Smith Berry Barn

butter

Caramelized Spiced Pears

October 10, 2020
Caramelized Spiced Pears
Print Recipe
This is a very easy preparation for fresh, ripe pears and creates an elegant dessert with very little effort.
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Caramelized Spiced Pears
Print Recipe
This is a very easy preparation for fresh, ripe pears and creates an elegant dessert with very little effort.
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Ingredients
  • 4 Tbs butter
  • 4 each fresh, ripe pears peeled, cored and sliced into quarters
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • vanilla ice cream
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Prepare pears by peeling, coring and slicing into quarters.
  2. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add pears to the melted butter, cut side down, arranging them carefully in the pan. Cook the pears until they begin to brown, but don't let them burn (approximately 3-4 minutes).
  5. Turn each slice with tongs, placing the other cut side down and brown again in the same way (approximately 3-4 minutes).
  6. Finally turn the pears once more so that the unbrowned side is facing down.
  7. While browing the final side, add the sugar mixture and swirl pan to incorporate into the sizzling butter. Be careful during this stage and be prepared to work quickly.
  8. Add the vanilla extract and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the liquid begins to caramelize, turning a medium brown and thickened.
  9. Transfer pears to individual bowls. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle caramel sauce over entire dish. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Pears may be cut into thinner slices for a different presentation (we like to use ours on dessert pizza!), but be cautious not to over-cook the pears.  They burn easily!

Spiced Pear Cobbler

October 9, 2020
Spiced Pear Cobbler
Print Recipe
This is a perfect dessert to enjoy in the fall, featuring fresh, ripe pears and seasonal spices. Best served warm with vanilla ice cream!
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 30 minutes
Spiced Pear Cobbler
Print Recipe
This is a perfect dessert to enjoy in the fall, featuring fresh, ripe pears and seasonal spices. Best served warm with vanilla ice cream!
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Filling
  • 3 Tbs butter
  • 8 each fresh, ripe pears peeled, cored and cut into pieces
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup corn starch
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
For the Topping
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter chilled and cut into pieces
  • 1/4 cup half & half
Servings: servings
Instructions
To prepare the Filling
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix all dry ingredients in bowl and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Add pears and stir to coat.
  4. Add the sugar mixture and stir to coat pears. Continue cooking and stirring carefully until sugar mixture is dissolved and becomes thickened and bubbly, approximately 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the vanilla and remove from heat. Transfer pear mixture to a 2 quart baking dish and place in preheated oven while you prepare the topping dough. (Remove from oven after 10 minutes or as soon as topping is ready to be added)
To prepare the Topping
  1. Place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir to combine.
  2. Add the diced butter and mix with a hand-held pastry blender until well mixed and the butter is in pea-sized pieces. (You may use a fork or your fingers for this step if you prefer)
  3. Add the half & half to the mixing bowl and stir gently until the mixture just comes together and resembles a soft dough.
  4. Remove the baking dish from the oven if it's not already out. Carefully drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the pear mixture.
  5. Place the baking dish back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbling.
  6. Once removed from the oven, allow to cool slightly. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

Skillet Berry Cobbler

August 11, 2018
Skillet Berry Cobbler
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes (total)
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes (total)
Skillet Berry Cobbler
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes (total)
Servings Prep Time
6-8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes (total)
Ingredients
Ingredients for Filling:
  • 4 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 fresh lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbs cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbs butter (to be melted in pan)
Ingredients for Topping:
  • 1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 Tbs sugar (plus extra for top of biscuits)
  • 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 Tbs chilled unsalted butter (cubed into small pieces)
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream (1/2 c for dough, remaining for top of biscuits)
Servings: servings
Instructions
To prepare the filling:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place 1 Tbs butter in 10" cast iron skillet and place in oven to melt butter while preparing berry mixture.
  3. Place all berries in large mixing bowl. Toss gently with lemon juice and zest.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch. Pour over berry mixture and toss gently to combine and coat berries evenly.
  5. Once oven is preheated, remove skillet from oven and carefully pour in the berry mixture. Be careful...your pan will be hot! Place skillet with berry mixture back in oven to heat up while making the cobbler topping.
To prepare the topping:
  1. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  2. Add cubed, chilled butter to flour mixture and cut together with pastry cutter (and/or hands) until butter pieces are the size of small peas and the mixture is coarse, but somewhat lumpy.
  3. Add 1/2 cup heavy cream to flour mixture and mix gently until dough just comes together and no dry bits remain (be careful not to over-mix).
  4. Using clean, dry hands, form 6-7 individual biscuits with the dough and set aside until skillet comes out of oven.
To finish baking:
  1. Remove skillet from oven and raise heat to 400 degrees.
  2. Carefully place biscuits on top of berry mixture in skillet. Be careful...your pan will be hot!
  3. Using a pastry brush, brush remaining heavy cream on top of each biscuit and sprinkle with sugar.
  4. When oven comes to temp, place skillet back in oven for approximately 25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and filling is bubbly.
  5. Once cobbler is out of the oven, allow to cool slightly and serve with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Baked Apples with Crisp Topping

October 12, 2016
Course
Baked Apples with Crisp Topping
Print Recipe
Part 'baked apple', part 'apple crisp'...but no matter what you call it, it tastes delicious! And it's easy to make! Many of our apple varieties are great for baking. We like Jonathan, Jonagold, Honeycrisp or Empire, just to name a few. Special thanks to long-time staffer, Teanna, and neice, Summer, for their help developing this yummy recipe!
Servings Prep Time
12 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
12 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 45 minutes
Baked Apples with Crisp Topping
Print Recipe
Part 'baked apple', part 'apple crisp'...but no matter what you call it, it tastes delicious! And it's easy to make! Many of our apple varieties are great for baking. We like Jonathan, Jonagold, Honeycrisp or Empire, just to name a few. Special thanks to long-time staffer, Teanna, and neice, Summer, for their help developing this yummy recipe!
Servings Prep Time
12 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
12 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
45 minutes 45 minutes
Ingredients
Start with
  • 6 medium apples
  • 1 cup apple cider (sub water if necessary)
  • 12 Tbs raspberry rhubarb jam (Smith Berry Barn brand is the best!)
For the Topping
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup oatmeal
  • 1/4 cup hazelnuts (chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Servings: servings
Instructions
Prep the apples
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Core each apple and slice in half length-wise.
  3. Scoop out a bit more of the center of each cored area to create a small well for the jam.
  4. Fill each well with approximately 1 Tbs jam.
  5. Place apples (cut side up) in a 9"x13" baking dish.
  6. Pour cider (or water) into bottom of baking dish.
Prep the Crisp
  1. Mix all remaining ingredients with a pastry blender until blended and crumbly. A food processor will work, as well, but be careful not to over-mix.
  2. Evenly distribute the topping mixture on top of each apple half, mounding and pressing lightly to keep it in place.
  3. Bake 35-45 minutes, until apples are softened and topping is golden-brown. Test for doneness by piercing apple with a fork. Baking times will vary depending on the variety of apple you choose.
  4. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Notes

This recipe can easily be cut in half using an 8"x8" baking dish and half the apples. ??However, we recommend preparing the entire topping recipe, so you can refrigerate or freeze the other half to use at a later date.

Baked Apples

October 11, 2016
Course
Baked Apples
Print Recipe
This is an easy dessert that can be modified with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Or, use your creativity for new flavor combinations. This basic recipe can be followed with nearly any apple variety and any filling combination (baking times may vary).
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 20-30 minutes
Cook Time
30-40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 20-30 minutes
Cook Time
30-40 minutes
Baked Apples
Print Recipe
This is an easy dessert that can be modified with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Or, use your creativity for new flavor combinations. This basic recipe can be followed with nearly any apple variety and any filling combination (baking times may vary).
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 20-30 minutes
Cook Time
30-40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 20-30 minutes
Cook Time
30-40 minutes
Ingredients
Start with:
  • 4 large apples (see variety notes below)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
For the filling:
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp crystallized ginger (finely chopped - optional)
  • 1/4 cup hazelnuts (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup oatmeal (or try dried cranberries, raisins, etc)
  • 1 Tbs butter (divided)
Servings: servings
Instructions
To start:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Remove the core from each apple and place in an 8"x8" baking dish. You may wish to core out a little extra apple to make room for more filling.
  3. Pour apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish.
For the filling:
  1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and generously fill each apple with the filling.
  2. Place a small piece of butter on top of the filling on each apple.
To bake:
  1. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. Check for doneness by piercing the apple with a fork.
  2. Bake for an additional few minutes if still firm towards the center. Different apples will take more or less time depending on the density of the flesh.
To serve:
  1. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Make sure to scoop the extra juices from the baking dish and drizzle over the top of the ice cream.
Recipe Notes

Some of our favorite apples for baking are Jonathan, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Northern Spy and Rome Beauty. ??Visit our Orchard Variety page for more details on each variety.