- 2 cups apple juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 (2 1/2- by 1/2-inch) strips fresh lemon zest
- 1 cinnamon stick, halved
- 3 whole cloves
- 10 black peppercorns, cracked
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 firm pears, peeled and each cut into 8 wedges with core removed
- 1/2 cup dried apricots
- 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
- 4 dried Calimyrna figs, quartered
- 2 tablespoons Calvados
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Bring apple juice, sugar, zest, and spices to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, and simmer 5 minutes. Add butter, pears, and dried fruit and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pears are tender, about 25 minutes. Pour liquid through a sieve into another saucepan and boil until reduced to cup. Pour liquid back over fruit and stir in Calvados and lemon juice.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.