SPOOKY POACHED PEARS

I know, on the surface poached pears do not seem super spooky. But that’s what makes this idea so ingenious! No one suspects the poached pears.

These guys are also way less sugary than most Hallowe’en treats, and make use of delicious, in-season produce, which we love. You can even use the poaching liquid as a warming drink when you come in from trick-or-treating!

Ingredients

4 pears, peeled with stalk intact

1.5 C apple juice

1 cinnamon stick

3/4 C pomegranate juice

pinch cinnamon powder

blueberries (for eyes)

flaked coconut or sesame seeds (for teeth)

walnut (for brain)

Directions

Put the pears into a saucepan with apple juice, cinnamon powder, and cinnamon stick. Simmer gently with the lid on for about 20 minutes until the pears are slightly soft. Remove the pears and cinnamon stick from the pot, and continue simmering the juice until it is slightly syrupy (about 10 minutes).

Pour the pomegranate juice into a small saucepan and gently simmer for 10-20 minutes until it becomes syrupy.

Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the pears so they can stand upright, carve out little indentations for the eyes and mouths and decorate! Serve on plates with ‘blood’ syrup dripping out of their mouths.