2tablespoonsunsalted buttermelted plus more for the pan
2tablespoonslight brown sugar
½teaspooncinnamon
¼cupmaple syrup(60ml)
1teaspoonvanilla extract
granola or chopped nuts(optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F. Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
If using pears with a firm skin like Bosc, peel them. Otherwise, leave the skin on. Cut the pears in half lengthwise, leaving the stems on for visual presentation if desired. Use a melon baller or a small spoon to scoop out the cores.
Place the pear halves in the baking dish and brush all over with the melted butter. Sprinkle the cut sides evenly with sugar and cinnamon. Stir together the maple syrup and vanilla and drizzle all over the pears. Fill the centers with granola, if using.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until soft and the sugar has made a caramelized sauce in the pan. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or toasted nuts, and the caramel drizzled on top.
Notes
When preparing the baked pears, you can remove the pear stems or leave them on for a prettier presentation.
You can use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar for deeper caramel and molasses flavors.
Avoid using too small pears, as they shrink a little as they bake in the oven.
You can line the baking dish with some parchment to make cleaning up easier.
For extra caramelized fruit, once drizzled with maple syrup, flip the pears cut-side down and bake for 30 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Do not discard the liquid at the bottom of the baking dish! Drizzle it over your pears before serving.