This Slow Cooker Poached Pears recipe is a ‘dump everything into your slow cooker and walk away’ miracle! It’s easy to do, healthy and so elegant! Serve as is, or over yogurt, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with nuts!
Holiday entertaining is upon us and I don’t know about you but I live for this season! I love how this season brings people together! Life can get pretty busy and making time to spend with loved ones takes a back seat to work, errands and the other millions of things that life throws my way sometimes. Before I know it, its been weeks (or months!) before I see my besties and it shocks me how time has flown by.
As crazy as things become around the holidays, it always forces me to stop and make time for the people I love. Christmas parties, potlucks and even quiet dinner parties are things I suddenly find time for. And I always feel so good after spending that much needed time with friends. I need to make a conscious effort to make these get-togethers happen throughout the entire year!
A week ago, I shared a Cranberry Orange Streusel Cake that I had made for a recent get-together. It served about a dozen people and was an absolute hit! Today’s recipe though is one that I use for smaller gatherings but is equally impressive when served to guests. If you haven’t tried making poached pears, give this recipe a try! It is so incredibly easy to do and looks so elegant when served to your dinner guests! No need to tell them that all the hard work was done by your slow cooker!
How to make Slow Cooker Poached Pears
This recipe is literally a ‘dump everything into your slow cooker and walk away’ miracle! The pears can be made in advance in your slow cooker and left to keep warm while dinner is being served. Once you are ready to serve, you just plate them and sit back and accept the compliments!
I have shared with you some optional toppings to serve your pears but they are perfectly fine on their own! I feel like the toppings and plating make it look that much more elegant and sure to wow your guests!
Oh, and did I mention this is probably one of the healthiest desserts your likely to eat this holiday season? Bonus!
To make these poached pears, you will need:
- 4 pears, peeled
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 star anise pod
Place them in the slow cooker and let them transform into a delicious dessert!
To serve these poached pears, I like to use:
- a sprinkle of cinnamon powder
- a scoop of Vanilla Greek yogurt or frozen yogurt
- drizzle of maple syrup or honey or caramel sauce
- sprinkle of granola
- sliced almonds
That’s it! Hope you enjoy this dish!
-Cathy
Slow Cooker Poached Pears
Ingredients
- 4 pears peeled
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 star anise pod
Optional ingredients to serve:
- sprinkle of cinnamon powder
- a scoop of Vanilla Greek yogurt or frozen yogurt
- drizzle of maple syrup or honey or caramel sauce
- sprinkle of granola
- sliced almonds
Instructions
- Peel pears and set aside.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Place the pears on their side.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hour. Carefully remove the pears with tongs, grabbing from the stem so as not to squish the pear. Plate using the optional ingredients if desired.
Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.
