Ginger Baked Pear Dessert (Printable Version)

Tender pears infused with ginger and citrus, baked to a caramelized finish for cozy enjoyment.

# Ingredient List:

01 - 4 ripe but firm pears, halved and cored

02 - Zest and juice of 1 orange

03 - 3 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)

04 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

05 - 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely grated

06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (or vegan alternative)

09 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.

02 - Place the pear halves cut side up in a baking dish.

03 - In a small bowl, combine honey, brown sugar, grated ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, and orange juice.

04 - Evenly spoon the mixture over the pear halves.

05 - Dot each pear half with small pieces of butter.

06 - Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans over the pears if using.

07 - Bake for 30 minutes, basting once or twice with the pan juices, until pears are tender and caramelized.

08 - Serve warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt.

01 -

It rescues fruit that's teetering on the edge of too ripe and turns it into something guests will ask about.
The ginger cuts through the sweetness in a way that feels bright instead of cloying, and the whole thing bakes itself while you do other things.

02 -

If your pears are too soft, they'll collapse into syrupy mush, so err on the side of firm and let the oven do the softening.
Basting halfway through isn't optional, it's the difference between dry pears and ones that glisten and taste like they've been simmering in spiced honey.

03 -

Use a shallow baking dish rather than a deep one, it helps the pears caramelize instead of steaming in their own juices.
If the syrup looks thin after baking, pour it into a small saucepan and simmer it on the stovetop for a few minutes until it thickens, then spoon it back over the pears before serving.