Description
This Caramelized Pear Oatmeal Bowl is a warm, comforting breakfast featuring tender, sweet pears caramelized in butter and brown sugar, served atop creamy quick-cook oats. Enhanced with cinnamon and optional chopped walnuts, this recipe is easy to prepare and perfect for a nourishing start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Pear and Toppings
- 1 pear, ripe yet firm
- 1 tablespoon butter (or vegan butter substitute)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Additional brown sugar and cinnamon, to taste
- Handful of chopped walnuts (optional)
Oatmeal
- 1 cup quick-cook oats
- 2 cups water (or as per package directions)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Pears: Rinse and slice the pear into thin wedges to prepare for caramelizing.
- Melt Butter: Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until fully melted and beginning to bubble.
- Cook Pears: Add the pear slices to the melted butter and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and become tender.
- Add Brown Sugar: Sprinkle the brown sugar over the pears and stir to coat evenly. Continue cooking for another minute until a rich caramel-like sauce forms around the fruit.
- Add Cinnamon and Remove from Heat: Stir in the ground cinnamon for warm spice and remove the saucepan from heat to prevent burning the caramel.
- Prepare the Oatmeal: In a separate pot, bring the water to a rolling boil to prepare for cooking the oats.
- Cook Oats: Add the quick-cook oats to the boiling water, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, following package directions until creamy and tender.
- Season Oatmeal: Mix in additional brown sugar and cinnamon to taste, adjusting the sweetness and spice level to your preference.
- Assemble the Bowls: Spoon the prepared oatmeal into a serving bowl.
- Top with Caramelized Pears: Arrange the warm caramelized pear slices on top of the oatmeal and drizzle any remaining caramel sauce from the pan over the bowl.
- Add Walnuts (Optional): Sprinkle a handful of chopped walnuts over the bowl for extra crunch and nutty flavor, if desired.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy the bowl while hot for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- For a vegan version, use vegan butter substitute and ensure the brown sugar is vegan-friendly.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar according to your taste.
- Swapping water for milk or plant-based milk will create creamier oatmeal.
- Use fresh, crisp pears for optimal caramelization and texture.
- Chopped walnuts add texture, but can be omitted for nut-free diets.
