Flaky layers of puff pastry encase pears poached in a mixture of chai concentrate, orange juice, apple cider, and various spices.
Chai Pear Pastries
Serves: 20
Ingredients
- 2 cups chai concentrate*
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2 whole star anise
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 small pears, peeled, halved, and cored
- 2 (17.3-ounce) packages frozen puff pastry (4 sheets)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- Turbinado sugar, for topping
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, stir together chai concentrate, orange juice, apple cider, brown sugar, vanilla bean paste, cloves, cinnamon, anise, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pears to pan; return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until pears are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain pears, reserving liquid. Let cool completely.
- Strain reserved poaching liquid into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until liquid is reduced by half and coats the back of a spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Let puff pastry thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, unfold pastry sheets. Using a 3 1⁄2-inch fluted square cutter dipped in flour, cut 5 squares from each pastry sheet (20 squares total).
- Gently cut pear halves into 20 wedges. Place a pear wedge diagonally in the center of each pastry square. Fold 2 opposite corners of each pastry square over pear, lightly brush with a small amount of egg, and pinch corners to seal. Secure with a toothpick. Place on prepared baking sheet and freeze until firm, approximately 10 minutes.
- Brush pastries all over with remainder of egg, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
- Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove toothpick. Serve warm or at room temperature. Just before serving, brush pears with poaching liquid reduction.
