Spiced Vanilla Scented Pear (Printable Version)

Comforting porridge with warm spices, ripe pears, and a hint of vanilla for a cozy morning.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free if needed)

→ Dairy or Alternatives

02 - 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based such as almond, oat, or soy)

→ Fruits

03 - 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and diced

→ Sweeteners

04 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

→ Spices & Flavors

05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - Pinch of salt

→ Toppings (optional)

10 - Chopped toasted nuts such as walnuts or pecans
11 - Extra diced pear
12 - Drizzle of maple syrup
13 - Sprinkle of cinnamon

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, mix oats, milk, diced pears, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
02 - Heat over medium until the mixture reaches a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
03 - Continue cooking for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until oats are creamy and pears soften.
04 - Taste and adjust sweetness or spices as desired.
05 - Divide between two bowls, topping with optional nuts, extra diced pear, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
06 - Serve warm and enjoy immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 25 minutes but tastes like you've been tending it all morning.
  • The spices are gentle enough not to feel medicinal, just cozy enough to make you want seconds.
  • Pears soften into the oats in a way that feels almost luxurious for a weekday breakfast.
02 -
  • Stir often or the bottom will stick and ruin the whole batch—I learned this the hard way on a Tuesday.
  • Don't skip tasting pears before you start; an underripe pear won't soften into creaminess, only into hardness.
  • The spices bloom as it cooks, so start conservative and adjust at the end rather than overseasoning at the start.
03 -
  • Fresh vanilla extract makes an enormous difference here because you're not cooking it long enough to burn away the subtlety.
  • Toast your own nuts instead of buying them pre-roasted—five minutes in a dry pan on medium heat fills your kitchen with possibility and makes the whole breakfast taste intentional.

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