Description

Delicious Cinnamon Maple Baked Pears are a warm, comforting dessert perfect for fall or any cozy occasion. Ripe pears are halved and baked with a luscious drizzle of maple syrup, fragrant cinnamon and nutmeg, crunchy nuts, and a touch of butter and vanilla for a rich, melt-in-your-mouth treat. Serve them warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruit

4 ripe pears, halved and cored

Maple Syrup Mixture

1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings

1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Optional: whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for gentle baking.
Prepare Pears: Place the pear halves cut side up in a baking dish, arranging them evenly to cook uniformly.
Mix Syrup and Spices: In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined to create the flavorful syrup.
Drizzle Pears: Evenly drizzle the maple syrup mixture over the pears, ensuring each half is well coated with the spiced sweetness.
Add Nuts: Sprinkle the chopped walnuts or pecans over the pears to add texture and a nutty flavor.
Dot with Butter: Place small pieces of unsalted butter on top of each pear half to enrich the flavor and help with caramelization.
Add Vanilla: Drizzle the vanilla extract over the pears to enhance the overall sweetness and aroma.
Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to promote even cooking and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pears are tender and pierced easily with a fork.
Caramelize Topping: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes to allow the tops to caramelize slightly, creating a golden finish.
Cool Slightly: Let the baked pears cool for a few minutes to settle flavors and ensure safe serving temperature.
Serve: Serve the pears warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special dessert.

Notes

Choose ripe but firm pears for the best texture after baking.
You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds based on preference.
For a vegan version, replace butter with coconut oil and omit whipped cream or use vegan alternatives.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and gently reheated.
Adjust the amount of maple syrup based on the sweetness of your pears.