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.
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.
Other Latin recipes you may like
- Dulce de Leche Martini
- Lemon Tres Leches Cake
- Passion Fruit Tiramisu
- Coconut Flan
- Passion Fruit Flan
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.
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.
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!).
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.
Other indulging Latin dessert recipes you may like!
📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️
Hibiscus and Red Wine Spiced Poached Pears
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Latin Inspired
Description
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.
Ingredients
- 6 Pears (Ripe but firm. I used Bartlett, but bosc pears are a great substitute). Keep the stems.
- 1 Lemon rind
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/2 cup of dried hibiscus flowers (see notes)
- 2 cups of Red Wine (see notes)
- 1 Cup of Water
- 1 Cup of Brown Sugar (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon of 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.
Instructions
- Peel pears, keeping the stems intact. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each pear so they can stand upright when served.
- Place all remaining ingredients in a medium-sized pot and stir well to combine and dissolve the sugar.
- Add the peeled pears, cover them, and gently bring them to a boil over medium-high heat (your whole house will smell amazing!).
- 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 ensure they soak up the syrup evenly.
- Remove the pears from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Let them cool down at room temperature.
- Boil the poaching liquid in a gentle simmer for 10-15 minutes to create a reduction.
- Strain the liquid over a bowl and refrigerate with the pears for at least 2 hours.
- Serve pears with ice cream, whipped mascarpone cheese, or homemade whipped cream, and drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the poaching syrup over them.
Enjoy this beautiful and simple dessert!
Notes
- Hibiscus flowers can be found in Hispanic, Asian, or health stores. Can substitute with three hibiscus tea bags)
- 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 if you don’t have red. The hibiscus flowers will still add a beautiful red color.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a nice caramel flavor to this recipe, but white sugar is a suitable substitute in a pinch.
- Vanilla extract: For a more decadent experience, you may substitute the extract with the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean.
Other Autumn Inspired Recipes you might like: Pumpkin Flan Recipe, Apple and Dulce de Leche Empanadas, Apple and Dulce de Leche Apple Crisp.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Pear
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 35.7 g
- Sodium: 12.8 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
Oscar says
This Spiced Poached Pears recipe transforms ordinary poached pears into an elegant dessert infused with hibiscus and red wine. With its rich flavors and sophisticated presentation, it’s a surprisingly easy way to impress and satisfy any sweet craving.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
I know! Hibiscus and red wine are a match made in dessert heaven! 🍐🍷 Thanks for trying it, Oscar! And for leaving your review. 😊
Claudia says
Just tried this recipe, and it turned out amazing! The hibiscus and red wine combo makes the pears so fragrant and rich. Definitely a new favorite dessert! 🍐🍷
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Claudia,
I'm so glad you loved the poached pears! They're sure a delish and unique dessert. 🙂
Nicole Kendrick says
I love the floral notes the hibiscus gives these pears. It's so perfect with the red wine and the pear's natural sweetness.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks for trying the recipe, Nicole! I'm glad you enjoyed the floral notes. 🙂
DK says
Love how simple these poached pears are to make! The hibiscus and wine give them such a rich flavor. Its red color was so gorgeous too!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
I'm so glad you liked it! I agree the color is a show stopper. 🙂
Tiffany says
What an elegant and easy to make dessert! My family thinks I'm a 5 star chef now. LOL
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
I so agree with you, Tiffany! You are a star chef. 🙂 Thanks for trying the recipe and leaving your comment. I'm so glad it was a hit!
Alexandra says
I made these delicious pears for a dinner party, and my friends thought they were the perfect way to end a meal. I used Bosc pears, and they were a lovely texture with beautiful flavour.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Alexandra,
What are great success with your friends! I'm so happy. Comments like this make my day. 🙂
Audrey says
The pears turned out really flavorful. The instructions were very easy to follow.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
So glad, Audrey! Agree, so easy to make and so easy to enjoy too. 😉 Thanks for leaving your review!
Amy says
Such a great recipe! We had it for dessert when we threw a dinner party and our friends loved it. Love how aromatic it was!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
So happy these pears were a hit at your dinner party! Agree, the aromatic spices make them a truly special dessert. Thanks for sharing, Amy! 🙂
JC says
I served these at a dinner party last night. They were so elegant and delicious! Thank you for this recipe.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Wonderful news! I bet they were the star of the show. They do look so elegant, almost too pretty to eat (almost ). 🙂
Ashley says
Everyone was so impressed with this recipe when we had friends over for dinner the other night! (I didn't tell them how easy it was.) And, I had some leftover hibiscus flowers from your hibiscus iced tea recipe so it worked out great. Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Ashley,
You secret's safe with me! I love that you were able to use leftover hibiscus flowers - what a resourceful twist! So happy everyone enjoyed them!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu says
Just made Hibiscus and Red Wine Spiced Poached Pears, and they're delightful! Elegant, fragrant, and perfect for a special dessert.Thanks!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Claudia,
That's wonderful to hear! Hibiscus and red wine are such a flavorful combination, perfect for a special occasion. I'm so glad you found them delightful!
Nora says
What a divine combination and so elegant! We tried it out yesterday, and it was very good!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Nora,
"Divine" is the perfect word! So thrilled you enjoyed it! 🙂
Elizabeth says
This is my first time trying something like this and it did not disappoint! So easy to make and it was delicious, my husband loved them!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's fantastic! Hibiscus poached pears can be a surprising recipe, but the results are always impressive. So happy it was a hit with you and your husband!
Jacqueline Debono says
This is a lovely easy dessert recipe. I used hibiscus tea bags and served with mascarpone cream! Superb!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Jacqui,
That's wonderful to hear! Using hibiscus tea bags is a great substitution, and mascarpone cream is the perfect decadent touch. So glad you enjoyed it!
Sonja says
Never thought of using hibiscus or red peppercorns when poaching pears, but this will be my go to now. It adds just the right amount of finesse, to take these from already delicious red wine poached to being a very special dessert, where everyone is wondering how I achieved this particular flavor. Thanks for this!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Sonja,
That's amazing feedback! It's always rewarding to hear a recipe becomes a go-to for someone. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
Gloria says
I always find poached pears so elegant. This is the perfect dessert to serve to dinner guests. They will feel like they are in a gourmet restaurant.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Gloria,
You're absolutely right! Poached pears are effortlessly elegant, and the hibiscus and red wine twist adds a touch of gourmet flair. It's the perfect way to end a special meal. Thanks for making this recipe!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu says
I just made the Hibiscus and Red Wine Poached Pears and they turned out amazing! The flavors are incredible. Highly recommend trying this recipe!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Claudia,
Fantastic! The flavors in these poached pears are truly something special. I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe and highly recommend it to others as well! Thanks!! 🙂