French Almond Pear Gratin (Gluten-free)
The French Almond Pear Gratin, also known as “Gratin de Poires aux Amandes,” combines the sweetness of pears with the rich nuttiness of almonds, creating a delightful and comforting treat – one that’s naturally gluten free. It features softly baked pears nestled in a bed of almond cream, creating a perfect match of texture and flavor. Embrace this rustic dessert, on the table in less than an hour, for the cozy season. French fruit gratins: a comforting dessert for the cozy seasons Sweet gratins made with seasonal fruits are very…
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 40 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2/3 cup (150g) unsalted butter, at room temperature (+ some extra for greasing the dish)
- 6 tbsp (75g) sugar, + 2 tbsp (25g) for sprinkling
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup (155g) ground almonds (meal or flour)
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 4 to 5 large pears
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Step 1 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and salt. Add the almond powder and mix until just incorporated. Add the 3 eggs and almond extract and mix again until just incorporated.
- 2
Grease a baking dish with butter. Spread the almond mixture over the bottom of the dish.
- 3
Pre-heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle.
- 4
Step 2 - Peel, core and cut pears into quarters. Place pear quarters onto the almond mixture, about ½ inch (1.25cm) apart, pushing each piece down so they are tucked in nicely. Do not overcrowd the dish, you may not need all the pear pieces.
- 5
Step 3 - Sprinkle the two tablespoons of sugar evenly over top. Bake for 40 minutes until the top is lightly golden. Check for doneness by inserting a knife or toothpick into the almond mixture; it should come out clean when the gratin is done.
- 6
Once the gratin is out of the oven and slightly cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar for a finishing touch.
- 7
Serve with slightly warm or cool. It pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for added indulgence.