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Quick Canned Pear Halves in Vanilla Syrup

canned pear halves in vanilla syrup - featured image
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Transform humble canned pears into an elegant dessert in under 20 minutes with this spiced vanilla syrup recipe. Perfect for unexpected guests or when you need a quick, impressive sweet treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 strip lemon zest (optional)
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) pear halves in juice or light syrup, drained
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Drain the pears. Open both cans of pear halves and pour them into a colander. Let them drain for about 5 minutes. Pat them gently dry with paper towels. Set aside.
  2. Start the syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar starts to dissolve over medium heat.
  3. Add the aromatics. Drop in the cinnamon stick, star anise, whole cloves, and lemon zest if using. Give everything a gentle stir.
  4. Bring to a simmer. Let the mixture come to a gentle simmer (small bubbles around the edges). Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the vanilla. Remove the pan from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons vanilla extract. Let the syrup sit for 2 minutes so the flavors meld.
  6. Add the pears. Gently place the drained pear halves into the warm syrup using tongs. Arrange them in a single layer if possible. Spoon some syrup over the tops to coat them.
  7. Simmer the pears. Return the pan to low heat. Let the pears warm through for 5-7 minutes, spooning syrup over them occasionally, until the syrup starts to thicken slightly and turns golden amber.
  8. Check for doneness. The pears are ready when heated through and the syrup has reduced by about a quarter. They should be tender but still hold their shape.
  9. Remove the spices. Fish out the cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves with tongs. You can leave one star anise in the serving dish for presentation.
  10. Serve warm or cool. Transfer the pears and syrup to a serving dish. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream, or let cool to room temperature.

Notes

Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation. Don’t overcook the syrup or it will become too thick. Let drained pears sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before adding to hot syrup. Taste the syrup before adding pears and adjust sweetness or spices as needed. Leftover syrup can be used on pancakes, waffles, or in cocktails.

Nutrition

Keywords: canned pears, vanilla syrup, spiced pears, quick dessert, easy dessert, pantry dessert, pear dessert, 20 minute dessert

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/quick-canned-pear-halves-in-vanilla-syrup/