Poached pears make an elegant and effortless dessert that will always impress guests. You only need three ingredients. The best part? This recipe can be made a couple days in advance. Dessert really doesn’t get any more simple than this.
I gently poached the pears in water infused with gingerbread spice tea to give the pears a yummy ginger and cinnamon holiday flavor. I then topped with the poaching liquid and non-dairy ice cream.
This holiday season, dessert doesn’t have to mean loads of refined sugar, butter and refined flour. This dessert features pears, which are naturally sweet. Infusing them with warm gingerbread spice tea takes them over the top – no additional sugar needed. Plus, pears are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that promote good health.
These poached pears are simply irresistible and perfect for holiday dinner parties. Swap the vegan ice cream for some vegan yogurt and you’ve got yourself an easy, healthy and warm winter breakfast.
This recipe is also naturally gluten-free, vegan and nut-free so it works for all dietary restrictions making it a great option for serving to your guests.
Selecting the best pear for poaching is important for this recipe. Look for firm, slightly underripe, unblemished pears. To check for firmness, use your fingers and push near the stem (as opposed to the widest section in the middle) to see if the pear yields to the pressure you are applying.
Store the pears at room temperature in a paper bag with an apple or a banana to speed up the ripening process. Alternatively, store pears in the coldest part of your refrigerator to slow down the ripening process. Keep them away from aromatic foods like onions.
Ripe pears are available almost year round. Bartlett pears are usually the first you will see at the grocery store (around August). They are then followed by Anjou, Bosc, Comice, Seckel and Forelle pears. I have made this recipe three times with three different types of pears and honestly all were delicious. If I were forced to choose my favorite for this particular recipe I would say it is the Anjou variety. Anjou pears hold up great and are an ‘all-purpose’ pear that has a sweet, juicy and slightly citrusy flavor.
I hope you enjoy this seasonal recipe as much as my family does. It really has become our go-to for a healthy, no-stress dessert. Any type of tea would work in this recipe but I’m loving the depth of flavor in a herbal Gingerbread Spice variety. When I make this recipe my whole house literally starts to smell like the holidays. Oh, the magic of tea!