Roasted Pear and Apple Cobbler

Serves 12–16 / From Tory McPhail, executive chef, Commander’s Palace, New Orleans. “I’ve always known that New Orleans is the place where I want to be,” says McPhail, who started his career in the Big Easy more than ten years ago. At Commander’s Palace, McPhail serves this harvest-fruit cobbler sweetened with sugar-cane syrup produced by a local farmer, but pure maple syrup also works beautifully. If pears or apples are not available in your area, use fruit that’s at its peak of season—“whatever’s ripe and full of flavor.”

4-6 pears, peeled and diced
4-6 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar-cane or pure maple syrup
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced small
2-1/4 cups low-fat or nonfat buttermilk
1/2 cup sugar-cane or pure maple syrup

Streusel Topping
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, finely diced
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
Powdered sugar and vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 450º. In a large bowl, combine diced pears and apples with salt and 2 tablespoons syrup. Mix gently. Place fruit on baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes, until fruit is caramelized on all sides.

2. While fruit is roasting, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in another mixing bowl and blend. Add diced butter and blend together, making sure all cubes are separated. Add buttermilk and fold together until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. Batter should be the consistency of thick pancake batter.

3. In a separate bowl, combine all streusel ingredients and mix together by hand until crumbly.

4. Reduce oven heat to 350º. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread batter evenly in pan. Remove warm fruit from oven and place evenly on top of batter. Sprinkle streusel topping over fruit. Bake cobbler at 350º for 20–25 minutes.

5. When cobbler looks golden and hot, remove from oven. Pour remaining 1/2 cup syrup over cobbler and let cool for 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream.