Sweet Pear Galette & a Brunch

A Brunch Worth Having, Part 1: Delicious pears caramelize in a petite galette filled with cinnamon, coconut sugar and ginger. A comforting sweet treat to bring along on your next Sunday brunch. 

I’ve been to brunch two times in my life (aside from Easter brunch with my family). Once when I was 22, coincidentally on Easter, yet with a friend, as my family was too far away. Then again one year later with a friend who was passing through the city. I rarely brunch. For me, its one of those things I see and hear of people doing often. Even so, last Saturday, as I was at my favorite café around the corner (not brunching, just sipping a cappuccino) two girls were talking about the brunch they just had, that morning – Saturday morning. I stopped to think, wait, when did brunch extend to a Saturday affair? This was news to me. They went on to list suitable cafes for their next brunch, that Sunday, the next day, as in 20 hours away. I admit I was eavesdropping but it was quite funny. I thought I couldn't relate as I rarely brunch but I guess one would remark that my outings to three cafes all in one Saturday afternoon would constitute the same feelings as in perhaps you might have a slight obsession for café aesthetics, good coffee or wanting to live a Parisian lifestyle? Yes, to all. I do very much like being in a coffee shop, drinking good coffee and pretending that San Francisco was Paris. Yet still in a city that is dotted in cafés and with a persona that near screams for you to wait in an hour long line like a true San Franciscan and brunch; through and through I am not a bruncher. But when a friend, an amazing floral designer friend, asks that you come to her house for a photo-shoot and to bring along a few bites to nibble on, then that is a brunch I can happily oblige to.  

So yesterday I popped over to Amanda’s with a warm pear galette, chocolate crisp bars and freshly squeezed blood orange juice. Amanda adorned her home in jasmine, ranunculus and paper-whites (my favorite). The smells were intoxicating. Caramelized notes from the galette, layered in sweet jasmine enveloped the kitchen air. And for a minute the mingling aromas felt like a sweet dream where things are quiet, peaceful and all there was to focus on were flowers, food and a good friend. A perfect Sunday brunch. And since I’d love for you to have that kind of a Sunday, flowers and galettes included, I’ve shared the recipe and snapped a few photos of those lovely flowers.

Enjoy…

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients for the Sweet Pear Galette

For the Crust:

- 1 and 1/4 cups spelt flour

- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar

- ¼ cup coconut oil

- 6 tablespoons ice water

- pinch of sea salt

- zest of 1 small lemon 

For the Filling:

- 2-3 red pears

- 1 tablespoon spelt flour

-3 tablespoons coconut sugar

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon ginger

- pinch of sea salt

- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Instructions:

Start by preparing the dough crust. Mix all the dry (crust) ingredients into a large bowl. Melt the coconut oil and let it cool. Once its cooled pour the oil into the bowl in fourths (pouring and mixing a total of 4 times). With each pour of oil, mix the dough evenly in between your fingers. Then slowly add in the ice water - using the same mixing method with your fingers. Be careful not to over mix. Form a small ball and let it sit in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out into a flat circle (about 12 inches wide). Then mix all the filling ingredients (aside from the coconut oil) into a bowl with the sliced pears. Lay the pear slices into the center of the crust. The gently fold the edges of the crust on top of the outer sides of the pears (like in the photos above). Add small chunks of coconut oil on top of the galette and bake in the oven for 20 minutes on 350F. Enjoy.

I really hope you guys enjoy this recipe. Its a special one. I don't bake often enough and this is hands down a galette to make the second you get your hands on a ripe pear or any fruit you'd like. Its delicious and simple - the only two things needed for a relaxing Sunday.

To keep up with Amanda and all the behind scenes of her gorgeous floral designs be sure to catch her on IG: @amandavidmar and www.amandavidmar.com

Thank you for sharing your creations on instagram! Its been so fun seeing your take on a few classics from the blog :) You can find me at #8thandlake.

Lots of love,

xx Marie