Some foods notoriously sound fancy, stuffy, and complicated. These same foods normally intimidate me and, as a result, in the past I have shied away from making them. Baking my own bread has always been on that “intimidating list,” as has making homemade pies and poaching pears. For some reason, the idea of “poaching” something always used to scare me (no pun intended since I am a vegetarian and all).
I do not like to admit this very often, but I was wrong. When it comes to poaching pears, the process could not be simpler. If you can peel pears, combine five ingredients in a pot, and boil ingredients… guess what? You can make poached pears!
Now that pear season is well underway, I encourage you to try something new in the kitchen and get to pear poaching! Traditional recipes call for wine when poaching pears. But if you want to get a little more creative, you can try using other liquids like tea, coconut milk, bourbon, or coffee. You can really use any liquid that you enjoy on its own. For my first pear poaching experience, I wanted to use a classic Fall staple: apple cider.
You are going to impress the heck out of your family and friends with these Apple Cider Poached Pears this Fall and Winter. But lucky for you, they only seem fancy and complicated.
My Fall-inspired poached pears start out with four simple ingredients: pears, apple cider, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
Add in your sweetener of choice (coconut sugar for me) and you are all set!
Apple Cider Poached Pears
Vegan
Serves 4
Ingredients
3 large or 6 small under-ripe USA Pears (I used Green Anjou)*
2 cups apple cider (I used 100% juice honey crisp apple cider)
1 cup water
2 whole cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
1/3 cup coconut sugar (brown sugar works well, too!)
*You can easily determine if a pear is under-ripe or ripe by gently applying pressure to the narrow “neck” of the pear with your thumb. If the pear gives to pressure, it is ripe. The poaching method enables you to use pears even when they are crisp and under-ripe, which is perfect for impatient people like me!
Directions
1. Begin by peeling the pears and cutting them into segments. Discard the core of each pear.
2. Combine the pears, apple cider, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sugar in a large pot or dutch oven. Stir until well-combined.
3. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a low boil.
4. Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low, cover, and simmer for approximately 25 minutes.
5. Pierce the pears with a fork to ensure that they are cooked through. Be careful not to cook the pears for too long, as they will get mushy. Once the pears are cooked to your liking, remove them from the pan and set aside to cool.
6. Turn the heat back to high and bring the remaining ingredients to a rolling boil. Boil for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, or until the liquid turns into a sweet syrup.
7. Pour the syrup over the pears.
8. Serve immediately, or store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
These Fall-spiced pears taste fantastic all on their own, but my favorite way to serve them is as a topping for hot oatmeal.
The slightly sweet pears with their accompanying syrup provide the perfect amount of sweetness to a bowl of hot oats. I did not add any additional sweetener to my oats, and instead used these Apple Cider Poached Pears as a natural sweetener. With a little nut or seed butter to top off your bowl, you will be eating a “fancy” breakfast that looks and sounds much more complex than it really is. You sure cannot beat sweet and healthy.
Have I convinced you yet? Poached pears are delicious, flavorful, and beyond easy to make. I bet even my mom- who has very few cooking skills- could make these! Sorry mom!
Have you ever made poached pears?
What liquid would you choose to poach your pears with?
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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Yes, I am convinced! Those look yummy (and easy)!
Thanks Debbie! They truly are both of those things!
I’ve never poached pears, not this sounds awesome! Especially atop oatmeal!!!
Red Wine placed pears have always intrigued me though!
I did not originally go into this recipe planning to top oatmeal with the pears… but I am so glad I tried it. It was such an awesome combination!
Just when I thought they couldn’t look anymore delicious, you threw in the oatmeal photo. Mmm!!
Question: Now would I just use equal amount of coconut milk as you did w/ the Apple Cider?
I have not tried it with coconut milk yet, but I would assume that is exactly what you would do! Please let me know if you try it 🙂
those look delicious – especially in oatmeal!
Thanks Linz!! It makes oatmeal go from delicious to amaaazing!
I’ve never tried poached pears, but now I MUST!
This was my first time, too, and it definitely will not be the last. I am now a poached pear lover!
Cold weather is here! YUk. Any good hot soup recipes?? cmw
Tons of them!
http://cleaneatingveggiegirl.com/category/recipes/soups/
These look fantastic! Love your pictures too. Very eye catching 🙂
Thank you, Jennifer!! I SO appreciate that 🙂
I’ve never made poached pairs before, but it sounds glorious!
They really are! You should absolutely give them a try. I think you will be amazed at how delicious and easy to make they are.
Oh these look amazing! I’ve actually been on a pear kick lately. I’ve been trying to convince Eleanor that they’re yummy, but she’s not convinced yet. Maybe this special recipe will do the trick 😉
This honestly might do the trick! I used to not love pears when I was younger, but after trying this method of preparing them… I am HOOKED!
Here is my “secret” cheat for homemade bread:
http://www.shortstopblog.com/2009/10/homemade-beer-bread.html
I make it ALL the time. It is seriously so easy and people rave about it. It tastes like it took a lot of effort when really it requires 6 ingredients and about 2 minutes to prep (and best of all – no yeast and no rising!).
Oh yay!! I am pretty darn excited about this 🙂 I also love that it is made with beer! Thanks for sharing, Molly!
Why do I always forget how amazing pears are? Poor pears get pushed to the side by apples and pumpkins this time of year.
I think a lot of us are guilty of that. BUT this is a great reminder of how delicious and versatile pears really are. They have definitely become one of my favorite Fall fruits!
Pinning this now! Love that these are poached in apple cider and I happen to have all of the ingredients on hand to make this.
It sounds like this recipe is meant to be! 😉 Let me know if you try it!
These look so simple, but so delicious! Can’t wait to try them!
They are both simple AND delicious! It is true what they say that sometimes the simplest things are the best things!
I love this! I love how this recipe captures fall perfectly! I’m a huge fan of recipes using apple cider and will be trying this out. It will bring variety to my son’s morning oatmeal.
I hope you and your son really enjoy it! These poached pears definitely kick traditional oatmeal up a notch. Let me know if you try them!
Oh I love this idea! Poached pears sounds like the perfect dessert! Need to make this!
They are SO perfect for a healthy dessert. Let me know if you give them a try!
Such a clever flavour combination – and how divine with oats!
Thank you! These poached pears are definitely perfect with oats! I hope you give them a try 🙂
Anything with coconut sugar … YUM!
I SO agree, Elizabeth! Coconut sugar is the best!
Wow! You’ve convinced me – Giving this recipe a go soon! Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad to hear that, Jen!! Let me know what you think!
This does look like a recipe that even I could handle…and yes I do have limited cooking skills!
Yes, you could definitely handle this one! I think you would quite enjoy it too 🙂
Oh ha, delicious doesn’t even begin to describe how good this sounds.
I’ve got like 20 pears after a trip to the farmers market and no idea what to do with them, so thanks!
This is the PERFECT way to use up pears since you can prep and prepare SO many all at once! I hope you enjoy it!
Now I KNOW this would be freaking delicious to warm your belly on a chilly morning like we had today.
They really are! Warm, cidery pears are the best!!
This does sound really simple! I’ve been loving pears right now since they are in season, but would have never thought to poach them. Thanks for sharing!
I am definitely learning how delicious and versatile pears really can be. This Fall version is definitely one of my favorite ways to eat them so far!
I loveee poached pears but I never think to make them! I can’t wait to try this! And I LOVE the ideas of putting them over oatmeal. Yum yum yum. Like your blog- I’m a whole foodie too 🙂 Pinned!
Thank you Elizabeth!! I SO appreciate that! Isn’t it crazy how we find foods we love, but never make them because they sound intimidating? I am so excited that pears are actually SUPER easy to poach. I hope you give them a try!
I did this campaign too!! It was so much fun poaching pears! I love your version.
Wasn’t it so fun?? I had no clue how easy it was! I am so glad that I know now. I definitely plan on making these several more times this Fall.
You are TOTALLY accurate in saying poached pears sounds too intense too make. You make it super easy though, definitely changed my mind
I don’t know why, but there is just something about “poaching pears” that sounds complicated, right? I am SO glad that I was able to try out this cooking method because now I know that it is not difficult at all. I hope you give pear poaching a try!
These sound so good! On top of oatmeal is much healthier than my initial thought of putting them on top of some vanilla ice cream.
Oh my gosh, I have no idea how I never thought of that! I like the way you think! 😉
I would never have ever considered making these before reading this post! Seems like the perfect oatmeal topping. Love the coconut sugar as the sweetener – perfect and caramely. Also, seems like a great way to use pears that are on the verge of going bad! Great post 🙂
Yes to everything you just said! Isn’t coconut sugar the winner of sweeteners? I’m obsessed!
Pears on oatmeal AND there’s apple cider involved?! Breakfast of champions!! I’m in 🙂
It is definitely a triple threat! It is no wonder why I look forward to breakfast every morning when I am able to eat things like this!
Omg. Great recipe.
But the best part is that I never knew how to tell the ripeness of pears, and I eat them all the time. Which is such a bummer when I bite into a pear as hard as an apple. So amazing.
Haha! Unripened fruit is no bueno (unelss you are poaching pears!). I am so glad that you now know the difference. I am sure you will have much more pleasant pear eating experiences from now on 🙂
Hmm, I love poached pears…and on oatmeal, looks delicious!
It is a killer combination! You should definitely give these a try 🙂
What a crazy easy recipe that yields such sophisticated results.
I love the way you put that, Jamie. These certainly seem very sophisticated, but are SO easy to make!
What a great idea! This look DELICIOUS!
Thank you Victoria!! I really really enjoyed these and have plans to make them again soon. I hope you give them a try 🙂
I sure will be giving these a try! 🙂