Poached pear and mascarpone cheesecake recipe

Ingredients

• 750ml water
• 300g white sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• Rind of 1 orange
• 2 beurre Bosc pears, peeled, halved, core removed
• 250g cream cheese
• 250g mascarpone cheese
• 3 gelatine leaves (gold strength)
• 100ml pear poaching syrup
• 1 egg white
• 50g castor sugar
• 2 digestive biscuits, chopped
• 1/2 cup whole almonds, roasted and chopped
• 150ml cream
• 150g dark chocolate, chopped