Make Ahead

Sea Salted Caramel Pears

by:
October 10, 2010
5
3 Ratings
  • Serves 3
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

Test Kitchen Notes

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 —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 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
Directions
  1. Wash pears and dry very well. Pinch off the stems. Carefully push cinnamon sticks into tops of pears. Set aside.
  2. Line a cookie sheet or large dinner plate with parchment paper and set near saucepan.
  3. Place salt in a small shallow dish and set near saucepan.
  4. Place caramels and heavy cream in small saucepan and melt over low heat.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Pour any leftover caramel onto some waxed paper, grind some salt over, and refrigerate until firm. This is the cook’s treat.
  8. Chill pears in refrigerator for about an hour. Transfer each pear to a wax paper square and place on serving plate.
  9. Happy Hallowe’en!

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Lizthechef
    Lizthechef
  • BlueKaleRoad
    BlueKaleRoad
  • lorigoldsby
    lorigoldsby
  • theyearinfood
    theyearinfood
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen

40 Reviews

Lizthechef September 9, 2011
I had forgotten this incredible recipe - should be the winner this time. Yes.
 
mrslarkin September 23, 2011
just saw this. Belated thanks, Liz!
 
BlueKaleRoad August 9, 2011
These look perfect for a fair! Salt and caramel go so well together.
 
mrslarkin September 9, 2011
thank you BKR!
 
lorigoldsby August 5, 2011
Wow! So glad u replayed this! It will go great with my hot damn! cider this fall.
 
mrslarkin August 5, 2011
Thanks lg! I'll have to check out the cider! Sounds intriguing!!
 
theyearinfood November 9, 2010
Clever is the perfect word to describe this. Love it.
 
mrslarkin November 9, 2010
Thank you!
 
Sagegreen October 23, 2010
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.
 
mrslarkin October 23, 2010
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!
 
MFeats October 14, 2010
These look *wonderful*!!! I love the cinnamon sticks in the photo, and am absolutely trying this recipe this weekend!
 
mrslarkin October 14, 2010
Thanks, MFeats! Let me know how it goes.
 
gingerroot October 13, 2010
These look beautiful and delicious!!
 
mrslarkin October 13, 2010
Thank you gingerroot!!
 
lance_mcnulty October 13, 2010
This was the perfect use for my fresh pears. My daughter thanks you.
P.S. I smoked my sea salt. Yummy.
 
mrslarkin October 13, 2010
Wow! That is so great! Oh, smoked sea salt - very swanky! I'm really glad you guys liked it!!
 
cheese1227 October 13, 2010
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.
 
mrslarkin October 13, 2010
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.
 
arielleclementine October 13, 2010
these are beautiful!!
 
mrslarkin October 13, 2010
Thanks, arielleclementine!
 
MrsWheelbarrow October 12, 2010
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.
 
Sagegreen October 12, 2010
I had been thinking of candied seckel pears earlier! But these are just perfect! What a great recipe. Love the salt! Thanks.
 
mrslarkin October 12, 2010
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.
 
JoanG October 11, 2010
What a winning combination!
 
mrslarkin October 12, 2010
Thank you, JoanG!!
 
Constrained C. October 11, 2010
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!
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thanks Constrained Cook! Let me know how it turns out for you!
 
TiggyBee October 11, 2010
These look so delicious!! I love the tooth brushing advise too!!
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thank you, TiggyBee! Teeth are important, too!
 
Lizthechef October 11, 2010
Pears and caramel, a new combo for me - sounds yummy!
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thanks, Liz! They are yummy!
 
dymnyno October 11, 2010
These sound amazing.
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thanks, Mary!
 
tiptoesinthekitchen October 11, 2010
these are pretty and very creative!
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thanks!!
 
lapadia October 11, 2010
Beautiful picture and great idea! Will you sell these with your scones?
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
Thank you! I have a market on Halloween day, so yes, I might do that!
 
lapadia September 14, 2011
OH! Here these are, again....:) Yum, Yum!
 
Loves F. October 11, 2010
So cute!
 
mrslarkin October 11, 2010
thanks!!