Slow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears

Total Time
Prep: 25 min. Cook: 4 hours

Updated on Jun. 27, 2023

Some of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.—Jill Mant, Denver, Colorado

Test Kitchen Approved

Slow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears

Yield: 8 servings
Prep: 25 min
Cook: 4 hours

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups dry red wine or cranberry juice
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons dried cherries
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 1 dried Sichuan peppercorn, optional
  • 4 ripe Bosc pears
  • ganache:
    • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
    • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • toppings:
    • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
    • Fresh blackberries
    • Sweetened whipped cream, optional

Directions

  1. In a 3-qt. slow cooker, mix wine, brown sugar, cherries, cinnamon, star anise and, if desired, peppercorn until blended. Peel and cut pears lengthwise in half. Remove cores, leaving a small well in the center of each. Arrange pears in wine mixture.
  2. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until pears are almost tender. Discard star anise and peppercorn.
  3. Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth.
  4. To serve, remove pears to dessert dishes; drizzle with some of the poaching liquid. Spoon ganache into wells of pears. Top with pine nuts and blackberries. If desired, serve with whipped cream.
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