Coffee Poached Pears & Whipped Mascarpone

A simple yet beautifully indulgent autumn dessert, these Coffee Poached Pears & Whipped Mascarpone combine tender pears poached in a rich espresso syrup with smooth, creamy mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts. The coffee adds a delicious depth of flavour to the pears, while the whipped mascarpone keeps the dessert light and creamy.

Made using freshly brewed espresso from the Haden Espresso coffee machine, this recipe is simple to prepare but makes a lovely dessert for an autumn dinner or relaxed weekend treat.

Made by @boroughchef

Serves

3 portions

Ingredients

• 3 pears, peeled
• 3 shots espresso
• 750ml water
• 100g dark soft brown sugar
• 250g mascarpone
• 2 tbsp toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Instructions

1. Place the espresso, sugar and water in a medium pan. Bring to a simmer, then carefully add the peeled pears.
2. Simmer the pears gently for around 20 minutes, turning them from time to time in the coffee mixture, until completely tender.
3. Remove the pears from the coffee mixture and set aside to cool. Return the pan to the hob and increase the heat to high. Simmer the coffee mixture until it has reduced by around two thirds, then set aside to cool.
4. Place the mascarpone in a stand mixer with 2 tbsp of the cooled coffee syrup. Beat until smooth and creamy.
5. Spoon the whipped coffee mascarpone onto serving plates. Place a poached pear on top, drizzle generously with the remaining coffee syrup and finish with the toasted hazelnuts.
6. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.