Macaroon Baked Pears

An easy but sublimely yummy dessert, great in early winter when pears come into season.  Recipe freely adapted from one by Donna Hay. 

Serves 4.

 

Ingredients:

4 brown pears, halved and cored

1/2 cup hot water

40 g butter, melted

2 - 4 tbspn brown sugar

1 cup dessicated coconut

1/4 cup caster sugar

1 egg white

 

 

 

To Serve:

 

heavy cream or rich vanilla bean ice cream

 

 

Method:

Preheat oven to 200C. Place pears, cut side up, in a baking dish.  Pour water around, brush pears with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Mix coconut with caster sugar and egg white, beating to a meringue-like texture. 

Remove pears from the oven and divide macaroon mixture over the pears, pressing down firmly.  Return to oven and bake for 5-10 minutes or until golden.  Serve with heavy cream or a rich vanilla bean ice cream.