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Elegant Vanilla Bourbon Poached Pears

A single, beautifully glazed poached pear served upright in a small white bowl with dark syrup.
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Make this elegant dessert easily. Tender pears simmer in a flavorful vanilla bourbon syrup, perfect for dinner parties or holiday meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 firm Bosc pears
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup good quality bourbon
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact. Rub the cut surfaces with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  2. In a saucepan large enough to hold the pears standing up, combine the water, sugar, bourbon, vanilla bean seeds and pod, orange slices, and cinnamon stick. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
  3. Gently place the prepared pears into the simmering liquid. The liquid should mostly cover the pears. If needed, add a little more water.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan partially, and poach the pears for 25 to 40 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a small knife. The time depends on the ripeness and size of your pears.
  5. Carefully remove the pears from the liquid and set them aside.
  6. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil the remaining poaching liquid, uncovered, for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the syrup reduces and thickens slightly. This creates a glossy sauce.
  7. To serve, place one warm or chilled pear in a bowl. Spoon a generous amount of the reduced vanilla bourbon syrup over the pear. Serve with a dollop of mascarpone cheese or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use Bosc pears, as they hold their shape well during poaching.
  • You can make this a Red Wine Poached Pears dessert by substituting 2 cups of the water with a dry red wine, like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • This is a great make ahead dessert recipe; store the cooled pears submerged in the strained syrup in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheffinity.com/poached-pears-vanilla-bourbon-recipe/