With a perfect balance of sweet, light, elegant, and cozy vibes, these spiced Stewed Pears are the simple wintry dessert you need in your entertaining recipe repertoire. Made with just 5 ingredients in about 15 minutes using a single pan, this gorgeously seasonal dessert is perfect for any cool weather occasion.
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About This Recipe
If you’re a fan of fruit pies and crumbles but don’t have the time, patience, or energy to make one from scratch, you’re going to adore this simple recipe for spiced poached pears. They’re fork-tender, taste like pie filling, and are best served warm — preferably with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Aside from being wildly tasty and seasonally appropriate, this stewed pears recipe is:
- Made With Just 5 Ingredients - With a list so short, you’ll be able to memorize it!
- Quick & Easy - Peel, quarter, simmer, and serve. The whole process takes just 15 minutes from start to finish. Oh, and it’s all made in one pan, so cleanup is a snap.
- Allergen-Friendly - Stewed fruit has all the appeal of your favorite pie filling, but is naturally nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free… you get the picture. It’s the perfect easy (and sneakily vegan) dessert for just about any diet.
- Budget-Friendly - All you need is fruit, spices, and water to make this classically elegant recipe for poached pears without wine. It’s the best rent-week dessert I’ve ever found!
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this poached pear easy recipe. Here’s what to grab for this simple dessert:
- Fresh Pears - Red, green, or yellow pears will all work perfectly well here, so grab whatever suits you. Remember: the ripeness of your pears matter. The riper and softer the pears are out of hand, the quicker they’ll get stewed to perfection. I used Bosc pear slices for this recipe!
- Warm Spices like Cinnamon Stick & Star Anise - Adding whole spices to the poaching liquid infuses the pears with warmth while keeping them looking clean and tidy. Feel free to experiment with other warming flavors like whole cloves, ground cinnamon, slices of fresh ginger, or cardamom pods.
- Vanilla Extract - For a touch of complexity. Feel free to swap in an equal amount of vanilla paste or half as much ground vanilla if you don’t mind the vanilla bean flecks throughout your cooked pears.
- Orange Juice - For bright acidity and a little extra sweetness. You can also use the juice from a whole tangerine or clementine, apple juice or lemon juice.
- Water - Ok, you got me. Water is technically the 6th ingredient for these stewed pears, but since it comes out of the tap, I’m hoping you’ll give me a pass. 😉
Equipment
The tools you’ll need to make this sweet stewed pear dessert are as simple as the ingredients. Here’s what to grab:
- Veggie Peeler or Paring Knife - Use whatever feels most natural to peel pears, I myself used a vegetable peeler!
- Cutting Board - Plastic or wood are both great options. Avoid glass cutting boards since they tend to dull your knives more quickly (and are also quite jarring to cut on).
- Chef’s Knife - For quartering the pears. Any decently sharp knife (even a steak knife) should do the trick.
- Saucepan - Choose one with a heavy bottom for more even heat distribution and to prevent scorching.
How To Make Stewed Pears
You’re going to flip when you see how easy it is to make these tasty poached pears. Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Add all ingredients including your peeled pears into a small or medium saucepan and top with a lid.
Step 2: Simmer until pears are fork-tender on low heat — adjust the cooking time as needed, for soft or ripe pears this could only take 5-10 minutes. For firmer pears, this should take about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Serve. Once your pears are tender, remove them from the saucepan and enjoy over greek yogurt, pound cake, pear flapjacks or with a small scoop of ice cream!
Serving Suggestions
While these deliciously spiced pears are lovely eaten on their own, they’re also great for dressing up. Here are a few ways to enjoy them:
- As A Deconstructed Pie Or Crumble - Serve with shortbread crumbles and/or a scattering of sweet granola or streusel.
- Topped With A Scoop Of Ice Cream - I love the combination of hot fruit against cold ice cream. Vanilla isn’t the only option either. Almond, cinnamon, or caramel ice cream would all be lovely. To stay on the lighter end, consider using a tart cranberry sorbet.
- Served Over Breakfast - These poached pears are a decadent (but healthy!) addition to your morning oatmeal, porridge, pancakes, waffles, french toast or crepes. Add a touch of brown sugar or maple syrup for some added sweetness to your stewed pears!
Expert Tips
- Coring the pears is quite simple with a melon baller. If you don’t have one, a regular spoon or your paring knife should do the trick.
- The fastest way to peel a bunch of pears is to make a small “x” with your paring knife, then drop them in a bowl of boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them from the hot water, and the skins should be easy to rub off using just your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any color of pear will do well here. If you have the option, I suggest reaching for D'Anjou or Bosc pears (which retain their shape when cooked) over Williams or Bartlet pears (which tend to break down more quickly).
Absolutely! This easy stewed pears recipe will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. You’re welcome to serve them chilled or at room temp, but I suggest warming them a touch for cozier vibes.
Yes! Just make sure you grab a pot that will fit all the pears.
More Easy Recipes For Entertaining
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Spiced Stewed Pears
Equipment
- Veggie Peeler or Paring Knife
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 4 Pears, peeled and cut into quarters
- ¼ cup Water
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 Star Anise
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ Orange, juiced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a small saucepan and top with a lid.4 Pears, ¼ cup Water, 1 Cinnamon Stick, 1 Star Anise, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, ½ Orange
- Simmer until pears are tender - for soft or ripe pears this could only take 5-10 minutes. For firmer pears, this should take about 15 minutes total.
- Once your pears are tender, remove them from the saucepan and enjoy or add a scoop of ice cream on top!
Notes
Serving Suggestions
While these deliciously spiced pears are lovely eaten on their own, they’re also great for dressing up. Here are a few ways to enjoy them:- As A Deconstructed Pie Or Crumble - Serve with shortbread crumbles and/or a scattering of sweet granola or streusel.
- Topped With A Scoop Of Ice Cream - I love the combination of hot fruit against cold ice cream. Vanilla isn’t the only option either. Almond, cinnamon, or caramel ice cream would all be lovely. To stay on the lighter end, consider using a tart cranberry sorbet.
- Served Over Breakfast - These poached pears are a decadent (but healthy!) addition to your morning oatmeal, porridge, pancakes, waffles, or crepes. Add a touch of brown sugar or maple syrup for some added sweetness to your stewed pears!
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