The crisp-cold weather is definitely here and for some reason I crave warm and filling desserts. So on my recent trip to the farmers’ market I picked up a few ravishing pears that smelled oh-so delightful. In search for the perfect pear recipe, I discovered two that I loved. So what a girl to do?

I combined them into one and voilà! Here is my take on roasted pears with two of my loves: the delicious maple syrup and scrumptious vanilla. Doesn’t that sound like a perfect pairing?

The key to this being an awesome autumn treat is that the sweetness of maple syrup shouldn’t overwhelm the natural sourness of pears and the combination of the two should allow the vanilla to shine through as well.

The whole thing turned out better than I anticipated and honestly saying, it felt a bit fancy which made me think, that it could make a wonderful dinner party treat.

I also read that roasted pears go great with proscuitto de Parma or serrano ham; as an accompaniment for Thanksgiving turkey instead of cranberry sauce or even as a side dish to roasted chicken, pork or ham. Can’t wait to experiment more. I’ll keep you posted, but for now, enjoy!

(Big thanks to Deb – Smitten Kitchen and Natalie – The SoHo for the inspiration)

Maple and Vanilla Roasted Pears

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4 from 1 review

Author: Diana Mieczan
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

These roasted pears are a delightful autumn dessert, combining the rich flavors of maple syrup and vanilla with the natural tartness of pears.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1/2 cup maple syrup
1 vanilla bean
1 1/2 pounds (or 6 smaller or 4 larger) pears
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons (or 28 grams) unsalted butter
A bit of brown sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup and water.
Split the vanilla bean lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds to the maple-water mixture, stirring to combine.
Peel the pears, cut them in half, and remove the cores.
Place the pears in a baking dish, cut side up, and drizzle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Pour the maple syrup mixture over the pears, ensuring they are well coated.
Dot each pear half with a small piece of butter and sprinkle lightly with brown sugar.
Roast in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, basting occasionally with the syrup, until the pears are tender and golden.
Serve warm, drizzled with the pan juices.

Notes

The roasting time might vary due to the pear size. Roasted pears pair well with prosciutto or serrano ham, and can be served as an accompaniment to Thanksgiving turkey or as a side dish with roasted chicken, pork, or ham. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American