Elegant Autumn Poached Pears Recipe: Sweet & Cozy Dessert

Delicate poached pears shimmer like culinary jewels waiting to captivate your dessert dreams.

Elegant simplicity defines this classic French technique that turns ordinary fruit into something magical.

Sweet wine and delicate spices create an aromatic bath where pears become tender and luxurious.

Soft fruit absorbs complex flavors, developing a sophisticated profile that whispers of refined comfort.

Seasonal pears respond beautifully to gentle poaching, revealing layers of unexpected depth and nuance.

Chefs appreciate how minimal ingredients can produce such extraordinary results with minimal effort.

This dessert promises to transport you to a Parisian café with each sublime, silky bite.

What Makes Mary Berry Poached Pears Special

• Craft with Ease: Poaching pears requires minimal cooking skills, making it perfect for beginners who want to impress without stress.
• Versatile Dessert Delight: Serve chilled as an elegant finale to dinner parties or enjoy as a light, sophisticated treat that adapts to various occasions.
• Healthy Indulgence: Packed with natural fruit goodness and gently cooked to preserve nutrients, this dessert offers a guilt-free sweet experience that satisfies without heavy calories.
• Sensory Flavor Journey: The aromatic blend of cider, cinnamon, and spices creates a complex taste profile that transforms simple pears into a gourmet experience.

Everything You Need For Mary Berry Poached Pears

• Pears: Ripe and firm pears work best for a perfect poaching texture.

• Apple Cider, Water: Create a flavorful base that gently cooks the pears.
• Lemon Zest: Adds bright, citrusy notes to the poaching liquid.

• Cinnamon, Allspice, Black Pepper: Provide warm, complex aromatic undertones that complement the pears' natural sweetness.

Simple Guide For Mary Berry Poached Pears

Step 1: Prepare Pear Bases

Carefully peel each pear, removing the skin completely. Starting from the bottom, core the pears while keeping their elegant shape intact. Use a small melon baller or paring knife to gently remove the seeds and center core.

Step 2: Craft Fragrant Poaching Liquid

• Apple cider
• Water
• Fresh lemon zest
• Whole cinnamon stick
• Ground allspice
• Cracked black pepper

Blend these ingredients together, creating a warm and inviting poaching environment.

Step 3: Gently Simmer Pears

Carefully lower the prepared pears into the liquid. Cover the pan with parchment paper, allowing the pears to nestle comfortably. Simmer the pears for approximately 20 minutes, tenderly turning them every few minutes to ensure even cooking and beautiful color distribution.

Step 4: Transform Liquid Into Luxurious Syrup

Remove the perfectly cooked pears from the pan. Increase the heat and let the poaching liquid bubble and reduce, transforming into a rich, glossy syrup. Watch as the liquid condenses and becomes more concentrated with flavor.

Step 5: Serve With Elegant Finish

Pour the glistening syrup over the poached pears. Chill the dessert to enhance its flavors. When ready to serve, present the pears upright on a beautiful plate. Optional: Accompany with a refreshing scoop of sorbet for an extra touch of sophistication.

Helpful Cooking Tips For Mary Berry Poached Pears

• Peel Precisely: Remove pears' skin from bottom up to keep elegant shape and prevent bruising during cooking.
• Select Ripe Fruit: Choose firm but slightly soft pears that will absorb flavors without falling apart during poaching.
• Control Liquid Temperature: Maintain gentle simmer, not rapid boil, to ensure pears cook evenly and remain tender.
• Boost Flavor Potential: Experiment with different spices like star anise or cardamom to create unique poaching liquid variations.
• Serve Creatively: Plate pears upright and drizzle reduced syrup for elegant presentation, pairing with vanilla sorbet or light cream.

Different Styles Of Mary Berry Poached Pears

• Spiced Wine Poached Pears: Replace cider with red wine, add star anise and cloves for deeper, richer flavor profile.
• Honey Lavender Pears: Swap cider for white wine, use honey instead of regular sugar, infuse with dried lavender buds for floral notes.
• Vegan Maple Poached Pears: Use apple juice as liquid base, substitute maple syrup for sweetness, add vanilla extract for complexity.
• Ginger Cardamom Pears: Incorporate fresh ginger slices and ground cardamom, use orange zest instead of lemon for bright, warm undertones.

Best Pairings With Mary Berry Poached Pears

• Boost Flavor Harmony: Pair these delicate poached pears with creamy blue cheese for a stunning sweet-tangy contrast that dances on your palate.
• Complementary Wine Selection: Serve with a crisp Riesling or Gewürztraminer, whose subtle sweetness and light acidity perfectly mirror the pears' delicate spiced notes.
• Elegant Dessert Companion: Top with a scoop of vanilla bean gelato or cinnamon sorbet to enhance the warm spices and create a luxurious, multi-layered dessert experience.
• Textural Crunch Addition: Sprinkle toasted almonds or crushed pistachios over the pears to introduce a delightful nutty crunch that balances the soft, silky fruit texture.

How To Store Mary Berry Poached Pears After Cooking

• Store poached pears in an airtight container with remaining syrup for up to 3 days. Keep chilled to maintain texture and flavor.
• Place cooled pears in freezer-safe container, cover completely with syrup. Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
• Warm individual pear portions on medium power for 30-45 seconds. Drizzle extra syrup to prevent drying out.
• Let frozen or refrigerated pears sit for 15-20 minutes before serving to soften and enhance natural sweetness.

Mary Berry Poached Pears Questions Answered

• What type of pears work best for this recipe?

Firm, slightly underripe pears like Bosc or Anjou are ideal because they hold their shape during poaching and won’t turn mushy.

• Can I use a different liquid instead of cider?

Yes, white wine or apple juice are excellent alternatives that provide similar fruity and aromatic flavors to the poaching liquid.

• How do I know when the pears are perfectly poached?

The pears are done when a knife easily pierces the flesh without resistance, typically around 15-20 minutes of gentle simmering.

• Is the whole spice blend necessary?

While the combination of lemon zest, cinnamon, allspice, and pepper creates a complex flavor profile, you can simplify by using just 1-2 spices if preferred.

Poached Pears Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Indulgent French Poached Pears dance with elegant simplicity, blending delicate wine-infused flavors and graceful presentation. Dessert enthusiasts will savor this classic French delicacy that elevates seasonal fruit into a sophisticated sweet finale.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruits:

• 8 bosc pears

Side Ingredients:

• 1 lemon zest
• 1 cinnamon stick

Spices and Liquid:

• 1/4 teaspoon (0.25) ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon (0.25) ground pepper
• 3 cups (24 fluid ounces / 710 milliliters) apple cider
• 1 cup (8 fluid ounces / 240 milliliters) water

Optional Serving:

• Lemon sorbet

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Instructions

1. Carefully remove pear skin using a vegetable peeler, maintaining whole fruit shape while extracting core from bottom end.
2. Select a wide, shallow pan and create aromatic poaching liquid by blending apple cider, water, fragrant lemon zest, warm cinnamon, earthy allspice, and subtle black pepper.
3. Gently submerge prepared pears into liquid, ensuring they are mostly covered, and place parchment paper directly on surface to prevent discoloration.
4. Simmer liquid at medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes, delicately rotating pears every 5-7 minutes to ensure uniform cooking and color.
5. Extract pears using slotted spoon and transfer to serving plate, leaving poaching liquid in pan.
6. Increase heat and vigorously boil remaining liquid, stirring occasionally, until it transforms into glossy, concentrated syrup with rich amber hue.
7. Drizzle reduced syrup generously over poached pears, allowing liquid to cascade and pool around fruit base.
8. Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes to enhance flavor and achieve elegant serving temperature, optionally garnishing with complementary sorbet before presentation.

Notes

• Choose firm, ripe pears like Bosc or Anjou for the best poaching results.
• Carefully peel pears from bottom to top, keeping stem intact for an elegant presentation.
• Use a vegetable peeler to create a smooth, even surface when removing skin.
• Adjust spices based on personal taste or dietary preferences – swap cinnamon for ginger or add vanilla bean for depth.
• Check pear tenderness by inserting a sharp knife – it should glide in smoothly without resistance.
• Make this dessert vegan by substituting honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
• Leftover poaching liquid can be stored in the refrigerator and reused for another batch or as a cocktail mixer.
• Serve chilled for a refreshing summer dessert or warm for a cozy winter treat.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 73 kcal
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 2 mg
• Fat: 0.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg