Baked Maple Pears

When I’m in the mood for a healthier fall dessert that’s warm and comforting, I bake pears with the flavors of maple syrup, vanilla, and spice. Some nights wellness looks like a simple, healthier treat after dinner. Other nights it looks like curling up to enjoy the earlier sunset, catching up on reading that nourishes your spirit, and listening to your innate need to relax. Learning to understand and adapt to your true needs throughout the week while also maintaining supportive routines is just one of the vital skills that I help clients with in our wellness sessions.

Bake up this sweet simplicity with the ingredients and steps below. If you’re looking for a light ending to a gathering or would like more than 4 servings, scale this up in a larger dish. For a baked fruit recipe with a crunchy topping, these apples are also one of my favorite fall fruit desserts.

Ingredients

2 almost fully ripe pears such as Anjou
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla paste (or extract)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Apple cider or juice for bottom of dish

How to Make the Baked Pears

Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees.

Halve the pears lengthwise then use a small spoon to remove seeds and the strings that extend through the neck.

Melt the butter then stir in the maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.

Place the pears cut side up in a baking dish or pie plate. Equally distribute the maple mixture in the pockets left by coring, brushing the remainder along the cut side of each pear.

Add enough apple cider or juice for a ½ to ¼ inch layer at bottom of pan. If at any time during baking, the dish looks dry, additional can be added. The cider helps the pears to soften gently and makes a delicious sauce you spoon into the bottom of your serving dishes.

Bake until the pears are tender but not mushy, about 30 minutes. If the pears are ripe, the baking time may be shorter.  The tip of a sharp knife should pierce the pear easily.  Baking time also may vary by the size and variety of pears.

For another pear recipe, try my autumn harvest salad. When you’re in the mood for delicious pear drinks, try my maple pear sparkler (with mocktail and cocktail options) or pear sangria.