If you’re looking for a delicious and easy dessert that can be made in just a few minutes, try this stewed pears recipe. It is perfect for when you want something sweet but don’t have much time to cook.
Juicy fresh pears picked straight from the tree are a favorite Fall snack. But simmering the fruit in a simple syrup with spices and serving warm makes them taste even better!
This recipe for easy stewed pears takes just a few minutes for a quick and easy treat. You can enjoy it as a dessert or as part of a meal.
Simply combine sliced pears that have been seeded and peeled with sugar and cinnamon. Then let the mixture cook until the pears are soft. They are delicious served warm or cold.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
This recipe is similar to poached pears. It combines pears, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick with a touch of lemon juice and water. While the fruit is poached in the liquid it softens and soaks in the sugar and spice.
Instructions
Prepare a lemon water bath by squeezing the juice of 2 lemons into a bowl with 1 cup of water. Quarter, peel and core pears. Place sliced pears in the lemon water bath as you go to prevent browning.
To a medium saucepan, add ½ a cup of brown sugar with 1 cup of water, and a cinnamon stick. Stir mixture until sugar dissolves. Gently add pears to the pot.
Add the juice of 1 lemon. Strain any lemon seeds from the liquid. Cover with water.
Bring ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the liquid boils, lower the heat to a simmer. Stew pears by simmering for 5-10 minutes until the they are just cooked.
The pears are done cooking when the knife easily pierces the pears without resistance. Use a slotted spoon to gently remove the pears from the liquid and transfer them to a bowl.
Strain the syrup and pour it over the pears. You can enjoy the pears warm, if desired.
To serve cold, allow the stewed pears to cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
The dessert is best served chilled the next day.
Tips
- Start with ripe pears – they will be softer and easier to stew.
- Peel and cut the pears into seedless pieces before cooking.
- Use a small amount of water or apple juice to simmer the pears in a covered pot.
- Stir occasionally, and cook until the pears are soft – about 15 minutes.
- Sweeten with honey, agave syrup, sugar, or maple syrup to taste.
- Add a couple cinnamon sticks. The extra spice goes well with the natural sweetness of the pears.
Serving suggestions
Stewed pears are a delicious, healthy dessert that can be served in a variety of ways.
They can be served warm or cold, with or without ice cream, and with a variety of toppings. Nuts or whipped cream are a couple of great topping options!
Variations
Stewed pears are a classic treat that can be made with many variations. One of the simplest recipes uses just pears, sugar, and water.
However, adding spices or other ingredients can create a more complex flavor. For example, adding cinnamon or nutmeg can give the dish a warm flavor, while adding ginger can give it a zing.
Other variations include using different types of sweeteners, such as honey or maple syrup, or using juice instead of water. Additionally, some recipes call for browning the pears in butter or oil before simmering them in liquid.
Whether simple or complex, stewed pears are a delicious and versatile dessert. You can even change up the fruit and make stewed apples using the same basic recipe.
FAQs
Stewing and poaching are both methods of cooking food in liquid, but they produce different results. Stewing is a slower process that cooks the food slowly in a simmering liquid. This results in a thicker, richer sauce. Poaching is a faster process that cooks the food quickly in a boiling liquid. This produces a thinner, more delicate sauce.
Stewed pears are a dish made from pears that are cooked in a sweet syrup.
Stewed pears typically require sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Stewed pears are made by simmering pears in a sugar syrup until they are soft. The syrup can be flavored with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, or star anise.
Related recipes
Want more simple recipes like this stewed pears? Here’s a few more fruity recipes to try.
- Filipino fruit salad is a popular dessert made up of various fruits in a sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese dressing.
- Raspberry compote is a great way to add some flavor and sweetness to your morning pancakes or yogurt.
- Strawberry tanghulu is delicious skewered candy fruit often based on the popular street food.
- 3 ingredient banana pudding is easy to whip up and loaded with flavor.
- Macaroni fruit salad is a tasty tread that’s perfect for summertime picnics and potlucks.
Stewed Pears
Ingredients
- 4 ripe pears
- 1 cup of water plus enough water to submerge the pears in the pot
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 lemons plus 1 lemon
Video
Instructions
- Prepare a lemon water bath by squeezing the juice of 2 lemons into a bowl with 1 cup of water. Quarter, peel and core pears. Place sliced pears in the lemon water bath as you go to prevent browning.
- To a pot, add ½ a cup of brown sugar with 1 cup of water, and a cinnamon stick. Stir mixture until sugar dissolves.
- Gently add pears to the pot. Add the juice of 1 lemon. Strain any lemon seeds from the liquid. Cover with water. Bring ingredients to a boil over medium – high heat. Once the liquid boils, lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the pears are just cooked.
- Test the pears by piercing the flesh with the tip of a small knife. They are ready when the knife easily pierces the pears without resistance.
- Use a slotted spoon to gently remove the pears from the liquid and transfer them to a bowl.
- Strain the syrup and pour it over the pears.
- Allow stewed pears to cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Best served chilled the next day.