Red Wine Poached Pears (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Cooked until tender, these beautiful red wine poached pears are an easy yet elegant dessert for the holidays or any special occasion. Your guests are going to be impressed! Totally gluten-free and vegan too.

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Beautiful Poached Pears for an Elegant Dessert

If you want to impress your guests with a dessert that looks fancy (but is actually very easy to make!), these wine poached pears are your answer!

This classic French dessert (called ‘poire au vin rouge‘ in French) is incredibly elegant, look amazing plated, but most importantly, isn’t complicated at all!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The few ingredients you need for this wine poached pears recipe are easily found in your local grocery store.
• Easy to Make: Preparing these pear dessert is easy to make, nothing complicated at all!
• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The best part is that these poached pears are 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy them without issues!

Ingredients You Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this red wine poached pears recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

• Pears: I recommend using pears that will hold their shape well, and have a good balance of sweetness and acidity. I used Bosc pears which are typically used for poaching, but you may also use Anjou pears or Bartlett pears.
• Wine: I used Merlot wine, but you can also use Shiraz, Malbec or Sauvignon.
• Orange Juice: For a little bit of tartness, I’ve used orange juice (freshly squeezed juice is best, but you can also use bottled juice if that’s what you have). Alternatively, lemon juice will work too for acidity.
• Maple Syrup: I used maple syrup for added sweetness, but you may also use agave nectar too. Alternatively, if you don’t require this recipe to be vegan, you can use honey as well.
• Spices: I like a mix of whole cloves and cinnamon sticks to add a beautiful spiced taste to the wine poaching liquid.

How to Make Red Wine Poached Pears (Step by Step):

1. Peel Pears

Peel the pears, making sure to keep the stems intact. Set the peeled pears aside in a bowl while you prepare the poaching liquid.

2. Prepare Wine Mixture

In a medium-sized saucepan or pot, combine the red wine, orange juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Mix the ingredients until well combined.

3. Cook Pears in Wine Mixture

Add the peeled pears to the saucepan with the wine mixture and bring the ingredients to a boil.

Once the mixture starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let the pears cook for about 35-45 minutes. To ensure even cooking, gently turn the pears every 5-10 minutes.

4. Let Cooked Pears Cool

Once the pears are tender and infused with the flavors, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow them to cool off slightly.

5. Garnish and Serve

Serve these red wine poached pears on individual plates, drizzle with the remaining red wine syrup from saucepan, then top it with whipped cream, creme fraiche, mascrpone or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Optional Spices: I like a mix of whole cloves and cinnamon sticks to add a beautiful spiced taste to the wine mixture. You may also add other spices such as star anise, cardamom, or vanilla bean if you enjoy the taste.
• Prepare Ahead: You can prepare these poached pears in red wine ahead of time, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before serving.

Other Pear Desserts to Enjoy:

• Pear Custard Pie (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Pear Galette (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Gluten-Free Desserts to Make:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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Red Wine Poached Pears (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

• Author: Felicia Lim
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

Cooked until tender, these beautiful red wine poached pears are an easy yet elegant dessert for the holidays or any special occasion. Your guests are going to be impressed! Totally gluten-free and vegan too.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 Bosc pears
• 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks

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Instructions

1. Peel Pears: Peel the pears, making sure to keep the stems intact.
2. Prepare Wine Mixture: In a medium-sized saucepan or pot, combine the red wine, orange juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Mix the ingredients until well combined.
3. Cook Pears in Wine Mixture: Add the peeled pears to the saucepan with the wine mixture and bring the ingredients to a boil. Once the mixture starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let the pears cook for about 35-45 minutes. To ensure even cooking, gently turn the pears every 5-10 minutes.
4. Let Pears Cool: Once the pears are tender and infused with the flavors, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow them to cool off slightly.
5. Garnish and Serve: Serve these red wine poached pears with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Notes

Pears: I recommend using pears that will hold their shape well, and have a good balance of sweetness and acidity. I used Bosc pears which are typically used for poaching, but you may also use Anjou pears or Bartlett pears.

Wine: I used Merlot wine, but you can also use Shiraz, Malbec or Sauvignon.

Orange Juice: For a little bit of tartness, I’ve used orange juice (freshly squeezed juice is best, but you can also use bottled juice if that’s what you have).

Maple Syrup: I used maple syrup for added sweetness, but you may also use agave nectar too. Alternatively, if you don’t require this recipe to be vegan, you can use honey as well.

Spices: I like a mix of whole cloves and cinnamon sticks to add a beautiful spiced taste to the wine mixture. You may also add in star anise if you enjoy the taste.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Western