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Caramel pear mice
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Caramel pear mice
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 4 small ripe pears, such as Anjou or Forelle (about 900g)
- 36 (15cm) wooden skewers
- 100g granulated sugar
- 110g light brown sugar
- 255g dark corn syrup
- 60g unsalted butter
- 240ml double cream, divided
- 1/2 vanilla pod or 1 tsp pure vanilla essence
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- Pinch salt
- Black sesame seeds for eyes
- Pink or yellow candy buttons, for decoration nose
Method
How to make Caramel pear mice
1) Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Just before you make the caramel, core and cut pears into eight wedges, blunting the cut side so that it can lay on a flat surface peel side up. Place a skewer into each wedge, cover with paper towel, and set aside.
3) Combine sugars, dark corn syrup, butter, 120ml heavy cream, vanilla and nutmeg in a heavy sauce pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. When the mixture has come to a brisk boil, slowly add in the remaining cream, keep the mixture boiling. Be sure to wipe any extra sugar from the side of the pot. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot with the tip immersed. Boil the mixture briskly, stirring gently, until the mixture registers 116C on the candy thermometer, about 10 mins.
4) Immediately remove from the heat. Pour the caramel into a medium heat proof bowl using a rubber spatula so that you do not scrape the bottom of the pot. Let caramel rest until it thickens and cools slightly, about 3 mins.
5) Blot excess moisture from the pears using the paper towels. Dip pears completely into caramel, swirling until it is fully coated, allow excess to drip off slightly. Place on prepared sheet pan. Decorate with black sesame seeds for eyes and candy button noses, while the caramel is still soft. Repeat until all the pears are dipped. Allow to cool until firm about 30 mins. Serve.
* Cook's Note: As the caramel cools during dipping, it may stiffen and be too thick or slide off on the pear. Just reheat in microwave, checking at 20 sec intervals until at the desired dipping consistency.
