These roasted pears are absolutely stunning. Towards the end of cooking, we add some wine and spices to the pears. As they finish cooking the wine will reduce into a thin syrup. This is excellent drizzled over the pears when serving.
4 semi-ripe Bosc pears
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup off dry white wine like riesling
1 star anise
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
Pinch sea salt
Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Quarter and core the pears, then dust the cut sides of pears with powdered sugar.
Melt butter in an oven-safe Dutch oven over moderately high heat. When the butter is melted, add pears, cut-side down, to the butter and cook, moving the pears around so the cut sides become caramelized and browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Flip pears so that they are skin-side up. Pour in the wine and drop in the star anise, cinnamon stick, and a small pinch of salt. Place the pan, uncovered, into oven and roast until the pears are tender and the wine has reduced down into a thin syrup, 15 to 20 minutes.
Transfer pears to a serving dish, drizzle with some of the syrup at the bottom of the pan and top with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.