Baked Pears

Baked pears are a delicious dessert and relatively simple to prepare. Here’s how to make them.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but still firm pears
• 4 tablespoons of honey, preferably wildflower or acacia
• The juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise (optional)
• 2 cloves
• Water as needed
• A pinch of ground cinnamon, for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash the pears, peel them keeping the stem attached. Cut a small slice from the base of each pear so that it can stand upright.
3. Lightly peel the upper part of the pears around the stem, so they can better absorb the flavors during cooking.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pears to prevent browning.
5. Take a baking dish and arrange the pears inside, then add the cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves among the pears.
6. Pour the honey over the pears, making sure to coat them well.
7. Add water to the baking dish, up to about one centimeter in height.
8. Cover the baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil and bake the pears for about 30 minutes.
9. After this time, remove the foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes or until the pears are tender but still holding their shape.
10. Once cooked, let them cool slightly for a few minutes and then serve with a little of the cooking juices and a dusting of cinnamon.

Italian Variation: For a typically Italian liqueur variation, you can drizzle the pears with a little sweet wine such as Vin Santo or a fruit liqueur before baking. This addition will give an intense aroma and enrich the flavor of the dessert.

Fun Fact

This dish can be served both as a dessert and as an appetizer; it pairs very well with blue cheeses like gorgonzola, creating a much-appreciated sweet and savory combination.