Slow-Cooker Maple-Sauced Pears

Peel pears. Core pears from bottom, leaving stems attached. Place pears upright in 3 1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker.

Mix remaining ingredients except cornstarch and orange juice; pour over pears.

Cover and cook on high heat setting 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until tender.

Remove pears from cooker; place upright in serving dish or individual dessert dishes.

Mix cornstarch and orange juice; stir into sauce in cooker. Cover and cook on high heat setting about 10 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Spoon sauce over pears. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.