Roasted Pears with Brie

ingredient

• 1/3 cup (75 mL) maple syrup
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1-1/2 tbsp (25 mL) butter
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon
• 6 small ripe Bosc pears
• 4 oz (115 g) Canadian Brie, cut into 12 thin slices
• Coconut Crumble (see recipe below)
• Mint leaves (optional

Coconut Crumble

• Combine 1/4 cup (50 mL) sweetened flaked coconut, 1 tbsp (15 mL) packed brown sugar and 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) softened butter until crumbly.

Preparation

1. Combine maple syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until sugar is dissolved; set syrup aside.
2. Peel pears, cut in half lengthwise, and core. Place in a shallow 3-quart (3 L) rectangular baking dish. Add syrup and turn pears to coat. Bake in 400 °F (200 °C) oven 20 minutes or until pears are just softened; turn and baste once with syrup. (Under ripe fruit will take a bit longer.)
3. Transfer pears to a baking sheet. Add a little water to baking dish to thin the syrup; set syrup aside. Top each pear half, cut side up, with a slice of Canadian Brie; sprinkle with Coconut Crumble. Broil until cheese is melted and topping is toasted. To serve, spoon a little syrup onto each of 6 dessert plates, top with 2 pear halves and garnish with mint, if desired.