I topped it with some tender, lightly sweetened, cardamom-infused pears. The pears aren't actually super-sweet, they lean more towards buttery, a nod at the Havarti in the puff pancake. You could skip the dusting of powdered sugar if it seems too weird, but I found the combination to be oddly satisfying.

Castello Aged Havarti
Of course, if you wanted to keep it entirely savory, you could tumble some thinly sliced ham, slivers of sundried tomato, and smattering of fresh herbs on top as soon as it's pulled from the oven. I'm not one to argue with deliciousness in any form.

Either variation would make an impressive brunch offering, alongside some fresh fruit, flaky pastries, and something a little bubbly.

Savory Havarti Dutch Baby w/ Pears
This savory version of a puff pancake is infused with rich, aged havarti cheese and topped with sauteed pears that add just a whisper of sweetness.
Print Friendly and PDF
Savory Havarti Dutch Baby w/ Pears
by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Keywords: bake breakfast entree nut-free soy-free vegetarian cheese eggs German

Ingredients (serves 4)
    for the Dutch Baby (Puff Pancake):
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 4 large eggs
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2/3 cup whole milk
    • 3 ounces Castello Aged Havarti, shredded
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • big pinch sea salt
    for the pears:
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 large ripe pear - cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick
    • 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
    • big pinch of sea salt
    to finish:
    • powdered sugar, optional
    Instructions
    Preheat oven to 425° F. Once hot, place the butter in a 9 or 10-inch heavy skillet or pie plate and slide into the oven for 5 minutes, until melted.

    In the meantime, beat the rest of the ingredients for the Dutch Baby together until well-combined. Pour into the hot pan on top of the melted butter and slide back into the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

    In the meantime, make the pear topping by melting the butter in a skillet over medium heat with the brown sugar and vanilla until bubbling. Add the sliced pears, cardamom, and sea salt. Cook until just tender, 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

    When the Dutch Baby is removed from the oven, top it with the pears and sprinkle powdered sugar over everything, if using. Cut into 4 wedges and serve.
    Savory Havarti Dutch Baby w/ Pears #CastelloHavarti
    More with Castello Cheese:
    Castello Aged Havarti Cheese Pairing + Cardamom Pear Butter
    Castello Moments Cheese Tasting and Pairing
    Havarti Ham Apple Braid
    Ooey, Gooey Weissbier Grilled Cheese