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Four cinnamon pear halves in a ceramic dish, glossy maple glaze pooling in the centers under warm light.

Gooey Baked Cinnamon Pears with Maple Butter Glaze

Halved pears baked with butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon until tender and caramelized, ready in about 45 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 225
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 firm pears (Bosc or Anjou) pears, about 800 g total; halved and cored
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter (42 g); melted, plus more for greasing
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup (60 g)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar (24 g)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg optional
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup rolled oats or chopped pecans (30 g); optional topping
  • vanilla ice cream for serving; optional

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Grease a 9x13 inch / 23x33 cm baking dish with a little butter.
  2. Halve the 4 pears lengthwise and scoop out the core with a melon baller or small spoon, leaving a shallow well in each half.
  3. Arrange the pear halves cut side up in the baking dish in a single layer, without crowding.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and salt until smooth.
  5. Brush or spoon the butter-maple mixture generously over the pear halves, letting some pool in the cored centers.
  6. Scatter the oats or pecans over the pears now if using.
  7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, basting once with the pan juices at the 15-minute mark, until a paring knife slides into the thickest part with almost no resistance.
  8. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes for deeper caramelization if you like, watching closely since the sugar glaze burns fast.
  9. Let the pears rest for 5 minutes, then spoon the pan juices over the top. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • Use a 9x13 inch baking dish so pear halves sit in a single layer.
  • Baste pears once at the 15-minute mark for even glaze coverage.
  • Extra ripe pears bake faster, start checking at 20 minutes.
  • Broiling is optional, watch closely since the sugar glaze burns fast.