Baked Pears with Vanilla Syrup

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly butter a baking dish large enough to hold the pear halves in a single layer.

Combine the chopped walnuts, brown sugar, softened butter, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl, stirring until the mixture forms a paste-like filling.

Arrange the pear halves cut-side up in the prepared baking dish. Using a small spoon, fill the center cavity of each pear half with the walnut-butter mixture.

In a saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour the vanilla syrup carefully around the pears in the baking dish, avoiding the filling as much as possible.

Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, until the pears are tender when pierced with a knife and the syrup is bubbling gently around the edges.

Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the pears to cool slightly in the syrup for 5 minutes before serving.

Divide the pears among serving bowls and spoon the vanilla syrup over and around each pear half. Serve warm or at room temperature.