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How to Stew Pears Recipe

how to stew pears in a large saucepan with an anise star and wooden spoon
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​Knowing how to stew pears is an easy recipe to learn and is such an easy dessert or snack! Full of natural sweetness from the pears and warm spices from ground cinnamon, this healthy stewed pears recipe is going to be a family favorite.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 6 ripe medium pears (992g; 2-2.5 pounds)
  • 1/3 cup (70g) 100% apple juice (or water)
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon honey (or pure maple syrup or brown sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Cut fresh pears into 1" cubes on cutting board.
  2. Combine pears and remaining ingredients into medium saucepan.
  3. Bring mixture to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer over low-medium heat.
  4. Cook ~10 minutes, or until pears have softened but retain shape and texture.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool 5-10 minutes.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • STORING: Store any leftover cooked pears in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze any leftovers for up to 2 months as well!
  • SERVING:This pear recipe is great as-is and served plain but fun ways to serve them:
    • With a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
    • Swirled into cinnamon spice oatmeal
    • Make an easy pear crumble by topping with crushed cinnamon granola with pecans
    • On top of vanilla Greek yogurt with crushed walnuts and puffed quinoa
    • On a charcuterie board (these stewed pears pair so well with basically any cheese!)
    • On top of a wheel of brie cheese
    • Scooped onto homemade pancakes or waffles
  • Try to find the perfectly ripe pear to use in this recipe! See "How to Ripen Pears at Home" below to learn how to speed up the ripening process if you need! 
  • On the other hand, overripe pears may not work well either. They may be too soft and become mushy after cooking for just a few minutes.
  • Any kind of pears will work in this simple recipe, specifically anjou pears, bosc pears, and bartlett pears, which should be fairly easy to find in the produce section at the grocery store!
  • Leave the skin on! It adds to the texture of the stewed pears as well as the fiber content. Peeled pears can become mushy a lot faster.
  • If the cooking liquid thickens too quickly, add a splash of water, lemon juice, or apple juice to thin it out.
  • I love making a big batch of this healthy dessert because it's a great recipe to make in bulk and have on hand for when I want something sweet!
  • You can use many types of fruit instead of pears in this healthy recipe to make:
    • Stewed apples
    • Stewed plums
    • Stewed rhubarb
    • Stewed cherries
  • Add a splash of wine to this recipe to resemble classic poached bears. Red wine or white wine would be delicious!
  • Any sweetener will work in this recipe to sweeten the pears: honey (like in the original recipe), pure maple syrup, brown sugar, white sugar, or even a plain or cinnamon simple syrup!
  • Cooking a Tablespoon or two of bourbon or whiskey into the stewed pears is a delicious way to add a depth of flavor!
  • If you really want this recipe to have a strong fall flavor, you can use apple cider in lieu of apple juice!
  • Other warm spices that would add amazing flavor to these pears would be (I'd start with just a pinch and slowly increase if needed):
    • Grated fresh ginger or dried ginger
    • Ground nutmeg
    • Ground cloves
    • Ground cardamom
    • A whole cinnamon stick or two
    • Star anise
    • Whole vanilla bean (sliced open before adding to the saucepan)
  • Adding some dried fruit adds a different flavor profile and texture to this easy recipe. I recommend trying raisins, dried cranberries, golden raisins, dried apples, or chopped dried apricots!
  • Stirring in chopped walnuts or pecans adds a nice crunch to these pears, as well as heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://the-perfect-pear.com/pear-crisp-with-oats/