Maple-Roasted Pears with Granola

This recipe comes from Montreal food blogger Aimée Wimbush-Bourque of the award-winning blog Simple Bites. It’s a simple yet stunning way to serve granola for breakfast; perfect for a celebratory brunch. For an easy dessert, Aimée suggests skipping the yogurt and adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead.

Ingredients

2 large pears (Bartlett, Anjou or Bosc)
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter, melted
1/2 cup (125 ml) pure maple syrup, divided
1 cup (250 ml) granola
1/4 cup (60 ml) pecans, chopped
1 cup (250 ml) plain yogurt, for serving (optional) 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cut pears in half, leaving skin intact. Scoop out the core with a small spoon. Arrange pears, skin side down, in a baking pan. Brush the tops lightly with butter. Drizzle about a tablespoon of maple syrup onto each pear and place in the oven. Roast for 15–20 minutes or until pears are soft.

Combine granola, pecans and remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup in a small bowl. Remove pears from the oven and mound granola into the cavity and over the top of the pears. It’s okay if it spills down the sides.

Return the pan to the oven and bake for another five minutes to toast the granola. Serve immediately with yogurt on the top or side.

Serves 4.

Per serving

309 calories, 19.3 g fat (4 g saturated fat, 9.1 g monounsaturated fat, 3.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 9 mg cholesterol, 54 g carbohydrate, 8.3 g protein, 7.4 g fibre.

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, February 2014.