Pumpkin tends to take center stage come September 1. Maybe it's a certain coffee brand that has a very popular, seasonal drink that makes its triumphant return. Maybe it's the turn of the calendar in North America that signal sweater weather is just around the corner. However, I'm going on a limb to say that sweet apples and crispy pears in Autumn in the United States are my absolute favorite.
Each autumn, we will get batch of pears in our CSA box. They are always so crisp, sweet, and fragrant. Not wanting to just eat them raw, I thought about ways to cook them. After browning some butter, tossing in some brown sugar and sautéing the pears with an apple or two, this became the perfect topping for a hot bowl of oats—elevating the usual breakfast staple for a crisp autumn morning.
Ingredients for the Best Brown Butter Pears and Apples
Simple Ingredients, Bold Seasonal Flavors
What is great about this recipe is that it takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. A bonus: this can work for a baked dessert filling. Think galettes, pies, or crisps and crumbles.
- Fresh Apples: Honestly, just about any type of apple will work here though I'll recommend a couple of juicy apples that are my personal preference. Golden delicious apples, fuji apples, granny smith apples, and honeycrisp apples all offer crisp texture and sweet taste. They're great in this recipe. If you are able, opt for organic apples as they're grown without any added pesticides. This is especially important since we're not peeling the apples. You can peel the different apple varieties if you like as doing so does not impact the sweet flavor of this fall fruit. You can use a number of different varieties of apples that you find at your local farmers market or local grocery store.
- Fresh Pears: Bosc, D'Anjou, and Bartlett are popular varieties we'll see in our produce box each season. They're great for baking and for simmering in a browned butter mixture like this one. The flavor profile between the pears and apples afford the perfect balance that is autumn at its best.
- Unsalted Butter: It's a good idea to brown the butter here as it's going to give the best flavor to our brown butter pears and apples. It adds a complex nutty flavor that compliments this recipe beautifully.
- Warming Spices: Ground clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon afford a warmth and spice that elevate our pears and apples.
- Brown Sugar: We're using a modest amount of sweetness here as our perfectly ripe apples and pears are already sweet. The brown sugar will caramelize to help create a sauce with the browned butter as the fruit juices release during cooking.
- Cinnamon and Vanilla: We're adding fragrant warmth and gourmet sweetness for balanced flavor in this dish.
Preparing the Brown Butter Pears and Apples
Your favorite apples are transformed into this delicious fall breakfast side dish quickly and easily. To start, melt butter over medium-low heat in a skillet. Lower heat and, stirring occasionally, allow butter to foam a little before it subsides creating lightly browned flecks that form at the bottom of skillet; the butter should have a nutty aroma. While the butter browns, you can dice the different types of apples and pears you chose into small pieces or slice thinly.
Add the apples and pears to the skillet with a pinch of salt. Stir fruit into the butter to combine everything together. Cook pears and apples until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and stir again. Stir occasionally as the pears and apples cook and caramelize with the sugar, about 7-10 minutes. The delicious juice of the fruit will begin to release as the fruit softens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Taste and adjust seasoning to preference.
Storing the Brown Butter Pears and Apples and FAQ
- Can I use any apple variety? Yes! I find that the best apples that work for this recipe are green apples like Granny Smith as their tart flavor is softened with the brown butter and sugar. You can also use Pink Lady apples or even Yellow Delicious apples.
- What can I do with leftovers? I've used this as a filling for apple pies even with the mix of pears. This is an excellent choice for a number of apple based desserts. I love adding a dollop of these brown butter pears and apples to some cut puff pastry to make little tartlets or to top pancakes or french toasts for an autumn breakfast.
- Can I freeze this? Most definitely. First, allow the mixture to cool completely before storing in an airtight container or freezer safe container. You can freeze this for up to 3 months for best results.
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas for the Season
When cooler temperatures arrive we turn to baking and comforting foods. Here are a few seasonal favorites to add to your morning rotation:
- Blood Orange and Currant Scones
- One-Bowl Pumpkin Bread
- Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries
- One-Bowl Banana Date Bread
The Best Brown Butter Pears and Apples
Ingredients
- 3 pears cored and roughly diced
- 2 apples cored and roughly diced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup brown sugar to your taste
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium-low heat in a skillet. Lower heat and, stirring occasionally, allow butter to foam a little before it subsides creating lightly browned flecks that form at the bottom of skillet; the butter should have a nutty aroma.
- Add apples and pears with a pinch of salt. Stir fruit into the butter and cook pears and apples until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add brown sugar and cinnamon and stir again. Stir occasionally as the pears and apples cook and caramelize with the sugar, about 7-10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Taste and adjust seasoning to preference. Serve atop oatmeal, pancakes, yogurt, or even French toast.
