This stunning dessert will dazzle your guests after a heavy winter meal—or any meal. Whole pears are poached in tawny port and cranberry juice with dried cranberries, fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick, allspice, and pink peppercorns to add flavor. The syrup alone is delicious over ice cream or just by itself. I enjoy desserts like this because they are refreshing, light, and make a great presentation. My memory of pears will be forever linked to my parents' huge pear tree in the chicken yard at our family farm in Germany. I don't know what variety they are, but it was my job as a child to collect them when they fell from the tree and feed them to the pigs. They were stone hard and had no flavor or taste. After picking, we put them on a rack in the fruit cellar and by Christmas, the skin was all shriveled up. But when my grandfather peeled them and handed them to us, we tasted the juiciest most delicious fruit. They had ripened in the cellar. Nobody would buy them today because of their appearance, but the taste was unbelievable. I used Bosc pears for this recipe, because they have an elegant neck and a nice stem. This is another old recipe from my beloved Gourmet magazine. I have made it many times over the years, and it always has been a hit. It’s delicious with whipped cream or ice cream. I should have posted this recipe a while ago, but my brother and his wife are visiting from Germany and I am happy being a hostess. They are enjoying the sunny California weather and the beautiful Pacific coastline. I often forget that I live in such a beautiful place. I am taking them to different beaches for walks and ocean views. Their favorite place is the beach at sunset. Having my family around me makes me happy. Here are two other pear desserts I love to make. One is a humble but delicious bundt cake and the other is a pear tart with an exquisite flavor and taste.
47 Comments
Gerlinde
2/10/2018 02:20:41 pm
Thank you Kay , the syrup is delicious.
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2/10/2018 03:06:21 pm
Love this light dessert Gerlinde! I've made poached pears a few times and they're always a hit. So glad you're enjoying your visit with your brother and sister-in-law!
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Gerlinde
2/11/2018 11:10:01 am
I have a couple of other recipes besides this one and I am sure yours are delicious.
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2/11/2018 05:12:51 am
I love whole poached pears, and anything made with pears too! So glad you're having a nice visit with your brother - I know you were looking forward to it. I have a lovely memory about pears too - one of my best friends had a tree and my mom and I were invited to pick all we wanted. She made pear butter and canned it and I ate my weight in fresh, juicy, dripping down your chin pears!
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Gerlinde
2/14/2018 06:59:49 pm
Thank you for the comment Tricia, isn’t wonderful to have all those food memories. Do you have the recipe for the pear butter your mother made? I made some apple butter this year and really liked it,
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2/11/2018 05:08:06 pm
Wow Gerlinde! My mouth is watering. Each and every one looks so delicious. I do love cooked pears anyway. I'm captivated by the beautiful simplicity of the poached pears. You've out done yourself with this post my friend. Hugs!
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Gerlinde
2/11/2018 07:11:10 pm
Thank you Teagan, you are so sweet, Hugs!
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Gerlinde
2/13/2018 07:18:56 am
Penny, this recipe is not difficult at all. You just have to be a little careful when peeling and poaching the pears. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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2/13/2018 05:45:36 am
Hi Gerlinde, I've yet to make a dessert with poached fruit, but your pears look absolutely delicious in that cranberry syrup. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I know we will love this light dessert :)
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Gerlinde
2/13/2018 07:20:27 am
Thank you Marcelle for visiting my blog and commenting. It’s always nice to meet new bloggers.
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2/13/2018 06:33:13 am
Love poached pears and really do not make them often enough. Love your additions and the pink peppercorns too. Gives them a little sparkle of flavor. Beautiful photos! Sharing!
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Gerlinde
2/13/2018 07:25:49 am
The syrup has a wonderful flavor, I used the leftover syrup to pour over my ice cream. Thank you for sharing!
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2/7/2019 08:43:42 am
The sweet dessert pears are really hitting the spot. Can't wait to give your version a try soon. Take Care 2/13/2018 07:59:08 am
Pears are often overlooked, with apples getting all the glory. This vibrant recipe gives them the spotlight they deserve. A fab dessert Gerlinde!
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Gerlinde
2/14/2018 06:49:41 pm
Thanks Deb, pears were very fashionable In the beginning of the 19th century but today we have so many choices and pears are often overlooked. I love them in my salads.
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2/14/2018 07:58:47 am
Love poached pears! And haven't made them in AGES! Classic dish, classic flavor. In other words, good stuff! :-) Thanks so much.
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Gerlinde
2/14/2018 06:51:57 pm
We often forgot about recipes that we made a log time ago. Thanks for the comment John
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2/14/2018 10:06:20 am
Since I am just now reading this on Valentine's day I feel I am getting a special treat with your pear photos! I have never really cooked with pears. What great memories of having them in Germany. Glad you have had family visiting and enjoying the beautiful place that you live! And Happy Valentine's Day!
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Gerlinde
2/14/2018 07:01:13 pm
Happy Valentine to you Jo, I hope you had a good one,
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Gerlinde
2/16/2018 03:45:57 pm
There are so many dessert choices David but I think you would like these pears, especially when served with ice cream.
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2/15/2018 03:03:14 am
Yum! I have never tried poaches pears but I have tried poached apples and they are delightful, Gerlinde. Exceptional recipe which I can't wait to try!
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Gerlinde
2/16/2018 03:38:23 pm
Poached pears are very juicy Agnes and the syrup adds a nice flavor.
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What an elegant dessert. For some strange reason I’m allergic to pears, but if this was placed in front of me I’d probably eat it anyway! Love your childhood pear memory.
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Gerlinde
2/16/2018 03:40:00 pm
You better not eat pears Pam, I don’t want you to get sick, Aloha and have a great time in Kauai.
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2/17/2018 01:36:12 pm
Gerlinde, it's been decades since I last poached pears, but never with the addition of cranberries! Thanks for reminding me of this lovely dessert. I still miss Gourmet magazine (sniff sniff), too. It would make such a lovely ending to the roast pork dinner we'll be having this evening. If only I had some pears!
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Gerlinde
2/18/2018 07:49:19 pm
Thanks for the comment Jean, roast pork sounds good.
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2/21/2018 07:11:29 am
Your post has me wishing for some of the pear trees we had in our orchard in New Hampshire. Each fall we would have buckets full of pears. Thanks for sharing your recipe, simple and delicious.
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Gerlinde
2/21/2018 09:35:43 pm
You had such a beautiful home in New Hampshire. What did you do with all those pears?
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2/21/2018 10:41:50 am
The poached pears are so pretty with the sauce! I bet it smells amazing as it cooks too.
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Gerlinde
2/21/2018 09:37:45 pm
The smell was enticing Lisa, thanks for the comment.
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2/22/2018 12:58:23 pm
The textures in this recipe really speak to me here! They are a welcome sight for me too. I’ve been traveling and the warm spices and bright citrus on this plate of pears certainly says welcome home to California. GREG
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Gerlinde
2/23/2018 07:33:53 am
Thanks Greg and welcome back home.
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Gerlinde
2/23/2018 07:47:44 am
Thanks Liz, I just made the cake with a mable syrup glaze for my Dozent training class and everybody liked it.
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Gerlinde
2/23/2018 08:55:01 am
Thank you for your nice comment.
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3/1/2018 07:56:58 pm
your bundt cake looks marvellous gerlinde. and how lovely to have family visiting. always makes you feel happy i think. cheers sherry
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Gerlinde
3/1/2018 09:38:39 pm
The bundt cake tastes pretty good. Thanks for the comment Sherry.
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3/4/2018 09:37:15 am
Love these Gerlinde, love the memories, too. I would love to have a pear tree in my yard!!
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Gerlinde
3/4/2018 11:23:29 am
The pear tree is still on the farm but I don’t think anybody collects the pears these days. Thanks for the comment!
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Gerlinde
9/19/2019 11:01:18 am
I know I am lucky living on this wonderful coast. Thanks for the comment Mimi.
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11/10/2019 08:47:59 am
Gerlinde, I was just thinking about poached pears and remembered that you had posted about the recipe from Gourmet. I'm going to Pin it this time so I don't lose track of it again. I love your childhood pear story!
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Gerlinde
11/10/2019 09:59:45 am
Jean, I love poached pears . My girlfriend just made some using a bottle of wine and sugar and reducing the sauce to a syrup after the pear are cooked. It was very good and simple. Some people in Italy are going to make a video from my recipe. I am excited.
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