Braised Pears in Caramel Sauce
Braised Pears in Caramel Sauce
This simple dessert features pears soaked in a creamy caramel sauce and braised to sumptuous perfection. Sprinkling sugar on raw pears draws out their juice while baking, creating a natural syrup that caramelizes after adding cream.
Ingredients
- 2 Bartlett pears (not too ripe), peeled, cut in half, and cored
- 2 Tablespoons water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup heavy cream or full fat coconut milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons flaky salt
- Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving, if desired
Instructions
Preheat a medium-sized skillet on medium-high heat. Add the water, brown sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla paste, and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil and place the pears cut-side down on top of the syrup. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes until golden brown on the bottom, then add the heavy cream. Continue to simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, basting occasionally, until pears are soft and golden.
Place on four individual serving plates, sprinkle each with the crunchy salt, and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.