Asian spiced pears are warm, cozy, delicately sweetened with the aromatics of lovely star anise, cinnamon and vanilla.
Life is short! Lets start with dessert...
Why you are going to love Asian Spiced Pears
While these lovely Asian spiced pears bake in your oven your whole house smells like a gorgeous bouquet of sweet goodness. Unlike other desserts, this one is only delicately sweet and light.
Chinese New Year is a beautiful time of the year in which family and friends gather. Of course when there is a family gathering that always means there needs to be food and lots of it.
Most Chinese dishes are usually stir fried or steamed. Many Chinese dishes are prepared on top of the stove and usually all of the burners are occupied by woks and steamer baskets and such. It can be a little hectic in the kitchen, so that is why this make ahead and pop in the oven easy dessert recipe, is a winner for any gathering.
However, I like Asian spiced pears best because this dish is gluten-free, egg-free, (dairy-free , if you use coconut whipped topping) diabetic friendly, cardiac friendly and even teenagers love it. However, it tastes like you are eating something very sinful and it is not even chocolate.
What is Star Anise and what does it taste like?
Star anise is a spice used in Chinese cooking and other Asian recipes. Star Anise is shaped like a star and has a very distinctive licorice flavoring. If you are going to the Asian markets to buy star anise it is called "Bat gok" in Cantonese and "Ba jiao" in Mandarin. However, if you cannot find whole star anise, don't fret, as you can substitute some 5 spiced Chinese powder in the recipe instead.
You can use any type of pears you like and can even use nashi (Asian pears) or your favorite apples as well. I actually used both pears and apples in my recipe as with my growing teenage boys I did not know if I was going to have enough pears to go around.
If you do not have an oven, you can also make these on top of the stove by first slightly steaming in your wok. Then place a tad of butter in your wok and fry gently on both sides to give a little caramelized glaze to the pears.
My dear friend Joyce commented on Healthy World Cuisine. Joyce mentioned that a dollop of fresh fat-free yogurt instead of whipping topping would be nice if you are watching your fat intake. This is a fantastic idea! I placed a little sugar alternative and a dash of five spiced powder in my fat-free natural yogurt and placed a dollop on top of my Asian spiced pear and it was heavenly. Thank you Joyce and this recipe is for you....
More Delicious Desserts with Fruit
Coconut Rice Pudding with Cardamon Pears
Grilled Nectarines with Coconut Whipped Cream
Easy Peasy Baked Apples
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Asian Spiced Pears
Ingredients
- pears - 1 whole pear per person (bosc, nashi, or whatever kind you like)
- apples - 1 per person (optional)
- star anise - 5 peices (may susbsitute with 1 teaspoon of 5 spice powder)
- cinnamon - 2 sticks (or 1 teaspoon ground)
- vanilla - 1 teaspoon
- butter - 1 tablespoon (or use dairy free smart spread)
- lemon juice - juice of 1 lemon
- sugar or sugar alternative - 4 packets of sweet n low (agave, honey, brown sugar)
- Homemade Coconut Whipping Cream - optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190 degrees C (325 F)
- Wash pears (apples) and dry. Cut in half. Core the pears by cutting out the step and using a spoon to scoop out the core and seeds.
- Immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the pears (apples) to prevent oxidizing.
- In a small sauce pan put in butter, sugar alternative, star anise, vanilla, and cinnamon, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and heat until aromatic and bubbly.
- Spray a oven proof dish with a little spray oil. Place you pears (apples) with core side up in the pan. Pour the aromatic star anise, vanilla, cinnamon and vanilla sauce over the pears. Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the top if you wish.
- Pop your pears in the oven uncovered for about 30- 40 minutes until fork tender and are slightly carmelized.
- Step 7: Serve your Asian spiced pears on a decorative plate with a dollop of whipped coconut whipping cream or Asian spiced yogurt or plain and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Enjoy warm from the oven or at room temperature.
Bernice says
I love how you added all these wonderful spices to a pear. I am not a big fan of pears -- but with these spices it looks... yummmy!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I really like this dish with apples too. Give it a try with apples and I know you will like it.
Lilly Sue says
Oh WOW, these look beautiful and tasty!! Awesome new site BAM!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Lilly. I am really loving my new theme, as I think the navigation is so much easier. If your in cooler climate now these little pears really do hit the spot hot out of the oven. Guess what? I am off to the market to get some beer as I am preparing to make a grilled "beer butt" chicken tonight. I should have asked you sooner for some suggestion on what kind of beer I should choose... Take Care, BAM
divaofdelicious says
Ok, I almost missed this one. My feed was a bit long. Good thing I didn't!! The photography is fantastic and I bet these lovely treats were scrumptious! Nice one!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you this is quite a little yummy treat without al of the guilt. I think many times my photography is a happy accident but most recently just due to all the data and space it is taking up on my computer I realize I do take quite a few pictures to get those right shots. Take Care, BAM
petit4chocolatier says
This looks delicious. I love the recipe. I have never prepared spiced pears and am definitely going to now. I love the anise stars!! I wonder if I could use sugar in the raw?
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Judy, I know this dessert is not a cupcake but so glad you still like it. That is the beauty of this dessert that it just loves substitutions. Feel free to substitute with raw sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave, palm sugar, or any sweetener you like. We just have family dietary issues and need to watch the glycemic factor so all of my recipes us low glycemic sugar or sugar substitutes. Take care, BAM
Beth says
I have some pears at the back of my counter, and now I know what I'm doing with them! Thanks!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Beth, this is a super quick and easy and cozy little dessert. Great solution for those going over ripe pears on your counter. Take Care, BAM
Joyce Barnes says
Thank you for dedicating this delicious sounding recipe to me, Bam, we will have them for dessert this weekend xx
Healthy World Cuisine says
You are very welcome Joyce. Have a super weekend and I have many more healthy recipes coming your way. Take Care, BAM
ostriche says
And, if you like Italian cooking, please do come and visit me. Ostriche
Healthy World Cuisine says
I love Italian cooking and you have a great little site. Looking forward to keeping in touch. Take care, BAM
ostriche says
They look beautiful and delicious!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you for stopping by. These Asian spiced pears are very easy to make and served warm are a perfect ending to any meal. Take Care, BAM
ostriche says
Thank you! I'll stop by againg soon. F
Ashley @thedrivencook says
Beautiful pears and lovely new site! I love baked pears.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Ashley. Wishing you a very happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentines Day! BAM
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Happy Valentines Day, Bam. The new site looks great and it appears that the comments are all going through now. The pears sounds and look delicious.
Jasline says
Beautiful site Bobbi! I love the advanced search page the most, really useful for me to search for recipes in your website in the future. These pears look really easy to prepare, I love food that can be prepared in advance, so this is going into my to-bake list 🙂 Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family and a also a lovely Valentine's Day!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Jasline! Xin Nian Kuai le and Happy Valentines day to you too! I also really like the advanced search functionality, it is a great tool and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. Any luck with your new website? Is it gone or can your retrieve a backup? I am hoping that you find a solution soon and if not don't sweat as you have a great site on wordpress. I just made these little Asian pear again this last weekend for a gathering and when you are making about 5 other Chinese stir fried last minute dishes having one that you can make in the oven and in advance is perfect. Take care, BAM
Lisa says
Congrats on your new blog, Bam,..it's gorgeous as are these Asian Spiced Pears. It's so spacious.., yet cozy. All you need is a cushy couch and a fireplace that we can eat these yummy pears in front of 😉
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Lisa for your very kind comment and I hope you are doing well. I do hope that you can make your self a little cup of tea or coffee and stay awhile to visit. I wish I could create the scratch and sniff computer screen as if you could smell the aromatic sweet aroma coming from the oven when the pears bake you would feel so cozy and happy. Take care and Happy Valentines Day, BAM
Rachel @ The Pescetarian and the Pig says
These look so tasty and I love the new site! Isn't it fun to get a site makeover? It looks great! I'm excited to see more 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Rachel. A site make over really makes you think about your cooking style and how you want to share this with the people that follow along. I think it is a work in progress and will dynamically change to meet people's needs. How about you? I see that you have a new video out and can't wait to see it. Love your little series, so fun! Take Care and have a super week. BAM
Suman Arthy says
Delicious spiced pears...full of flavor
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much for stopping by. I was also thinking that adding some little cardamon pods to the Asian spiced pears would be a lovely addition as well. What do you think?
theglobalgarnishgeek says
Oh, I just love these photos. Great plating and great pictures!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you so much. I think my pictures were just happy accidents. These pears are just beautiful and just love being photographed.(unlike teenagers that cover their faces and try to escape every family photo)....LOL