The Best Stewed Pears

Why We Love This Recipe

• Awesome topper: We love adding these delicious, sweet stewed pears to all sorts of breakfasts and desserts, including oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, or ice cream.
• Quick and easy recipe: With just 7 ingredients, simple prep, and only 15 minutes of cooking time, this recipe is nearly foolproof.
• Adds a touch of fall flavor to anything: With maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and pear, these stewed pears are packed with sweet, and slightly tart fall flavor. If you're looking for another way to use pears to add some fall flavor to your breakfast or desserts, check out our Pear Compote.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make these stewed pears:

Ingredient Notes

• Pears: You can really use just about any variety of pear in this compote, so we don't specify a certain type in the recipe. I personally prefer Bartlett or Red Anjou pears, which tend to be sweeter, softer and juicier than other popular varieties. Slightly unripe or ripe pears will work well in this recipe, so don't worry if they aren't the perfect ripeness. Just be sure not to use pears that are overripe, as they'll become very mushy when cooked.
• You can substitute the whole vanilla bean for an equal quantity of vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract.
• Sugar: If you're cutting down on your sugar intake, you can swap for Stevia or another sugar alternative. Or, leave it out altogether for a less sweet option.
• Maple syrup: We love the rich, fall flavor this adds to our stewed pears. Be sure to use the real thing (not pancake syrup!).
• Lemon juice teams up with the pectin in the pears to create a slightly thickened, jammy texture. It also helps to cut down on the sweetness, so be sure not to leave it out. For more on pectin, check out our Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (No Pectin).
• If you can't find whole cinnamon sticks, feel free to use ½ to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead. You could also add in star anise if you're a fan of its licorice-like flavor.

Instructions

(PREP) Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds out with the back of a knife. Peel, core and dice the pears into ½" pieces.

(1) Add the water, maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean seeds or vanilla bean paste to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.

(2) Reduce heat to low, then stir in the pears and cover. Simmer for about 6-8 minutes over low heat, stirring once.

(3) Remove the lid and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the pears are fork tender.

Tips and FAQs

• Your pears don't have to be perfectly ripe! If they're not quite ripe yet, you can still use them in this recipe.
• The less ripe your pears are, the longer they will take to cook. If you can pierce the pears easily with a fork, they're done.
• You can try using red, white, or mulled wine instead of water for an extra kick of flavor.
• If you can't find a whole vanilla bean, you can use ½ tablespoon of vanilla bean paste or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract instead.
• Storage: Store in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3-4 months. You can also freeze smaller portions in an ice cube tray to reheat for single-serving uses on pancakes, oatmeal, etc. For best results, defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating: If frozen, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. To reheat, add back to sauce pan over medium low heat until completely heated through.
• Variations: There are many ways to change up the flavor of these stewed pears. Below are a few of our favorite ideas:
  • Add in another fruit, like apples, berries, cranberries, stone fruit, etc.
  • Add more spices, like star anise, cardamom, cloves, etc.
  • For an extra kick, consider adding in a splash of alcohol like bourbon or brandy.

More Fall Recipes You'll Love

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