Step 1 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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Step 2 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Use a melon baller to make a hole in the bottom of each pear, then dig deeper to scoop out the core. Peel pears and cut a thin slice off the bottoms so they stand flat.
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Step 3 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Use the tip of a paring knife to split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, then run the back of the knife along each half to scrape out the vanilla seeds. Set the seeds and scraped pod aside.
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Step 4 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Melt the butter in a large ovenproof frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar, vanilla seed, and pod and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts and liquid is medium amber in color, about 5 minutes.
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Step 5 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Carefully add the wine, stirring until incorporated. Add the pears, laying them on their sides.
PRO TIP Be careful when adding the wine—the mixture will bubble and spurt, so add it a little at a time.
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Step 6 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Cook the pears, turning occasionally, until they are almost tender, 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stand pears upright in the pan and add the cranberries, nestling them into the liquid.
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Step 7 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Bake the pears on middle rack of oven, basting occasionally and gently moving cranberries around, until pears are very tender when pierced with a paring knife and most of the cranberries have burst, 20-25 minutes.
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Step 8 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Check to see that pears and cranberries are done. Remove from oven or add time as needed.
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Step 9 of 9
Vanilla Roasted Pears with Cranberries
Cool pears in the frying pan for about 10 minutes, basting occasionally. Remove the vanilla pods. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.