Spiced Pear & Caramelized Pecan Peak

 

Ingredients

For the Spiced Pears:

3 ripe Bosc pears, peeled, cored, and sliced into wedges

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Caramelized Pecans:

1/2 cup raw pecan halves

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/4 tsp flaky sea salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

For the Whipped Mascarpone Peak:

1 cup mascarpone cheese, chilled

1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

2 tbsp powdered sugar

1/2 tsp orange zest

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and

add sliced pears, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger.

Cook the pears for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally,

until tender and the juices have thickened into a syrup;

stir in vanilla and set aside to cool slightly.

In a separate small non-stick skillet, combine pecans,

maple syrup, sea salt, and cayenne over medium-low

heat.

Stir the pecans constantly for 3 to 5 minutes until the

syrup crystallizes and coats the nuts, then transfer to

parchment paper to cool and harden.

In a medium bowl, whisk the mascarpone, heavy cream,

powdered sugar, and orange zest until stiff peaks form.

To assemble, place a generous spoonful of warm spiced

pears in a bowl or on a plate.

Top the pears with a tall "peak" of the whipped

mascarpone.

Finish by pressing the caramelized pecans into the

cream and drizzling with the remaining pear syrup from

the pan.