Cooking helps kids develop skills in counting, measuring, following a sequence, following directions, and cause and effect. Most importantly, cooking can help develop a child’s confidence and independence in and out of the kitchen. Our cooking classes encourage children in thinking, problem-solving and creativity. Try making this delicious and healthy recipe together:
Baked Maple Vanilla Pears
Ingredients
4 Anjou pears
½ cup pure maple syrup
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional toppings: maple pecan granola, Greek yogurt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
Cut pears in half, then cut a small sliver off the underside so the pears sit flat when placed on the baking sheet.
Using a large or medium cookie scoop or soup spoon, core out the seeds.
Arrange pears, facing up, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon.
Whisk the maple syrup and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Drizzle most of it all over the pears, reserving about 2 Tablespoons for after the pears are finished baking.
Bake pears for about 25 minutes until soft and lightly browned on the edges. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with remaining maple syrup mixture.
Serve warm with granola and yogurt. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Brought to you by:
Karen Swanger is the Director of OSU KidSpirit Oregon 4-H Youth Programs kidspirit.oregonstate.edu
