Hibiscus and Red Wine Spiced Poached Pears

Name: Hibiscus and Red Wine Spiced Poached Pears
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 6 Pears (Ripe but firm. see notes); 1 Lemon rind; 1 Lemon juiced; 1/2 cup Dried Hibiscus Flowers (see notes); 2 cups Red Wine (see notes); 1 Cup Water; 1 Cup Brown Sugar (see notes); 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract (see notes); 1 Cinnamon stick (star anise is also a tasty substitute); 4 Peppercorns; 2 Cloves; 1 Bay Leaf; Vanilla ice cream (Whipped Mascarpone Cheese, or homemade Whipped Cream for serving.)

Modified: Jan 19, 2026 · Published: Jan 1, 2020 by Juyali (ju-ja-lee) · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

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5 from 13 votes

Craving an elegant and delicious dessert that's easier than it looks? Look no further than these perfect poached pears. Infused with hibiscus and red wine, this Spiced Poached Pears recipe takes ordinary poached pears to a new level of flavor and sophistication.

Pear poached in hibiscus, spices and wine sauce with vanilla ice cream over blue and white plate

Decadent and super easy! The beautiful red color of these hibiscus and wine-poached pears makes them the finishing star of the meal. The key is to cook them at low heat and turn them often so that they cook evenly and develop a beautiful, deep color.

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Poached Pears Ingredients and substitutions

These simple ingredients transform into one of the most indulgent and elegant desserts you'll ever make. Get ready for compliments!

Pears just ripe but firm (I used Bartlett, but bosc pears are a great substitute)
Lemon rind
The juice from a Lemon
Dried hibiscus flowers found in Hispanic, Asian, or health stores (Can substitute with three hibiscus tea bags)
Red Wine (I used Argentinian Malbec because I like medium-bodied wines, but a full-bodied wine like cabernet sauvignon will also work for this recipe). White wine will also work for this recipe. The hibiscus flowers will still provide a beautiful red color.
Water
Brown Sugar - brown adds a nice caramel flavor to this recipe, but white sugar is a suitable substitute in a pinch.
Vanilla Extract (a baking staple) or, for a more decadent experience, substitute the extract with the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean.
Cinnamon stick (star anise is also a great substitute)
Peppercorns
Cloves
Bay leaf.

Ingredients for poached pears, pear, red wine, lemon, cinnamon stick, vanilla, brown sugar, spices.

How to Make Perfectly Spiced Poached Pears (Simple and Delicious)

Craving a stunning dessert that's surprisingly simple? Poaching pears is your answer. This method transforms them into tender, flavorful gems infused with warm spices. Get ready to impress with minimal effort! It is a beautiful and easy dessert for a special occasion.

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1. Peel pears, keeping the stems intact. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each pear so they can stand upright when served.

2. Place all remaining ingredients in a medium-sized pot and stir well to combine.

3. Add the peeled pears, cover, and gently boil over medium-high heat (your whole house will smell amazing!).

sauce pan with pears submerged in red wine sauce and spices

4. Reduce the heat to medium-low, uncover, and simmer for about 50 minutes or until the pears are tender and red. Turn the pears about every 10 minutes to soak up the syrup evenly.

5. Remove the pears from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Let them cool down at room temperature.

6. Boil the poaching liquid in a gentle simmer for 10-15 minutes to create a reduction.

7. Strain the liquid over a bowl and refrigerate with the pears for 2 hours.

Serving suggestions

I love serving these spiced poached pears with Vanilla ice cream. The intense flavor of the pears pairs so nicely with it. Other indulgent pairing options are whipped mascarpone cheese or a dollop of fresh whipped cream with a light touch of sugar.

Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the poaching syrup over the pears. Enjoy this beautiful and simple dessert!

Leftover syrup has versatile uses, including adding a touch to cocktails (it works great for a Hibiscus Mimosa!), salad dressings, or simply over ice cream.

For another indulgent recipe, check out this Delicious Orange Flan Recipe, which combines citrusy goodness with a creamy texture.

There you have it, a show-stopping dessert that will become your new go-to recipe for effortless elegance.

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