Fruits Dessert Recipe - Baked Pear Surprise

Ingredients

• 1/4 lb (110g) butter

• 4 to 5 tbsp (60 to 75ml) sugar

• 4 to 5 tbsp (60 to 75ml) ground almonds

• pinch cinnamon

• 1 egg, separated

• 1 tbsp (15ml) orange liqueur

• 4 eating pears, ripe and tender

• 1 lb (450g) ready-made puff pastry

• 3 tbsp (45ml) apricot jam

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Method:

1. Make a stiff paste by creaming butter, sugar, ground almonds and cinnamon together. Gradually add egg yolk. Stir in orange liqueur.

2. Peel and core pears. Split in half. Fill centers with paste. Press the two halves together.

3. Roll out puff pastry into 4 oblong pieces, 4 x 8 inches (10 x 20cm). Place a pear in the middle of each. Brush edges with water. Fold oblong to enclose each pear, retaining the pear shape. Make two small cuts at the top to allow steam to escape. Brush with lightly whisked egg white. Let stand for 15 minutes.

4. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake at 400F (200C) for 20 minutes.

5. Heat apricot jam until liquid. Strain. When pears are taken from oven, brush them lightly with hot jam as a glaze. Serve hot with ice cream or custard.