Roasted Pears with Maple Pecan Streusel

With a few pantry items and a couple of Bosc pears you can have a cozy warm dessert in under an hour. Bosc pears are a wonderful fruit for roasting or baking because they hold their shape well while their earthy flavors are enhanced with warm spices and nuts. This recipe serves four but can easily be doubled for a larger family. Serve these roasted pears warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top, or enjoy them for breakfast with a little yogurt.

YIELD: 4 servings

Recipe created by: Meg Raines

Ingredients

  • 4 ripe, but firm Bosc pears
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of salt

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a small baking dish with nonstick spray.
  2. Cut the pears in half and remove the core with a melon-baller or spoon. Then cut a small piece off of the back side of the pear halves so they will sit flat in the pan. Place each pear half in the baking dish, cut side up, making sure they are not touching.
  3. In a medium bowl whisk the melted butter and maple syrup together; brush each pear half with the butter mixture. Add the remaining ingredients (oats, pecans, cinnamon and a small pinch of salt) to the remaining butter mixture and mix well. Mound some of the oat mixture on top of each pear half. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the pears are warmed through and slightly tender. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, place a sheet of tinfoil over the top for the remainder of the baking time.
  4. Serve warm with ice cream or yogurt. Cool leftovers and store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat before serving.