Description
A quick, elegant holiday dessert made with canned pears simmered in a rich vanilla bourbon syrup with warm spices. It’s naturally gluten-free, requires only 15 minutes of total time, and pairs perfectly with ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (29 oz / 822g) canned pear halves, drained and patted dry
- 1/2 cup (120ml) bourbon
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) raw honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3–4 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter, cold
Instructions
- Drain the canned pears and pat them dry with a paper towel to ensure they absorb the syrup well.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the bourbon, honey, vanilla bean paste, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
- Place over medium-high heat and whisk gently until the honey is dissolved. Bring to a gentle simmer, avoiding a violent boil.
- Gently lower the pear halves into the simmering syrup. Spoon some syrup over the top.
- Simmer gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring very occasionally, until the syrup reduces and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove the pan from heat. Remove the whole spices using a slotted spoon or strainer.
- Stir in the cold butter until melted and the sauce is glossy.
- Plate the warm pears and drizzle generously with the syrup. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt.
Notes
Use cold butter at the end to create a glossy emulsion. Do not rush the reduction; keep heat at a low simmer to prevent burning. The recipe is naturally gluten-free. For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup and butter with vegan butter. For a non-alcoholic version, replace bourbon with apple cider or grape juice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pear half with 2 t
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 2
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 1
Keywords: canned pears, bourbon dessert, holiday dessert, easy dessert, gluten-free dessert, spiced pears, vanilla bourbon syrup, quick dessert