Sea Salted Caramel Pears
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Author Notes: This recipe is inspired by an image I saw on the Google and adapted from every caramel apple recipe on earth. You can make your own caramel, but sometimes lazy is just as good. This would be fun to do with about 6 very small pears, in which case I might use a thinner stick. These treats will be sure to make merry and ward away the goblins at your next Hallowe'en bash. - mrslarkin - mrslarkin
Food52 Review: What a clever, solid recipe: It’s so simple to create a great caramel coating by combining quality caramels with cream -- brilliant! Pairing this with pears makes a refreshing switch from the usual apples. Then, from top to bottom, with sea salt and cinnamon sticks, the finishing touches are stellar. This recipe gets my two thumbs up! (And the friendly reminder in the tag to brush your teeth sounds like advice from the perfect mom. One of the most memorable trick-or-treats my son received each year from a neighbor was an actual toothbrush.) - Sagegreen - A&M
Serves 3
- 3 medium pears, about 3” by 2”, not too firm, not too ripe
- 3 sturdy 3½“ cinnamon sticks, or strong maple or oak twigs
- 8 ounces good-quality caramels (I use Werther’s)
- 4 teaspoons heavy cream
- coarse sea salt, or have your salt grinder at the ready
- three 4½” squares of waxed paper
- Wash pears and dry very well. Pinch off the stems. Carefully push cinnamon sticks into tops of pears. Set aside.
- Line a cookie sheet or large dinner plate with parchment paper and set near saucepan.
- Place salt in a small shallow dish and set near saucepan.
- Place caramels and heavy cream in small saucepan and melt over low heat.
- When caramel is smooth, take one pear at a time and as deftly as possible, dunk into caramel, tilting saucepan and spooning mixture as needed, covering ¾ of the pear. It looks nice if some of the green/red skin is showing.
- Quickly lean your pear into the salt, covering just a small area. Don’t overdo the sea salt. Gently run a spatula under bottom of pear to scrape off excess. Place pear on parchment. Repeat with remaining pears. Or, instead of dipping into the coarse salt, you can grind a dusting of salt over the coated pear for a finer finish, which I prefer.
- Pour any leftover caramel onto some waxed paper, grind some salt over, and refrigerate until firm. This is the cook’s treat.
- Chill pears in refrigerator for about an hour. Transfer each pear to a wax paper square and place on serving plate.
- Happy Hallowe’en!
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Pears
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Fair Food
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Non-Pie Thanksgiving Dessert
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Halloween Treat
Tags: can be made ahead, Easy, fruit, Halloween
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almost 2 years ago Lizthechef
I had forgotten this incredible recipe - should be the winner this time. Yes.
over 1 year ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
just saw this. Belated thanks, Liz!
almost 2 years ago BlueKaleRoad
These look perfect for a fair! Salt and caramel go so well together.
almost 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
thank you BKR!
almost 2 years ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I never saw this before, its perfect fair food. The use of pears (my favorite fruit) is brilliant and I love the cinnamon sticks to hold onto.
almost 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you sdebrango!
almost 2 years ago lorigoldsby
Wow! So glad u replayed this! It will go great with my hot damn! cider this fall.
almost 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks lg! I'll have to check out the cider! Sounds intriguing!!
over 2 years ago theyearinfood
Clever is the perfect word to describe this. Love it.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you!
over 2 years ago Sagegreen
Thanks, mrslarkin for a fine recipe. The finishing touches are especially brilliant! Love this recipe. Love your tag, too. Written like a true mom. One mom in our neighborhood gives out toothbrushes on Halloween, not candy.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
You are so welcome, Sagegreen. Have fun with this one! Fyi, the salt can be stubborn and not stick well if not working quickly enough towards the end. Enjoy!
over 2 years ago MFeats
These look *wonderful*!!! I love the cinnamon sticks in the photo, and am absolutely trying this recipe this weekend!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks, MFeats! Let me know how it goes.
over 2 years ago gingerroot
These look beautiful and delicious!!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you gingerroot!!
over 2 years ago lance_mcnulty
This was the perfect use for my fresh pears. My daughter thanks you.
P.S. I smoked my sea salt. Yummy.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Wow! That is so great! Oh, smoked sea salt - very swanky! I'm really glad you guys liked it!!
over 2 years ago cheese1227
Hi Mrs. Larkin. These are lovely!! Are you having a good pear season up there? Seems as if a fungus got the lot of them down here.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks, cheese1227. I honestly don't remember the origin of these - picked them up at the A&P. I'll ask the farmers on Sunday.
over 2 years ago arielleclementine
these are beautiful!!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks, arielleclementine!
over 2 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
Wow. MrsLarkin, you've outdone yourself. I'm going to make these out of Seckel pears - the perfect size for a dinner party, and with a side of ice cream and a little cookie -- oh lordy. Thanks for a great recipe.
over 2 years ago Sagegreen
I had been thinking of candied seckel pears earlier! But these are just perfect! What a great recipe. Love the salt! Thanks.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
You are welcome! MrsW, the dinner party idea sound so great!! Maybe cinnamon ice cream and a clove cookie? I can just picture that arrangement at a fine-dining establishment, and costing scads of money! Sagegreen, thanks so much! You are a tremendous inspiration.
over 2 years ago JoanG
What a winning combination!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you, JoanG!!
over 2 years ago Constrained Cook
Pears are my favorite and this is a nice departure from the usual caramel apple. I also love the cinnamon stick stems. I will have to try this!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks Constrained Cook! Let me know how it turns out for you!
over 2 years ago TiggyBee
These look so delicious!! I love the tooth brushing advise too!!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you, TiggyBee! Teeth are important, too!
over 2 years ago Lizthechef
Pears and caramel, a new combo for me - sounds yummy!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks, Liz! They are yummy!
over 2 years ago dymnyno
These sound amazing.
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks, Mary!
over 2 years ago tiptoesinthekitchen
these are pretty and very creative!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thanks!!
over 2 years ago lapadia
Beautiful picture and great idea! Will you sell these with your scones?
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Thank you! I have a market on Halloween day, so yes, I might do that!
almost 2 years ago lapadia
OH! Here these are, again....:) Yum, Yum!
over 2 years ago Loves Food Loves to Eat
So cute!
over 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
thanks!!