Cinnamon and Ginger Spiced Pear Buttermilk Cobbler

Steps

1. 1Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. 2For the filling, peel and core the pears and cut into small wedges.
3. 3Place pears in a heavy-based saucepan set over a medium-low heat.
4. 4Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, lemon zest and juice.
5. 5Cook for 10 minutes or until pears have softened, stirring every now and then.
6. 6Sprinkle in the cornflour and cook for another minute. Set aside to cool.
7. 7Grease a 1.6L baking dish with butter.
8. 8For the batter, place self raising flour, caster sugar and bi-carb soda into a mixing bowl and stir.
9. 9Add butter and rub in with fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
10. 10Add buttermilk and vanilla and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
11. 11Tip the pears and their juices into the buttered baking dish.
12. 12Top with spoonfuls of the batter, leaving gaps here and there.
13. 13Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
14. 14Serve hot or warm with cold dollop cream.
15. 15Note: Cooking time for pears will vary depending on their level of ripeness.