Pear And Ginger Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup, plus 2 tbsp sugar
2 cups water
3/4 inch piece ginger, peeled, grated
4 None firm pears, peeled, cored, halved
1 cup golden syrup or 1/2 cup honey + 1/2 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup molasses
3/4 cup butter, diced
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/3 cups self-rising flour
2 tbsp ground ginger
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Preparation

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water and ginger; stir on low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Add pears; simmer 25-30 minutes, until just tender. Remove pears from syrup and cool.
Return syrup to high heat. Boil 10 minutes, until reduced by half. Set aside.
Preheat oven to moderate, 350F. Lightly grease and line a 7 x 11- inch pan with parchment.
In a small saucepan, combine golden syrup, molasses, butter and brown sugar; stir over low heat until melted.
Sift flour and ginger together into a large bowl. Add syrup mixture, sour cream and eggs; stir until smooth. Pour batter into pan.
Thinly slice pear halves, spread out and arrange over top of batter. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Brush cooled bars with reduced syrup. Serve in slices.