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. 

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.

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.

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.

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