This recipe is a delightful two-in-one! These delicious poached pears without wine also produce a tasty pear syrup. So, enjoy both with this easy recipe! Serve the poached pears and syrup over pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt, in beverages, and more.
Since I have a pear tree, Iโm always experimenting with new ways to use my harvest.
I’ve already made pear sauce, pear curd, mulled wine poached pears and a pear tart, so if youโre a pear lover, be sure to check those out too!
Why Make Poached Pears without Wine
Poaching pears without wine allows their NATURAL SWEETNESS and flavor to shine through without being overpowered by the boldness of alcohol.
This version is perfect for those who prefer a lighter, ALCOHOL-FREE option while still enjoying the elegance of poached pears.
Plus, itโs a VERSATILE and family-friendly recipe, great for breakfasts, desserts, or as a sophisticated topping for dishes like pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt.
You still get a RICH, FLAVORFUL SYRUP that complements the pears beautifully โ no wine required!
Ingredients in Non Alcoholic Poached Pears
Here’s what you need to make poached pears without wine.
- PEARS: Peel them, then poach whole (with or without the stem) or quartered. If quartered, be sure to remove the core.
- WATER: Serves as the primary cooking liquid that gently cooks the pears, allowing them to become tender without falling apart.
- SUGAR OR MONK FRUIT: For healthy poached pears with fewer calories, use a keto-friendly sweetener such as monk fruit.
- ORANGE OR LEMON PEEL: A sliver (about 1.5 inches or 4 cm long), with no pith.
- VANILLA BEAN OR VANILLA EXTRACT: Vanilla bean adds a rich, warm, and aromatic flavor to poached pears, while vanilla extract offers a more subtle, sweet, and fragrant note to poached pear sauce, enhancing the pears’ natural sweetness.
Although less intense than a whole vanilla bean, vanilla extract still adds warmth and depth to the sauce. - CINNAMON STICK: A cinnamon stick infuses poached pears with a warm, spicy flavor that enhances the overall taste of these non alcoholic poached pears.
- XANTHAN GUM (OPTIONAL): At the end, if you’d like to reduce the spiced water into a rich pear syrup, you can thicken it further by adding xanthan gum.
How to Poach Pears without Wine
Poaching pears without wine is a simple process.
Peel Pears
Peel the whole pears, leaving the stem on or off as you prefer. Alternatively, you can peel, core and quarter the pears for faster cooking.
Cook Pears in Sugar or Zero-Calorie Monk Fruit to Make Poached Pears without Wine
This is how how to poach pears without wine.
1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
2. Add a ยฝ cup of sugar or zero-calorie monk fruit and stir to dissolve.
3. Add 1 sliver of lemon or orange peel.
4. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean.
5. Add 1 stick cinnamon.
6. Add the pears to the pot, ensuring they are fully submerged in the water.
Then, simmer uncovered over medium heat, turning them halfway through the cooking time.
Cook the pears until they are tender but still hold their shape. The cooking time will vary from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the ripeness of the pears and whether you are poaching them whole or quartered.
7. Once 10 minutes have passed, remove a pear from the water and poke it with a knife to check if it is properly poached. Cook some more, if necessary. Once the pears are ready, let the poached pears cool completely in their cooking liquid to preserve flavor and texture.
Two Options for These Healthy Poached Pears without Wine
In addition to enjoying your poached pears immediately, you have two options: make pear syrup or store the poached pears for later use.
1) Make Reduced Spiced Pear Syrup โ My Favorite!
Once the pears have cooled, remove from liquid with a slotted spoon.
Then, remove the cinnamon stick to prevent its flavor from becoming too strong.
However, leave the vanilla bean and lemon or orange peel in the liquid to enhance the flavor.
Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30 minutes to allow it to reduce.
Once you turn off the heat, whisk in a ยฝ teaspoon of xanthan gum if you want to thicken the syrup further.
2) Store Your Poached Pears
Place the cooled pears and their liquid in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
Refrigerate Poached Pears without Wine
Store the pears and their liquid in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. The pears will stay moist and flavorful in the poaching liquid.
Freeze These Poached Pears in Syrup for Longer Storage
If you need to store the 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.
In conclusion, that’s everything you need to know to make this amazing poached pears recipe no wine. If you love pears, I definitely recommend trying this incredible recipe.
Happy Baking!
Want More Healthy Recipes?
Here are some healthy recipes to enjoy:
Recipe Card
Poached Pears without Wine
Equipment
- 1 Medium Saucepan
- 1 Straining Ladle
Ingredients
- 4 Pears: Peel them, then poach whole (with or without the stem) or quartered. If quartered, be sure to remove the core.
- 4 Cups Water
- ยฝ Cup Sugar or Zero-Calorie Monk Fruit
- 1 Orange or Lemon Peel โ a sliver (about 1.5 inches or 4 cm long), with no pith.
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract or 1 Vanilla Bean
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- ยฝ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum (optional) โ At the end, if you'd like to reduce the spiced water into a rich pear syrup, you can thicken it further by adding xanthan gum.
Instructions
Peel Pears
- Peel the whole pears, leaving the stem on or off as you prefer. You can also choose to core, peel, and quarter the pears. Quartered pears will cook faster.
Cook Pears
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Add a ยฝ cup of sugar or monk fruit and stir to dissolve.
- Add 1 sliver of lemon or orange peel.
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean.
- Add 1 stick cinnamon.
- Add the pears to the pot, ensuring they are fully submerged in the water. Then, simmer uncovered over medium heat, turning them halfway through the cooking time. Cook the pears until they are tender but still hold their shape. The cooking time will vary from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the ripeness of the pears and whether you are poaching them whole or quartered.
- Once 10 minutes have passed, remove a pear from the water and poke it with a knife to check if it is properly poached. Cook some more, if necessary. Once the pears are ready, let the poached pears cool completely in their cooking liquid to preserve flavor and texture.
Two Options for Poached Pears without Wine
- In addition to enjoying your poached pears immediately, you have two options: make pear syrup or store the poached pears for later use.
Make Pear Syrup โ Absolutely Delicious!
- Once the pears have cooled, remove from liquid with a slotted spoon. Then, remove the cinnamon stick to prevent its flavor from becoming too strong. However, leave the vanilla bean and lemon or orange peel in the liquid to enhance the flavor.Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30 minutes to allow it to reduce.Halfway through, check for flavor. You may want to remove the vanilla bean at this point.Once you turn off the heat, whisk in a ยฝ teaspoon of xanthan gum if you want to thicken the syrup further.The syrup is absolutely delicious on many foods and beverages: in milk, oatmeal, on pancakes, yogurt, etc.
Store Your Poached Pears
- REFRIGERATE: Store the cooled pears and their liquid in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. The pears will stay moist and flavorful in the poaching liquid.FREEZE: If you need to store the poached pears for a longer period, freeze them in their liquid. Use a freezer-safe container and leave some space on top for expansion. You can freeze them for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw them in the fridge.
Notes
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We love this recipe. It’s easy to make and yeah the syrup tastes great too.
Glad you love it too. We love serving it with pancakes on Sunday morning since you have all that yummy syrup.