Pears are such an underrated fruit, don’t you think? Apples seem to get all the glory. Don’t get me wrong, I love a crisp, tart apple. But pears are creamy, juicy, sweet, and tart all at once. They are so versatile, too. I love just snacking on slices all by their lonesome or with a slice of cheese, roasted and caramelized, and my new favorite: poached. They are delicately simmered in a flavorful liquid until tender and spoonable. These chai-poached pears with spiced hazelnut oat crumble and caramel sauce are next-level good.
The sweet, mellow creaminess of the pears is SO delicious with the spicy, bold flavor of the chai tea, which is sweetened with a little maple syrup. The pears poach away for a few minutes and then are served up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a healthy drizzle of caramel sauce, and sprinkled with a crispy, crunchy, buttery, and spicy oat and hazelnut crumble topping which is maybe (definitely) my favorite part. All the other elements are soft and creamy so the crunchy element really adds a lot of textural contrast and interest. So good!
Chai-Poached Pears with Spiced Hazelnut Oat Crumble and Caramel Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE PEARS:
- 4 ripe but firm pears such as Bartlett or Bosc peeled and stems left intact
- 8 cups water
- 8 chai tea bags
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean split
CRUMBLE TOPPING:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly cracked
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
TO SERVE:
- Store-bought caramel sauce warmed
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, hazelnuts, brown sugar, salt, and spices. Add in the butter and squish the butter into the flour with your fingers until mixture has come together and is crumbly. Add the crumbles to a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread out in a single layer.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
- In a large pot, add the water and bring to a simmer. Add the tea bags and let simmer (not boil) for 4 minutes then remove the tea bags and add the maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean and stir to combine. Gently add in the pears, laying them on their side, and let them simmer for about 20 minutes, until tender, turning occasionally so they poach evenly on all sides.
- To serve, add a pear to a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle over some caramel sauce and sprinkle with the crumble. Enjoy!
Nutrition
This simple, yet show-stopping dessert is so easy to make, but will really wow your guests. It’s a wonderful way to end a meal, whether you’re having a casual get together or even going bold on Thanksgiving and skipping the pie in lieu of these pears. No matter how you enjoy them, they’ll be a hit!
Have you ever made poached pears before? We hope you enjoy this uniquely spiced twist. Let us know how this recipe turns out if you make it!
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Looking for even more sweet treat recipes? Check out these:
- Orange and Ginger Harvest Moon Phase Cookies
- Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Tart
- Easy Strawberry Almond Overnight French Toast
- Tahini Frangipani Apple Galette with Salted Honey Rose Cream
- Lavender Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
