Baked Pears with Coconut Cream, Toasted Walnuts & Dark Chocolate Drizzle
Autumn is such a beautiful season! It’s the perfect transition between summer and winter. It’s one of the seasons that brings the fruits and veggies that we all love so much. Apples, pears, grapes, plums, pumpkins, and so many more. Baking should be more like a sport during this season if you ask me. :)
How do you pick and choose from all the goodness of the land? There is one solution. Bake a lot! Haha!
Speaking of baking, I debated quite a bit on what to bake this season for you guys. I do have some fall baking plans for the lovely October coming up, and the slow (I hope) transition to the winter months.
First off, I debated – apples or pears. Pears won first place. I love apples, but I find pears more enjoyable, juicier, aromatic. I really get excited when I see pears at the market. I get the most excited when I find the Red Anjou pears. Oh, they’re so beautiful. That burgundy read gets me every time. Their texture is the best in baking, poaching or grilling, or added to pies.
Since I was looking to make a quick evening dessert, I went for baked pears. I find that broiling fruits or veggies is faster, and the texture keeps better. Broiling is mainly cooking food under high, direct heat for a shorter period. In a matter of five, ten, or fifteen minutes the most, your veggies or fruits are ready. The best part of broiling fruits is the caramelization that is obtained under the direct heat. Sugar is not needed unless you’re looking to enhance the process. The fruit’s natural sugars are working out in our favour and caramelize so nicely on top.
The same goes for nuts or seeds. Roasting or toasting them in the oven brings out a better result. Toasting them in a skillet can turn into a fail sometimes. They burn faster and become bitter if you’re not careful. The oven does a much better job, setting up an even temperature, and gradually toasting the nuts. Just be careful to not over roast the nuts. Walnuts, cashews, almonds don’t need more than 15 minutes, including the tossing process half-way through.
All the flavours that I chose to add to this dessert complement each other and create a balanced taste and texture. Pears are soft, naturally sweet and aromatic. Walnuts are slightly sweet to bitter, with buttery earthy tones, and crunchy texture. Lastly, the addition of whipped coconut cream to the pear-walnut combo gives this dessert a silky, elegant feel, topped by a decadent dark chocolate drizzle.
The best part of this dessert is that is can be served either warm or cold. My favourite way to eat the leftovers is for breakfast with cereal on top. Nothing more to add, just your favourite cereal, and a warm cup of tea or coffee on the side. Dessert and breakfast in one meal. How doesn’t want that? :)
Hope you’ve enjoyed this Soulfully Tasty recipe, my friends! It’s a simple, quick and full of flavour dessert and breakfast meal option that will satisfy you guaranteed.
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XO
T
