Spiced Pears With Chocolate Mascarpone Recipe

How to Make Spiced Pears With Chocolate Mascarpone

1. **Prepare the Spiced Pear Syrup:** In a large, non-aluminum saucepan, combine 1 cup dry red wine, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 vanilla bean (split and seeds scraped), zest of 1 lemon, and zest of 1 orange.
2. **Spice Sachet:** Tie 10 whole cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, and 1 sprig fresh thyme together in a piece of cheesecloth.
3. **Simmer the Syrup:** Add the spice sachet to the saucepan along with ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground mace, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. **Simmer:** Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
5. **Prepare the Pears:** Peel 4 ripe but firm pears and cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the cores.
6. **Poach the Pears:** Add the pear halves to the simmering syrup. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and gently cook for 5-15 minutes, or until almost tender.
7. **Rest the Pears:** Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
8. **Cool the Pears:** Remove the pears from the syrup and let them cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Chill the syrup on ice.
9. **Refrigerate:** Once completely cooled, add the pears back to the chilled syrup, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
10. **Make the Chocolate Mascarpone Filling:** Melt 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth, or in a double boiler over simmering water.
11. **Cool the Chocolate:** Let the melted chocolate cool slightly.
12. **Whip the Mascarpone:** In a separate bowl, whip 8 ounces of mascarpone cheese with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
13. **Combine:** Gently fold in the cooled melted chocolate and 1 tablespoon of rum (optional) into the whipped mascarpone, mixing until well combined.
14. **Chill the Filling:** Refrigerate the chocolate mascarpone filling until chilled and firm.
15. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C).
16. **Prepare the Pears for Baking:** Remove the pears from the syrup and drain well. Using a teaspoon or melon baller, gently hollow out the pears a bit more, removing any remaining core.
17. **Bake the Pears:** Arrange the pear halves in an oven-safe skillet large enough to hold all 8 halves. Brush with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
18. **Finishing Touch:** Bake for 5 minutes, or until heated through. Carefully flip the pears and bake for another 2-3 minutes.
19. **Fill and Serve:** Transfer the pear halves to warm serving plates. Fill each pear half generously with the chilled chocolate mascarpone filling. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and serve immediately with biscotti.