These stewed pears are perfectly spiced with a touch of honey for cozy flavor that has become a staple in my breakfast time on cold winter mornings! Let me show you how to make them in about 20 minutes with simple ingredients.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my stewed apples recipe, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - This simple stewed pears recipe comes together in one pan with no special tools, chef-level expertise, or hard-to-find ingredients needed. Just everyday pantry staples and fresh pears!
Super Cozy - Mellow vanilla with sweet warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom make this easy recipe for stewed pears taste like a dessert you want to snuggle up with.
Gut Health Support - Pears are rich in probiotics and fiber that support healthy digestion, and stewing them makes these benefits more available! (Fairfield Nutrition)
👉🏾 I love nutrient-dense comfort foods, and have plenty more to share with you. Try my southern fried cabbage, hearty ground beef chili, chicken and lentil curry, and sweet potato breakfast hash next!
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What You'll Need for this Recipe
Pears, of course! Feel free to use whichever variety you prefer--I like Bartlett, Bosc, or Conference pears here. And since we're cooking them down, they don't even need to be soft! Unripe, hard pears are fair game.
Vanilla helps give the pears a sweet treat vibe you'll love! I like to use vanilla bean paste for amped-up vanilla flavor, but you could use vanilla extract or vanilla powder--I've tried both, and they each work well.
Lemon Juice--just a little bit--balances out the flavor profile so it's not too sweet and adds some brightness. You can use fresh-squeezed juice or concentrated.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Stewed Apples and Pears Recipe - I love mixing and matching different varieties of pears and apples in this recipe as the seasons change. They pair together perfectly!
Shape and Size - You can slice the pears, dice them, or cut them into whatever shapes you like.
Spices - Feel free to change up the spice mix and proportions to suit your taste. I love using masala chai spices here when I'm feeling a lil bougie.
Sweetener - You can reduce the amount of honey or omit it altogether for no sugar added. Or tag in your favorite sweetener such as maple syrup, agave nectar, or a zero-sugar optionh no sugar added. This can also make it vegan.
How to Cook Stewed Spiced Pears
- Step One: Core the pears and dice them, leaving the skin on.
- Step Two: Add all the ingredients to a skillet and stir to evenly coat the fruit.
Pro Tip #1
Keeping the skin on the pears increases the amount of fiber and antioxidants you wind up with in your finished dish! (NIH)
- Step Three: Continue cooking and stirring the fruit until golden and tender.
Pro Tip #2
The pear releases liquid as it cooks down, and this mixes with the honey to create a shiny glaze. Toss the fruit in this glaze for even taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store them in an airtight container and refrigerate. Keeps for up to six days.
To freeze, cool the pears to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container. They will keep in the freezer for up to three months, though the texture might be a little softer once thawed. I prefer to store mine in Souper Cubes for easy portioning and reheating.
What to do with Stewed Pears
Temperature: Stewed pears are best when served warm, but they taste yummy cold, too!
What goes well with them? This recipe pairs nicely with yogurt, oatmeal, or porridge for breakfast. Or add them to anything from rice pudding to a fluffy stack of pancakes or buttermilk biscuits for something more indulgent.
Is this recipe good for people with PCOS?
Yes. I keep stewed pears in my meal planning rotation to help me meet my nutritional goals and thrive with PCOS! Here are the highlights:
- Foods rich in fiber, like these pears, can help slow digestion and normalize blood sugar. (Harvard) This is especially important for women with insulin resistance, which up to 80% of women with PCOS have. (NIH)
- When consumed with a healthy fat, the turmeric and black pepper in this dish work to reduce inflammation. (U Mass Medical School) I pair it with nuts, seeds, and Greek yogurt for this reason.
Seed Cycling Tip: Add either pumpkin and flax seeds or sunflower and sesame seeds to promote balanced hormones throughout your cycle. (NIH)
More Favorite Pear Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you'll enjoy this old-fashioned stewed pears recipe soon and very soon. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Spiced Stewed Pears with Honey
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 large skillet or other cooking pan
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pears
- ¼ cup honey or sweetener of your choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
Instructions
- Prep the Pears: Core and cut the pears into ½-inch to one-inch sized cubes, leaving the skin on.3 pounds pears
- Cook the Pears: Add the pears, honey, vanilla, lemon juice, and spices to skillet over medium heat, and toss the ingredients until the apples are evenly coated.¼ cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 pinch black pepper, 1 pinch fine sea salt
- Finish and Serve: Continue cooking and stirring the pears for 5-10 minutes or until they're tender, golden, and fragrant. Remove from heat and serve warm.
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