Whole red wine poached pears are a simple and beautiful dessert. In this recipe, we steep the pears in a syrup made of wine, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla, infusing them with the flavors of the season while keeping them light. Depending on how long the pears soak in the wine and the type of red wine used, they take on shades of gorgeous ruby and garnet hues.
Options and Serving Suggestions for Red Wine Poached Pears
They can be sweetened with cane sugar or alternatives such as stevia or monk fruit sugar. They can be drizzled with chocolate sauce or caramel and are delicious with vanilla ice cream, and can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled. I like to eat them as is, with no whipped cream or anything else added other than a sprig of mint or a cinnamon stick to garnish.
Make-Ahead Convenience
You can make these up to two days ahead of time and then pop them in a bowl just before serving for a pretty, delicious, and light dessert.
Health Benefits of Red Wine Poached Pears
This dessert is not only delicious but also offers several health benefits:
- Pears: High in fiber, pears aid in digestion and help maintain a healthy weight. They are also a good source of vitamins C and K.
- Red Wine: Contains antioxidants, such as resveratrol, which can help protect the heart and improve cholesterol levels when consumed in moderation.
- Sugar Alternatives: Using alternatives like stevia or monk fruit sugar can reduce the overall calorie content and provide a healthier option for those monitoring their sugar intake.
Red Wine Poached Pears
Ingredients
- 6 pears ripe but still firm
- 2 cups red wine
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cinnamon stick about a 1-inch piece
- 4 cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Pour the wine, water, vanilla, sugar, cloves, and cinnamon stick into a large pot and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Peel the pears, leaving the stem and core intact.
- Gently place the pears into the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a light simmer.
- Once the wine begins to simmer, cook the pears for 30 minutes, turning the fruit occasionally so they soak up the color evenly.
- Remove the pears from the wine when tender but still slightly firm and place them in a bowl.
- Turn up the heat on the stove and boil the wine for 10 minutes to reduce the liquid and intensify the flavors.
- Remove from heat and pour the syrup through a strainer over the pears.
- Allow to cool, cover, and then chill in the refrigerator for at least a few hours.
- To serve, place one pear in a bowl for each person.
- Spoon some of the syrup over the pears.
- These can also be served at room temperature or warm by reheating in the syrup before serving.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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