Caramelized pears in a skillet

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make delicious caramelized pears in a skillet? First, gather the ingredients from the list. Choose firm pears, not soft ones. Soft pears cook down quickly and lose their shape. I'm using Abate Fetel pears, but choose whatever you like. You can add a cinnamon stick to the caramel for flavor (step 4). I used a cream liqueur, but you can use any other liqueur, wine, or non-alcoholic syrup you like—or nothing at all.

2. Step 2:

   

   First, make the caramel. Put the sugar in a skillet and melt it over low heat until it's a light golden color. This is a slow process—a good 10–15 minutes—so you'll need some patience. Don't stir the sugar with anything, because it will stick to the spatula and clump into hard lumps that are then hard to break up. The most you can do is slide the pan back and forth without lifting it off the burner.

3. Step 3:

   

   Once the sugar has melted and turned light golden, add the butter and stir until smooth. Keep everything over low heat.

4. Step 4:

   

   Once all the butter has melted in and the mixture returns to a boil, pour in the liqueur, stirring constantly, followed by the hot water. Bring the mixture back to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer the caramel syrup at a low boil for about 5–7 minutes, so the excess water cooks off and the syrup thickens slightly. It should be smooth, pourable, and a lovely golden color.

5. Step 5:

   

   While the syrup cooks, prepare the pears. Wash and peel them. If there's a stem, leave it on.

6. Step 6:

   

   Cut each pear in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. To help them sit flat, you can trim a little off the bottom. If you like, cut one extra pear crosswise through its widest part into 3 rounds about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick.

7. Step 7:

   

   Put the prepared pears in the syrup and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes, turning them now and then. The pears should soften and the caramel syrup should thicken a little more.

8. Step 8:

   

   Take the pears out of the caramel syrup and let them cool. Place a pear round in the middle of each plate and set 2 pear halves on top. Spoon the remaining syrup from the skillet over the pears. If you like, you can reduce the caramel further to a thicker, darker color.

9. Step 9:

   

   If you like, add a little berry sauce to the dessert. Garnish with fresh berries and mint and serve. Enjoy your meal!