Red wine poached pears are a classic and versatile dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Made with ripe pears simmered in a bath of red wine, spices, and sugar, this recipe creates a stunning and flavorful dessert with minimal effort.
These poached pears can be served warm or chilled, and paired with a variety of accompaniments for a truly decadent treat.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Poached pears require minimal prep work and cook time, making them a perfect dessert for busy weeknights or an impressive last-minute option for entertaining.
- Elegant Presentation: The beautiful ruby red color of the pears and the rich sauce create a stunning presentation that is sure to impress your guests.
- Versatile: Poached pears can be enjoyed on their own, served with ice cream or whipped cream, or crumbled over a decadent chocolate cake for an extra special treat.
- Naturally Gluten-free: This dessert is naturally gluten-free, making it a perfect option for those with dietary restrictions.
Ingredients You'll Need
Like Grecian honey spiced wine, this poaching liquid can be saved and used for other fruits. Our recipe below gives optional instructions to reduce the leftover poaching liquid into a thicker 'syrup' to drizzle over the pears, or ice cream!
- Fresh Bosc Pears (Anjou pears poach nicely as well).
- Red wine, 1 full bottle
- Honey
- Spices
PRO TIP: While the alcohol cooks away entirely, if you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitute Cran-Raspberry or Cranberry Juice for the wine.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Red Wine Poached Pears
Creating these decadent wine poached pears is delightfully easy! This section will walk you through the process step-by-step, from prepping the pears to simmering them in a flavorful red wine bath infused with warm spices.
Prepare The Spiced Wine Poaching Liquid
- In a large pot, combine red wine, water, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, vanilla bean, and orange zest (if using). Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Peel And Trim The Pears
- Peel the pears, leaving the stem on. You can use a melon baller to core the pears from the bottom, but this step is optional.
Submerge Pears And Poach
- Gently add the pears to the simmering poaching liquid. Make sure the pears are submerged in the liquid. If needed, add a little more water or red wine to cover the pears.
- Cover the pot and simmer the pears for 25-30 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. The cooking time may vary depending on the ripeness of your pears.
- Remove the pears from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a plate or serving dish.
To Make Wine Syrup (optional)
- Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer the poaching liquid uncovered until it reduces by half, creating a thicker syrup consistency. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Strain the poaching liquid into a serving pitcher, discarding the spices.
- Serve the poached pears warm or chilled, drizzled with the poaching syrup.
Serving Suggestions
Serve poached pears warm or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream, mascarpone cheese, or vanilla ice cream. For a decadent twist, crumble poached pears over a flourless chocolate cake or a bed of chocolate shavings.
For a lighter option, serve poached pears with a simple drizzle of the reduced spiced honey wine poaching syrup and a sprinkle of chopped nuts.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when poaching pears in red wine.
- While Bosc, Anjou, and Comice pears are classic choices for poaching, you can experiment with other firm pear varieties like Bartlett pears.
- Any dry red wine that you enjoy drinking will work well in this recipe. For a richer flavor, try using a bolder red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon. For a lighter option, Pinot Noir or Merlot are good choices.
- Experiment with different warming spices like star anise, cardamom pods, or allspice berries.
- You can substitute maple syrup, regular sugar, or brown sugar for the honey in this recipe.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this wine poached pears recipe:
- Use ripe but firm pears for the best results. Pears that are too soft will become mushy during poaching.
- Don't overcook the pears. They should be tender but still hold their shape.
- If the poaching liquid isn't bubbling gently, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer so the alcohol cooks off.
- You can make the poached pears ahead of time. Let them cool completely in the poaching liquid, then store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving.
Related Recipes
- Watermelon Fruit Salad
- No Churn Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream
- Copycat Levain Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Tropical Fruit Salad
- Luscious Lemon Loaf Cake
Storage Options
- Red Wine Poached Pears can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Poached pears can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
The beauty of the poached pears will only shine if the pear skin is peeled away before poaching.
Absolutely! The only difference is the pears will remain their natural color. A great choice of poaching wine would be Sauternes or Moscato.
Don't waste the leftover poaching liquid! It's packed with flavor and can be used in various ways. Reduce it further and drizzle it over pancakes or waffles. You can also use it as a glaze for grilled meats or chicken. Additionally, the poaching liquid can be added to cocktails for a unique and flavorful twist.
Yes! Combine all the ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the pears are tender. This is a great hands-off method for preparing poached pears.
Canned pears tend to be softer and may not hold their shape with poaching. If using canned pears, simply 'marinate' the drained pears in a simmered and cooled spice wine reduction for a few hours.
More Delish Ideas
- Creamy Grape Dessert Salad
- Pumpkin Scones with Maple Icing
- Easy Peach Hand Pies
- Pumpkin Pie without Evaporated Milk
Red Wine Poached Pears with Wine Reduction
Equipment
- 4 quart Sauce pan
Ingredients
- 4 Bosc pears
- 750 ml Marsala wine 1 bottle red wine
- 1 cup Orange juice
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon Mulling spices
Instructions
- Peel the pears, making sure to keep the stems intact.4 Bosc pears
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the red wine, orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and mulling spices. Mix the ingredients until well combined.750 ml Marsala wine, 1 cup Orange juice, 2 Cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon Mulling spices
- Add the peeled pears to the pot with the wine mixture and bring it to a boil.
- Once the mixture starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let the pears cook for about 30-35 minutes. To ensure even cooking, gently turn the pears every 5-10 minutes.
- Once the pears are tender and infused with the flavors, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow them to cool before serving, or chill for an hour or two first before serving.
- Serve the Red Wine Poached Pears with Spices with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream or a scoop of sugar-free vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert. Enjoy!
To Make Wine Syrup (optional)
- Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer the poaching liquid uncovered until it reduces by half, creating a thicker syrup consistency. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Strain the poaching liquid into a serving pitcher, discarding the spices.
- Serve the poached pears warm or chilled, drizzled with the poaching syrup.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears that will hold their shape during poaching.
- Don't overcook the pears! They should be tender but not mushy.
- For a thicker syrup, simmer the poaching liquid for a longer duration after removing the pears.
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