Brandied Pears

Brandied pears are a must. Especially during the holiday season or if you are looking to serve an exceptional dessert after you've already had two courses. This brandied pears recipe is enjoyable, delicate and well-balanced. It's not that type of recipe which is drowned in massive amounts of alcohol. On the contrary, the brandy is added to accent the richness of the pears. That being said, parents beware, these brandied pears are for adults only. Even if the pears cook off in the alcohol, there is still some residual alcohol absorbed by the pears, so please don't serve this dessert to little ones. In essence, you can use any type of brandy for this brandied pears recipe. Brandy is a spirit, which is made out of distilled wine. Generally speaking, it contains anywhere from 35% up to 60% of alcohol (which is not a small amount). Therefore, it is usually served as a digestif at the end of dinner. Also, for this brandied pears recipe, you have to be very selective about the type of pears you use. Otherwise, you risk that the pears will dissolve, especially if you purchase soft pears.

brandied pears with Tala Kitchenware

For my brandied pears, I've used the Tala Clip Top Storage Jar (750 ml).  The jar is perfect for storing my pears for a later occasion. Moreover, the jar excellent for preserving fruits, jams and chutneys. Therefore, you can easily store recipes like: carrot chutney, seedless blackberry jam or dried fruit compote. The Tala Clip Top Storage Jar is finished with a silicone seal and stainless-steel wires. Not only will the jars be airtight - ideal for storage and preserving - but also completely leak free! Tala Clip Top Storage Jars are also perfectly handy when it comes to storing dry foods in the kitchen such as rice, beans or pasta. Moreover, you can also use them to store other items such as buttons, crayons, you name it. All in all, Tala Kitchenware is a huge help in the kitchen.

about Tala

In fact, Tala has been a leading kitchenware brand since 1899. It was established first as Taylor Law & Co Ltd., but then rebranded to Tala in the 1920's. Tala has been involved for over 100 years in supplying households with various kitchenware gadgets. In fact, I've had the opportunity to cook my Louise cake recipe with their stunning Indigo and Ivory collection. I've used the Indigo and Ivory flour sifter, the enamelled steel roaster as well as the mixing bowl. With Tala, it's always a joy to cook in the kitchen. To learn more about Tala and its history, click right here.

best pears for brandied pears

The best pears for this brandied pear recipe are those that are firm and won't dissolve once cooked. Therefore, you need to source pears with a firm texture, i.e. Conference, Seckel and Bosc. Avoid the Barlett and Williams varieties at all costs. They will fall apart because they are very sweet, soft and juicy in their raw state.

top substitutes for brandy

I've used brandy in many desserts. For example, take my brandy snaps or my rich chocolate brandy torte. These are also worthy dessert recipes, fit for any occasion, just like this brandied pears recipe. If you find yourself that you are out of brandy and all the stores are closed, there are couple of substitutes which you can use. These include:

• cognac - this is the top substitute for these brandied pears
• bourbon
• rum
• sherry
• fortified wine liqueur

brandy caramelized pears

Brandy is such a rich flavour; it offers an opportunity to combine it other flavours that impact your taste buds. For instance - caramel! Oftentimes, as mentioned before, brandy is served as a digestif for heavy dishes. For example, if I served these salted caramel cupcakes for dessert, I would pair it with a glass of fine brandy. In short, brandy and caramel is a match made in heaven. Imagine dipping these exceptional brandied pears into a silky-smooth caramel. The brandy will cut through the fatty and creamy caramel, turning it into a beautifully balanced dessert.

what to do with brandied pears

First and foremost, you have to decide whether or not you would like to serve the brandied pears warm or cold. My preference is for them to be warm. You can also let them cool down in the fridge. Just remember to take them out of the fridge prior to serving them because they won't be as enjoyable. Nobody enjoys taking a bite out of a cold pear. Let them sit in your kitchen for about 10 minutes until they reach room temperature. Next, you can serve the brandied pears with a crumble like this one along with a scoop of this delicious ice cream. Pink Custard works beautifully with it too. Otherwise, you can also serve the brandied pears in a savoury fashion. Just pair the brandied pears with a cheese platter. Best cheeses for job are:

• goat's cheese - go for the French Saint Maure
• blue cheese - a Stilton or Roquefort will work perfectly with the brandied pears
• brie - if wouldn't be a proper cheese platter if you didn't include brie cheese

Of course, you can also toss in some walnuts and grapes. So, as I see it, you've got two choices. Sweet or savoury. Which one will it be?

 storing pears in alcohol

Of course, with Tala Clip Top Storage Jars, it's never been easier to storing pears. The best part is, that the alcohol acts as a conservator. Therefore, you can easily store these brandied pears for a longer period of time. In sum, just make sure that the jar is properly sealed and airtight. You can store them in the fridge for a couple of weeks. After you open the jar containing the brandied pears, you should consume them within a week, when cooled properly in the fridge. I don't recommend freezing the brandied pears. Once you reheat them, the pears will fall apart and won't have an appetising texture. As always, I recommend enjoying the brandied pears immediately as I like to serve the warm. Fresh is always best! How would you serve your brandied pears? Have you ever made them before? Let me know in the comments section below.

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