Photo by Photo courtesy of McCormickGourmet.com

I have a big weakness for baked fruit (give me pie over cake any day), so this recipe for baked pears with toasted almonds and cranberries drizzled with white chocolate has a special spot right at the front of my recipe book.

It's sweet yet tangy, spicy yet subtle, healthy yet...well, you get the point. As far as holiday desserts go, this one's a winner because of its gorgeous simplicity. Once the pears are baked, it only takes a few minutes to put together, but it looks as if it came from the kitchen of a fancy restaurant. Impressing your guests -- and yourself! -- has rarely been so easy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons McCormick Gourmet Collection Cinnamon, Saigon
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Nutmeg, Ground
1/4 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Cloves, Ground
4 firm, ripe pears, such as Bosc or Anjou, halved and cored
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/3 cup heavy cream
4 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a small bowl. Place pear halves, cut side up, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with some of the brown sugar mixture.
2. Bake 30 minutes or until pears are tender, spooning half of the remaining brown sugar mixture over pears halfway through baking. Cool slightly.
3. Bring cream just to boil in small saucepan on medium heat. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; stir until chocolate is melted and sauce is smooth.
4. To serve, place a pear half on each of 8 dessert plates. Stir remaining brown sugar mixture in baking dish. Spoon over pear halves. Sprinkle with almonds and cranberries. Drizzle generously with white chocolate sauce. Serve immediately.

Test Kitchen Tip: Stir 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Saigon Cinnamon into the white chocolate sauce.

This recipe was created by Cat Cora, Bon Appetit Executive Chef, for the McCormick Gourmet Collection.

Nutrition Information Per Serving
Calories: 381
Sodium: 65mg
Fat: 17g
Carbohydrates: 54g
Cholesterol: 32mg
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 3g

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-- Sara Hennessey

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