Maple Baked Pears with Whipped Cream {Vegan Option}

Baked pears with sweet bourbon glaze and homemade whipped cream are an impressive and delicious holiday dessert. This fruit dessert recipe appears fancy, but it is SO easy to make! Perfect to serve for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or holiday parties.

This is what I call a “faux fancy” dessert. Like when you want to make an impressive holiday dessert but you don’t have a lot of time, baked fruit is great “feeling so fancy” option. Haha, you get that right? Seriously, check out these dessert recipes –> Fruit Bake with Caramelized Apples or my family favorite Spiced Hot Fruit Bake. Well my friends,  these Baked Pears with whip cream are right up there with it! Quick to make and SUPER easy to make, too!

Before we chat about the recipe, I’ll let you in on my FAUX FANCY dessert tip!  Arrange pears in a bowl with the whipped cream and garnish with fresh greenery or pine and you got yourself a Martha Stewart looking dessert. I aim to please. 😉

How to Make Baked Pears

I have a few simple tips that will help you create the best baked pears. Because there is a vegan option for this recipe, I’ll explain how to make regular whipped cream and vegan whipped cream. Both are equally delicious! But first, let’s talk about what type of pears to use.

Selecting the Pears

We’re trying to keep the baked pears dessert on the healthier side. As a result, it is low in sugar. One way to sweeten this fruit dessert naturally is by using a sweeter variety of pears.

Sekel pears are smaller and a little sweeter than most other pears. So, you don’t need a ton of sugar; just a little maple syrup in the glaze! Of course, the recipe works with any type of pear. If you use another type, keep in mind that the dessert won’t be as sweet.

Sekel Pears Nutrition

Like other pears, the Sekel has a lot of nutritional value. They are:

• High in fiber
• Good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K
• Sodium free
• Fat free
• Cholesterol free

Prepping the Pears

One reason that this recipe is so easy to make is that there isn’t much prep to do.  You do need to wash the pears, of course, but you don’t have to peel them unless you want to. I like the rustic look and the extra fiber in the skin, so I keep it on.

Also, I keep the core intact because you can eat that as well! The seeds are easy to remove, especially after the pears are baked.

You just need to slice 6 to 8 pears in half, from the top to the bottom. Cut straight through the core and be sure to use a sharp knife – it’s much easier and safer that way!

*Bonus Baked PEAR recipe –> Honey Roasted Pear Sparkling Wine Cocktails/Mocktails

Maple Bourbon Glaze (with or without alcohol)

Making the sweet bourbon glaze couldn’t be any easier!

NOTE: If you want to keep the recipe completely gluten free and/or kid-friendly, you can make the glaze without bourbon.

To make the glaze, just add the ingredients below to a saucepan. Then, stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes. DONE!

• Maple syrup
• Butter (or refined coconut oil, for a vegan option)
• Ground cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• OPTIONAL Bourbon or Amaretto
• Vanilla extract

Whipped Cream or Vegan Whipped Cream

The key to making whipped cream EASILY is to chill the cream (or coconut cream). Dairy creamer is always refrigerated, but coconut cream is shelf stable. To make it whip up, the coconut cream has to be VERY cold. It needs to chill in the fridge for at least 24 hours.

Oh, and before you whip the coconut cream, you need to drain the water from the top. You can watch the recipe video in my vegan coconut cream frosting post for more details.

The sugar is optional in the whipped topping. But honestly, it doesn’t need any. The baked pears are sweet enough, especially with the maple bourbon glaze on them.

Oh and lastly, feel free to top the baked pears with toasted nuts, granola, etc. It’s all good! Simple. Healthyish. EASY!

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By the way, you have full permission to feel fancy and sophisticated with this baked pears dessert. Now go impress those holiday guests, mm k?

Cheers! Holiday Cheers!

LC