Delicious & Simple Holiday Desserts

By: iTopTopics Staff

Dessert Recipe: Poached Pears

Photo by Annie Spratt

Ingredients:

• 1 quart water

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 cup dry white wine

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 3 crushed cardamom pods

• 1 pod from a vanilla bean, scraped vanilla bean and seeds

• 6 whole peeled firm (not too ripe) Anjou or Bosc pears

• Crème fraiche & roasted almond slices (optional)

Combine water, sugar, honey, wine, vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks in a large pot and bring to a simmer.

Add the pears into the pot; make sure they are all soaked in the poaching liquid.

Cook for 30 to 40 minutes or till the pears are translucent from the outside and tender to fork.

Remove the pear from the pot and set aside.

Continue cook down the liquid till thickening; drain the poached liquid for sauce

Place the pear on a plate, add a little butter on top; pour the warm sauce on top, served with crème fraiche and slices of roasted almonds.