Description
Delight in the comforting warmth of stewed pears infused with aromatic cinnamon and sweet vanilla. This simple yet elegant dessert combines tender pears simmered gently in a lightly sweetened spiced syrup, perfect for a cozy treat or a light, fruity finish to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 4 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into quarters or chunks
Stewing Liquid
- 250 ml water
- 25 g brown sugar
- 2 small cinnamon sticks or ½-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ vanilla bean, split open and seeds scraped out
- Juice of ½ lemon (to sprinkle over the pears)
Instructions
- Prepare vanilla bean: Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Use half the bean and add both seeds and pod to the pot for maximum flavor infusion.
- Make simmering syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and the vanilla seeds and pod. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to fully dissolve the sugar.
- Prepare pears: While the syrup heats, peel, core, and quarter the pears. Immediately sprinkle them with fresh lemon juice to prevent browning and maintain a fresh appearance.
- Add pears to syrup: Place the prepared pears into the simmering syrup, making sure they are mostly submerged. Add a little extra water if necessary to cover the pears completely.
- Simmer pears: Cook the pears gently over low heat for 5 to 15 minutes based on their ripeness, stirring occasionally. They are ready when a knife slides through easily with minimal resistance.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the stewed pears warm or at room temperature, savoring the rich blend of cinnamon and vanilla flavors.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears for the best texture; overly soft pears may disintegrate during cooking.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying the amount of brown sugar to taste.
- For a smoother syrup, remove the cinnamon sticks and vanilla pod before serving.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or yogurt for a more indulgent dessert.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
