Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears

 These elegant Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears look so beautiful! A classy and stylish dessert that’s perfect to serve around the holidays, these poached pears are succulent and so flavorful. Best of all, they’re so simple and only take about 30 minutes to prepare!

 

Why You’ll Love Red Wine Poached Pears

Here is a perfect spicy and sweet dessert to impress your guests! These poached pears in wine look gorgeous on the serving platter and are wonderfully delicious, too.

This simple dessert only takes 30 minutes to make, but allow time to let the pears cool down before serving. You can serve these chilled or at room temperature.

Some people prefer to serve this dish chilled, so you can make this a day ahead of your party and keep in the fridge. Be sure to keep the pears fully submerged while in the fridge, to ensure even color.

 

 

Ingredients for Spiced Poached Pears

• pears – Bosc pears work well for this recipe.
• red dry wine – I used Merlot.
• granulated sugar – sweetens up the wines and balances the cinnamon.
• orange and lemon juice – it’s best to use fresh citrus juice if you can.
• vanilla essence – adds extra sweetness to your poached pears.
• cinnamon sticks – gives your dish a nice spicy warmth.
• whipped cream and ground cinnamon – both optional but great for a garnish!

 

 

How to Make Poached Pears

Poaching

1. Begin by gathering your ingredients and then start peeling your pears. Use a quality vegetable peeler and try to peel the pears as smoothly as possible. Make sure to leave the stem on the pears; this adds to the whole presentation when the wine soaked pears are arranged on the serving platter.
2. In a medium size pot, add the red wine and the sugar.
   

   With just a few common ingredients, you can have a beautiful and impressive dish!

3. Add in the fresh squeezed orange juice and lemon juice.
4. Stir together and then add the vanilla essence and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil.
   

   Cinnamon adds a spiciness to the natural sweetness of the pears and goes well with the red wine.

5. Be sure to stir occasionally while it is coming to a boil so the sugar dissolves.
6. Once the wine mixture has come to a boil reduce the heat. Then, add the pears and then turn the heat down to low. Cover the pot.
7. Poach the pears by cooking for about 30 minutes, or until the pears are tender. Resist any urge to poke the pears with a fork to see if they are done!
   

   Your pears will start to take on a gorgeous red color as they poach.

Serving

1. Once tender, use a slotted spoon to gently transfer poached pears to a pretty serving platter.
2. Serve these red wine poached pears with whipped cream and cinnamon, or vanilla ice cream.
3. You can also reheat the poaching liquid and over each pear, pour a small amount of the syrup and serve this way.

 

Tips

• Keep the pear stems intact! This will contribute to the beautiful presentation.
• If you’re doing a large number of pears, you should get the wine mixture going before you start peeling. This will keep the pears from discoloring from too much air exposure.

Popular Variations and Substitutions

• This recipe is fairly simple, but you can use additional spices if you’re looking for a more distinct flavor. Cloves, star anise, orange peel, and nutmeg are all great ingredients to add!
• You may also want more sweetness or fruitiness, so try adding some cranberries, blackberries, or cherries. If the seeds are an issue, you may want to heat the wine with the berries first and then strain to remove the seeds before adding the pears.
• For additional liquid ingredients, mix the wine with some cider or another fruit juice like pomegranate.
• And if you like the extra flavor some more alcohol can bring, pour in a dash of whiskey, bourbon, or sherry.

 

 

FAQs

What wine goes with poached pears?

• I like a nice dry red to poach my pears. I used Merlot for this recipe, but a Cabernet Sauvignon would be another great option!

What are the best pears for poaching?

• Bosc pears tend to be the best option, as they hold their shape well when cooked. They also have a good balance of tartness and sweetness. If you can’t find them, Asian pears or Anjou pears will also work.

How long do poached pears keep?

• About 10 days when stored in the fridge. It’s best to keep them in something airtight and covered as much in the poaching liquid as possible.

 

What to Pair with Poached Pears

• You can serve the pears along with a red dry wine (the same as you used or another type) or perhaps this Butterscotch Schnapps Cocktail.
• Serve with whipped cream, mascarpone, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream! If you’re feeling fancy, try this Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream from Modern Honey!
• If you’re still hungry, pair this dessert with some Pumpkin Spice Popcorn for a seasonal snack!

 

Spiced Poached Pears Recipe

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