Poached Pears With Gingerbread Cider Syrup

Enjpy this light dessert with the flavors of the Holiday seasons. Aromatic sweet spices give great taste to these stove-top cooked pears and to the spicy syrup created.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3  cups apple cider
• 2  tablespoons brandy (optional)
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2  cinnamon sticks
• 6  whole cloves
• 3  slices lemon peel
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 4  firm ripe bosc pears, cored from the bottom and peeled with stems intact
•  ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Mix cider, brandy, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon peel, lemon juice, and ginger in deep 2-quart saucepan just large enough to hold the pears. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Add pears; cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until just tender when pierced.
2. Remove pears from saucepan, reserving liquid. Stand pears upright in bowl; cool. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Meanwhile, bring reserved liquid to boil in same saucepan. Cook on medium-high heat about 15 minutes or until syrupy. Strain and cool. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. To serve, stand pears on individual dessert plates. Spoon some of the syrup over each pear. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.