Wine Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce

By Alexandra Caspero on November 6, 2014

Wine Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce! The perfect healthy recipe for fall!
The perfect dessert to pair with a heavier meal. Gluten-free, vegan, and low-fat! 

Fresh Pears Soaked In Red Wine Are The Perfect Light DessertBoozy Pears! I heart any recipe that requires me to use a few cups of red wine. TGIF.

A few weeks ago, BL and I were dining at one of my favorite Sacramento restaurants, Blackbird. Since we do go out to eat fairly often, I try to stick to choosing either an appetizer or a dessert so I can enjoy my entree without guilt. That way, I’m not too tempted to overeat. Of course try is the operative word here. Sometimes, we throw caution to the wind and order it all. Which is exactly what happened at Blackbird, as I attacked a beet salad appetizer plus a giant vegan burger and fries. But, once I scanned the dessert menu and saw this poached pear, I immediately knew we weren’t leaving without a taste. I’m so happy I made room for a few bites as this did not disappoint.

Wine Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce

So, like I do with 94% of the meals I try while dining out, I went home to recreate this one with my own twist. If you haven’t tried poached pears in red wine before, it’s much easier than it looks! Since it can be made a day ahead, it’s also a great dessert option for a dinner party. If you’re looking for an alternative to heavy pies for Thanksgiving, try this light poached pear recipe!

Stewing These Pears In Red Wine Give Them A Gorgeous Red Hue

Poaching the Pears in Red Wine

Let’s get poaching!

To make them easier to serve, I slice a thin 1/4″ piece off the bottom of the pear. That way, if I want to serve them standing up for the most dramatic presentation- they won’t fall. Then, peel as much skin as you can, keeping the stem intact.

While plain red wine will work fine, I like to add a little holiday spice by adding in orange juice and cinnamon. The liquid reminds me of mulled wine and is perfect if you want to try these for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Bring the wine-orange-cinnamon mixture to a simmer, add the pears, poach for 20 minutes and you’re done!

So, how do they taste?

Light
Refreshing
Perfectly sweet
Hint of Cinnamon

Serve The Poached Pears With Some Ice Cream And A Chocolate Sauce

Fresh pear season is underway, with all 10 varieties of USA Pears being harvested now. To me, just-ripe pears work best in this dish, although under-ripe pears work as well. To see if a pear is ripe, apply gentle pressure to the narrow “neck” of the pear with your thumb. If it yields to pressure, it’s ripe! If you are using an under-ripe pear, cook for another 5-10 minutes in the liquid.

I love the look of wine poached pears, especially drizzled with chocolate sauce! Not a wine fan? Pretty much any liquid works. This same process can be used with tea, bourbon, coconut milk, beer or coffee. While I think the chocolate sauce is a must, you can also boil down the poaching liquid to make a rich, cinnamon-wine sauce to be poured over the pears for serving.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

Print
Wine Poached Pears In Chocolate Sauce! The Perfect Healthy Recipe For Fall! Gluten-Free, Vegan, And Low-Fat!

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus, you'll get new recipes from us each week.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Wine Poached Pears In Chocolate Sauce! The Perfect Healthy Recipe For Fall! Gluten-Free, Vegan, And Low-Fat!

Wine Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce

  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Wine Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce! The perfect healthy recipe for fall! Gluten-free, vegan, and low-fat!


  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: American
  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: American
Scale

Ingredients

  • 3 cups red wine
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 4 USA pears
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used a non-dairy brand)
  • 1 tbsp. coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Peel the pears, leaving the skin intact. Slice 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pears so they can stand flat.
  2. Place the pears in a saucepan and cover with red wine, orange juice, and cinnamon sticks.
  3. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, rotating if need be to submerge in the liquid.
  4. Remove the pears from the liquid and let cool for at least 2 hours in the fridge.
  5. Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Continuously stir until chocolate is melted.
  6. To serve, 1/2 the pears and place onto a plate. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.

did you make this?

Tag @delishknowledge on Instagram and hashtag it #delishknowledge

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The Ultimate Plant-Based Protein Cookbook + Course

(Includes 40+ recipes!)

FREE 7-DAY COURSE + COOKBOOK

Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

(11 comments) leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Sarah @ SnixyKitchen
      November 12, 2014 AT 9:36 pm

      I’ve YET to poach pears, but this red wine version you made sounds like it pairs beautifully with the chocolate sauce. Adding to the to-do list:)

    2. Sarah Grace
      November 12, 2014 AT 2:28 pm

      Wow these looks delicious Alex. Not only does the flavor sound amazing but the presentation looks incredible, , it would be great for any guests!
      xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.

    3. Katie @ Produce on Parade
      November 7, 2014 AT 11:45 am

      This is THE classiest dish I have ever seen! They are gorgeous, Alex!

      1. DK
        November 7, 2014 AT 2:08 pm

        Thank you Katie!

    4. Dana | fresh simple five
      November 7, 2014 AT 9:31 am

      Need these in my life. They sound incredible. You’ve also reminded me how excited I am for mulled wine season.

      1. DK
        November 7, 2014 AT 2:08 pm

        Yay! So happy to hear! These taste like MULLED WINE poached pears- and they are incredible! Thanks for commenting!

    5. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
      November 7, 2014 AT 7:27 am

      Aren’t poached pears SO good? I made an apple cider version for this campaign and LOVED them!

      1. DK
        November 7, 2014 AT 2:09 pm

        Oh… that sounds awesome!! Can’t wait to check your version out!

Flipboard