Roasted orchard fruits

This has to be one of the simplest and most impressive puds when you have large groups of friends or family to entertain.

Serves 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes

 

4 pears, about 550 g in total, halved, cores scooped out with a teaspoon

6 plums, about 350 g (12 oz.) in total, halved, stoned

225 g (8 oz.) blackberries

1 cinnamon stick, broken into large pieces

8 cloves

2-3 star anise, depending on size

1 orange, juice only

50 g (2 oz.) butter, diced
50g (2 oz.) light muscovado sugar

 

1)    Arrange the pears, plums and blackberries in a roasting tin. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Spoon the orange juice over, dot with the butter then sprinkle with the sugar.

2)    Bake in a preheated oven 190°C (375°F) Gas Mark 5 for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. Serve hot spooned into bowls and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or spoonful of crème fraiche, if liked.

Tip

Experiment with different fruits such as peaches and nectarines.