Vegan Baked Pears (Pera Assada)
Pera Assada is a beloved traditional Portuguese dessert: whole or halved pears baked slowly until soft, fragrant, and sweet, then topped with crunchy nuts and warm spices. This fully vegan version uses no butter, honey, or animal products — preserving the natural sweetness of the fruit, the comforting aroma of cinnamon, and the tender texture that makes this dish so cherished. Serve it warm as a light dessert, snack, or breakfast treat.
Shared by katty
Time
40 min
Serves
3
Difficulty
easy
🛒 Ingredients
- #Main Ingredients;
- 3 firm‑ripe pears (such as Conference or Packham), washed well
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar or brown sugar.. 1 cinnamon stick.. 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil or vegan butter.. 3–4 tbsp water
- #Filling & Topping;
- 40–50 g walnuts or cashews, roughly chopped.. 1 tbsp maple syrup or date syrup
- Pinch of ground cinnamon.. Optional: tiny pinch of nutmeg
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prep the pears: Cut pears in half lengthwise; scoop out the core and seeds with a small spoon. Brush the cut sides lightly with lemon juice to stop browning.
- 2
Season: Mix melted coconut oil, sugar, and ground cinnamon together. Brush or rub this mixture all over the cut surfaces and flesh of the pears.
- 3
Arrange: Place the pears cut‑side up in a baking dish. Tuck the cinnamon stick into the dish, then pour a little water into the base to keep them moist while baking.
- 4
Bake: Roast at 180 °C (350 °F) for 20–25 minutes until tender but still holding their shape.
- 5
Top & finish: Remove briefly, fill the hollows with chopped nuts and drizzle with maple syrup. Return to the oven for 5–7 minutes until the nuts are lightly toasted.
- 6
Serve: Dust with extra cinnamon and enjoy warm — plain or with vegan yogurt or cream.