Mulled Wine Poached Pears

04 Sep, 2026

These jewel-coloured pears look gloriously impressive, yet most of the work happens quietly in the saucepan. Mulled Wine Spice gives the poaching liquid a balanced festive warmth without measuring several individual spices.

Make them a day ahead if you can: the pears deepen in colour as they rest in the wine, leaving you with an elegant dessert that is ready when your guests are.

🧾 Ingredients

4 firm ripe Conference pears
750ml fruity red wine
200ml water
150g caster sugar
1½ tbsp Mulled Wine Spice
3 wide strips orange zest
1 tbsp lemon juice
Mascarpone, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream, to serve

🍴 Instructions

Peel the pears, leaving the stalks intact. Slice a thin piece from each base so they can stand upright if desired.
Put the wine, water, sugar, Mulled Wine Spice, orange zest and lemon juice into a saucepan just large enough to hold the pears.
Warm gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then add the pears.
Cover with a circle of baking paper and simmer very gently for 25–35 minutes, turning occasionally, until a small knife slides easily into the fruit.
Lift the pears into a dish. Boil the liquid for 10–15 minutes until reduced to a light syrup.
Strain the syrup over the pears. Serve warm or chill overnight for a deeper colour.

⏱️ Timings

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45–55 minutes
Serves: 4

🥗 Serving Suggestions

Serve each pear with a spoonful of mascarpone, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream and plenty of ruby syrup. Leftover syrup is lovely over yoghurt or chocolate cake.

💛 Why This Recipe Works

Firm pears hold their shape while absorbing the spiced wine. Reducing the poaching liquid separately creates a glossy sauce without overcooking the fruit.

🛒 Get the Blend

Make this recipe with our Mulled Wine Spice.

🎄 More Mulled Wine Spice Recipes

Shop Mulled Wine Spice →

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