There’s something irresistibly magical about Mulled Wine Poached Pears. Tender, juicy and fruit infused with warming spices and rich wine, this INCREDIBLE dessert feels both elegant and comforting.
Why I Love Mulled Wine Poached Pears
I love mulled wine poached pears, because they are the amazing fusion of several delightful elements:
- Aromatic Spices: The infusion of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and star anise creates a cozy, fragrant experience that is perfect for the holidays.
- Rich Red Wine Flavor: Poaching the pears in red wine adds depth, sweetness, and warmth, elevating a simple fruit to a luxurious dessert.
- Perfect Balance: The subtle sweetness of the pears perfectly complements the bold, spiced wine, creating a harmony of flavors.
- Versatile Dessert: You can serve mulled red wine poached pears with whipped cream, mascarpone, ice cream, or yogurt, making them suitable for various occasions.
- Visual Appeal: The pears absorb the deep red hue of the wine, making them a stunning centerpiece for any table.
- Comfort Food with Elegance: Red wine poached pears blend simplicity with sophistication, satisfying both your desire for comfort and a refined touch.
Plus, the scent of mulled wine simmering with pears fills the air with NOSTALGIA and WARMTH – how could anyone resist that?
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for making the BEST mulled wine poached pears. It’s really the best recipe. My dad, in fact, declared that I should “patent” this recipe because it’s so good!
- PEARS: Use varieties like Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett.
- RED WINE: A dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon works best. In fact, it even tastes great with an inexpensive bottle of red wine such as Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon from Trader Joe’s.
- ORANGE JUICE: Fresh-squeezed orange juice adds brightness, acidity, and natural sweetness to these delicious mulled wine poached pears.
- SUGAR OR MONK FRUIT: Granulated sugar or a sugar-free, diabetic-friendly alternative such as monk fruit.
- CINNAMON STICK: Adds warmth and spice to red wine poached pears.
- VANILLA BEAN OR EXTRACT: Adds subtle sweetness and fragrance.
- CLOVES: Provide aromatic spiciness.
- CARDAMOM PODS: Its subtle citrusy, floral, and slightly peppery notes complement the richness of the wine and blend beautifully with other spices like cinnamon and cloves.
- STAR ANISE: For a hint of licorice and depth.
- ORANGE ZEST: Orange zest brightens the flavor.
- LEMON ZEST: Adds a bright, citrusy note to mulled wine poached pears.
This blend of wine, spices, and fruit creates a beautifully aromatic syrup as the pears gently poach to perfection.
How to Make Mulled Wine Poached Pears
PREPARE THE PEARS:
– Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact for a decorative touch.
– Optionally, core the pears from the bottom using a melon baller.
– Alternatively, peel, core, and quarter or halve the pears to shorten cooking time.
MAKE THE MULLED WINE MIXTURE:
– In a large pot, combine the wine, orange juice and sugar or monk fruit.
– Add the cinnamon stick, vanilla bean or extract, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, orange zest and lemon zest.
– Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
ADD THE PEARS:
– Place the pears in the simmering wine mixture, ensuring they are fully submerged.
– Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes, or until the pears are tender but not falling apart. (Quartered pears will take less time.)
CHECK FOR DONENESS:
– Pierce the pears with a knife or skewer: It should slide in easily without breaking the pear.
REMOVE THE PEARS:
– Using a slotted spoon, lift the pears out of the liquid and set them aside
REMOVE THE CINNAMON STICK:
– At this point, remove the cinnamon stick, so it doesn’t overpower the other spices.
MAKE THE REDUCED WINE SYRUP:
– Continue simmering the wine mixture for another 20-30 minutes, reducing it into a thicker syrup.
STRAIN THE REDUCED WINE SYRUP:
– Strain the syrup through a sieve to remove the spices and zest.
How to Serve Poached Pears
1. Place the poached pears in a bowl or in individual serving dishes and drizzle with the reduced red wine syrup.
2. Optional: Serve with whipped cream, mascarpone, or vanilla ice cream for a decadent touch.
How to Store Your Mulled Wine Poached Pears
Place the cooled pears and their liquid in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
Refrigerate Mulled Wine Poached Pears
Store the pears and their liquid in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. The mulled wine poached pears will stay moist and flavorful in the poaching liquid.
Freeze Mulled Wine Poached Pears
If you need to store the mulled wine poached pears for a longer period, freeze them for up to 3 months in their liquid.
Use a freezer-safe container and leave some space on top for expansion.
When ready to use, thaw them in the fridge.
That’s everything you need to know to make the most scrumptious poached pears in red wine syrup. If you love pears, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Happy Baking!
Want More Healthy Pear Dessert Recipes?
Here are some more AMAZING pear recipes to try:
- Apple Pear Sauce Recipe
- Gluten Free Pear Tart
- Pear Curd Recipe
- Pear Sauce Recipe
- Poached Pears without Wine
Mulled Wine Poached Pears with Red Wine
Equipment
- 1 Medium Saucepan
- 1 Slotted Spoon
- 1 Melon Baller (Optional) – To core pears: The rounded shape of a melon baller creates a nice, smooth cavity in the pear, which is aesthetically pleasing and can be useful for filling the pears with various ingredients
Ingredients
- 4 PEARS – Use varieties like Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett.
- 2½ Cups RED WINE – A dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon works best. In fact, it even tastes great with an inexpensive bottle of red wine such as Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon from Trader Joe’s.
- ½ Cup ORANGE JUICE – Fresh-squeezed orange juice adds brightness, acidity, and natural sweetness.
- ¾ Cup SUGAR OR MONK FRUIT (135 g) – Using zero-calorie monk fruit significantly reduces the calories in this recipe.
- 1 CINNAMON STICK – Adds warmth and spice.
- ½ a VANILLA BEAN or 1 Teaspoon VANILLA EXTRACT – Adds subtle sweetness and fragrance.
- 3 CLOVES – Provide aromatic spiciness.
- 3 CARDAMOM PODS – Its subtle citrusy, floral, and slightly peppery notes complement the richness of the wine and blend beautifully with the other spices.
- 1 STAR ANISE – For a hint of licorice and depth.
- 1 Teaspoon ORANGE ZEST – Orange zest brightens the flavor.
- 1 Teaspoon LEMON ZEST – Adds a bright, citrusy note.
Instructions
- PREPARE THE PEARS:– Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact for a decorative touch.– Optionally, core the pears from the bottom using a melon baller to create a nice, smooth cavity in the pear.– Alternatively, peel, core, and quarter or halve the pears to shorten cooking time.
- MAKE THE MULLED WINE MIXTURE:– In a large pot, combine the wine, orange juice and sugar or monk fruit.– Add the cinnamon stick, vanilla bean or extract, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, orange zest and lemon zest.– Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- ADD THE PEARS:– Place the pears in the simmering wine mixture, ensuring they are fully submerged.– Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes, or until the pears are tender but not falling apart. (Quartered pears will take less time.)
- CHECK FOR DONENESS:– Pierce the pears with a knife or skewer: It should slide in easily without breaking the pear.
- REMOVE THE PEARS:– Using a slotted spoon, lift the pears out of the liquid and set them aside.
- REMOVE THE CINNAMON STICK: – Remove the cinnamon stick, so it doesn't overpower the other spices.
- MAKE THE REDUCED WINE SYRUP:– Continue simmering the wine mixture for another 20-30 minutes, reducing it into a thicker syrup.
- STRAIN THE REDUCED WINE SYRUP:– Strain the syrup through a sieve to remove the spices and zest.
How to Serve Poached Pears
- Place the poached pears in a bowl or in individual serving dishes and drizzle with the reduced wine syrup.
- Optional: Serve with whipped cream, mascarpone, or vanilla ice cream for a decadent touch.
Notes
This recipe is so good that you need to patent it! Amazing!
Thanks for letting me know. We love it too!