Almond and Bosc Pear Galette With Cream Cheese and Orange

I came up with this recipe when trying to lose weight, but also fulfill my sweet cravings. I love this pie for many reasons. It's light, healthy, protein-packed, not too sweet and even yummier the next day! Super easy to whip up and did I mention sugar-free? I hope you like it just as much as we did at home :)

Ingredients for the pie crust:

• Almond flour - 1 cup + 1 tbsp
• Whole wheat flour - 1/2 cup
• Non-fat Greek yogurt - 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp (if dough is a little on the dry side)
• Monkfruit sweetener or sugar or sweetener of choice - 1/4 cup
• Unsalted butter - 3 tbsp, cold and cubed
• Orange zest - from 1 large orange
• Baking powder - 3/4 tsp
• Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - a pinch
• Orange extract - 3 to 4 drops, optional

Ingredients for the topping:

• Low fat cream cheese (or regular, either one works) - 3 tbsp
• Bosc pear - 1 and a half, slightly ripe, cored and sliced thin
• Orange segments of 1 orange

Tools and equipment needed:

• Oven
• Large mixing bowl, small bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Sifter or spoon
• Cutting board and knife
• Parchment paper
• Pizza pan or cookie sheet
• Pizza cutter
• Electric beater or spoon

1. In a large mixing bowl, measure out the almond flour, whole wheat flour, Monkfruit sweetener, baking powder and baking soda and salt
2. Give it a quick mix with a spoon to incorporate the dry ingredients
3. Add in the cubed butter, orange extract and orange zest. Start crumbling the butter and flour with your hands
4. Once the butter combines with the flour, it should begin to hold shape when squeezed in your hand (as shown in the picture)
5. Next, add the Greek yogurt and mix to form dough. Add 1 extra tbsp of yogurt if the dough is a little more crumbly

1. In a small bowl, add the cream cheese. With an electric beater or spoon, whip the cream cheese until smooth and spreadable
2. I forgot to take pictures of the pear and orange, but peel the Bosc pear. Core and slice it thinly and set aside.
3. Cut the orange using a knife all around to extract the segments without the pith. Try to cut thick chunks of peel to remove the pith as well
4. Then, cut between each segment so only the segment comes out without the pith. There are videos online that show this step :)

Note: Try to choose a Bosc pear that is slightly ripe. If it's crunchy, cover and cook the slices in a small pan on medium heat with a few teaspoons of water for 5 to 8 minutes until soft.

1. Line a pizza pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper
2. Place the dough in the middle of the paper and begin to press with the bottom of your palm
3. Work your way from inner to outer area of the dough for a unform thickness
4. Continue until the entire crust is of uniform thickness. The edges will be jagged, which is okay. A galette is, infact, organically shaped :)

1. Now for the fun part! Preheat oven to 350F
2. With the back of a spoon or with your fingers, spread a thin layer of whipped cream cheese onto the crust
3. Arrange the pear slices and orange segments as you would like them. There's no right or wrong way. It's all delicious in the end!
4. Start in one section and fold the edge of the crust in towards the center as shown in the 3rd picture
5. Continue folding all around until all the edges are sealed
6. Because this is an almond flour crust, it will be crumbly and you might break off the dough from time to time. This is okay. Just attach it back and press on the edge to seal the bottom of the pie as much as you can
7. Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown
8. Cool for a few minutes before cutting to serve. Slice with a pizza cutter or knife and serve. It's even tastier the next day!

Feel free to use this crust to make berry pies in the summer and apple pie in fall too!

Serve with healthy ice cream if possible!

If you'd like to keep this vegan, you can sub the butter and Greek yogurt for plant based equivalents. I'm sure it will work.