Spiced Poached Pears

5 from 1 vote

Sweet pears are poached in a honey-based syrup with chai spices. A fall-inspired dessert or fruity side that can be made ahead of time.

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Reduce the liquid30

Total Time1 20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 175kcal

Peel the pears but leave the stalks intact. Slice a little off the base of each pear so they sit flat on the plate later on.
4 pears
Combine water, honey, cinnamon stick, ginger, and cardamon pods in a heavy-based saucepan. Bring everything to a simmer and add the pears with a ladle.
4 cups water, 1/4 cup honey, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tbsp ginger, 2 cardamon pods
Poach the pears gently for 40 minutes with a lid on the saucepan. You're after a low and slow simmer. Turn the fruit every 10 minutes while spooning the poaching liquid over the pears. Poach the pears until they're tender all the way through when pierced with a knife or toothpick. The cooking time will depend on the type of pears you're poaching.
Once fully poached, remove the pears as well as the spices from the saucepan. Boil the liquid for 30 minutes without the lid to reduce it by about half, until thick you're left with a syrup. Reduce the liquid to a syrup by boiling it vigorously without the lid on the saucepan but keep an eye on it to prevent it from burning. Add the vanilla extract and stir. Let it cool down slightly. Return the poached pears to the syrup until serving.
1 tsp vanilla extract

Lid on: Leave the lid on the saucepan while poaching the pears to avoid liquid evaporating too quickly.

Ladle: Remove pears with a ladle to prevent them from getting damaged.

Storage: Poached pears make a delicious meal prep staple and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.