- 85g/3oz unsalted butter, plus 1 tbsp melted butter for brushing
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 large free-range eggs
- 55g/2oz caster sugar
- 2 tsp soft brown sugar
- 1 vanilla pod, seeds only
- pinch salt
- 85g/3oz plain white flour, plus extra for dusting
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 55g/2oz butter
- 2 pears, peeled and cut into small dice
- 2 tbsp honey
- 150ml/5fl oz sweet white wine
- In a heavy-based saucepan, melt the 85g/3oz butter and 2 tablespoons honey together gently, then set aside.
- Put the eggs in a large bowl, then add the caster sugar, brown sugar, vanilla seeds and salt. Whisk until doubled in size.
- Sieve together the flour and baking powder. Carefully fold the flour into the egg mixture using a large metal spoon.
- Gently pour the melted butter and honey down the side of the bowl and carefully fold it in. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Brush 12 madeleine moulds with a little melted butter, then dust them with flour.
- Put the batter into a piping bag with a 1.5cm/½in plain nozzle fitted. Pipe a fat, solid line down the centre of each mould, being careful not to overfill it.
- Bake for 5-8 minutes, depending on size, until golden-brown. Keep your eye on them as they cook quickly. Take the madeleines out of moulds immediately and set aside to cool on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, for the pears, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the pears and then the honey and wine. Poach for 5-10 minutes, or until the pears are just cooked, then remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and put to one side.
- Increase the heat and reduce the cooking liquor down in volume until it becomes a syrup. Return the pears to the pan to coat them in the syrup. Serve the pears with the madeleines.