Make this easy Stewed Pears recipe in just 15 minutes with 5 simple ingredients. Sliced pears are stewed in a cinnamon and clove spiced syrup until they get beautifully soft. Delicious on yogurt, ice cream, oatmeal, waffles and more.
You only need 5 ingredients to make Stewed Pears from scratch in 15 minutes!
Pears are stewed in a quick cinnamon and clove infused syrup. Perfect warm or cold on ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, waffles or just on their own as a dessert.
The scent of stewed pears in the air always reminds me of my mum. Stewed apples too. Delicate spices dance in the air scented with sweet soft fruit. Bliss.
Pears are lovely and fragrant when eaten fresh, but I really love stewing them. Simply adding them to a little sweetened water with spices takes them to a new level.
A dish of soft, cooked pears swimming in a cinnamon and clove syrup. Can you imagine anything better? They're perfect on their own or over waffles, ice cream, whipped cream, cheesecake...
Five ingredients and 15 minutes to pear nirvana.
Be sure to also try my stewed plums and stewed rhubarb! Just as easy with a different fruit flavor.
I have a HUGE pear tree at the bottom of my backyard. Too big. That's the problem. It's massively overgrown and about 30 foot tall. And it's absolutely laden with glorious orbs of fruit right now. Thing is, we can only possibly reach the lowest few branches.
So all that free fruit turns into food for the birds, missiles in the wind or simply falls to the ground when they're overripe and smash, making food for any wild (or domestic) animals.
It's such a shame, but those few beautiful pears that we get are absolutely divine. And perfect for stewed pears.
Why you'll love this recipe
Ready in 15 minutes.
5 simple ingredients.
A great way to use up pears.
Stovetop cooked pears.
The spiced cooked pears are melt-in-your-mouth good.
The light syrup is flavored with cinnamon, cloves and pears.
Versatile - try it on yogurt, oatmeal, granola, pancakes, ice cream...
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for these fragrant, delicious spiced stewed pears.
Pears - ripe, but not too soft, or they could break up into more of a compote. If they're on the firmer side, they'll soften while cooking.
Sugar - use brown sugar, white sugar or maple syrup.
Lemon juice - or substitute for orange juice.
Cinnamon stick - optional, but adds an amazing flavor.
Cloves - as with the cinnamon, they add a lovely flavor, but are optional.
Step by step tutorial
This is such a simple recipe, but full of WOW flavor. Follow these photo steps, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Add the sugar, water, lemon juice and cinnamon stick to a pot. If using cloves, add them too.
Place over a medium heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Peel, core and quarter the pears, then add them to the pot.
Simmer for 10 minutes or until soft. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Try these tasty ways to use up stewed pears!
On vanilla ice cream.
In yogurt.
On oatmeal.
On waffles or pancakes (try my Vegan Waffles and Fluffy Vegan Pancakes).
Serve in a bowl swirled with heavy cream.
Alongside custard.
Sprinkle with granola for a deconstructed pear crisp (aka pear crumble).
Try using the cooked pears in this Gingerbread Parfait.
Serve for Christmas breakfast as a quick topping for waffles, porridge, baked oatmeal, pancakes (perfect on Gingerbread Pancakes), Cinnamon French Toast etc...
Tips
Swap the water for red wine or mulled wine for a more festive Christmas dessert.
I prefer to peel my pears before stewing, but you can leave the skin on. It softens as it cooks.
Firmer pears will take longer to cook, while ones that are more ripe could cook quicker. Keep an eye on them as you want the stewed pears to be cooked and soft, but not collapsing.
Try adding a thumb-sized piece of peeled root ginger, chopped, to your stewed pears.
Make it refined-sugar-free by using maple syrup or stevia instead of sugar.
Try it with vanilla ice cream.
Add a star anise or some cardamom for another flavor.
Delicious served warm on its own with toasted crushed salted hazelnuts.
Fruit recipes
I hope that you'll love these stewed pears as much as we do. Be sure to try these other tasty fruit recipes.
Fruit Tacos
Fruit Platter Ideas
Chocolate Avocado Dip with Fruit Skewers
Blackberry Compote
Raspberry Compote
Blueberry Popsicles
Fruit Salad with Tea Simple Syrup
Poached Pears in Red Wine with Cinnamon Cream
Easy Cinnamon Stewed Pears
Ingredients
- 8 ripe pears
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar brown sugar or white
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
- 5 cloves optional
Instructions
- Place the sugar, water, lemon juice and cinnamon stick into a medium-sized pot over a medium heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
- Peel and core the pears and cut into quarters, and add them to the pot.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the fruit is soft and begins to break down. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and cloves.
- Enjoy hot or cold. Delicious on yogurt, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, granola or cheesecake. Get creative with the tasty stewed pears.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Lauren
Could you substitute other fruit when pears aren't in season? Have you tried this with apples or plums?
Gerarda
Absolutely delicious. Wouldn’t change a thing. Good way to use up excess pears. Thank you
Linda Nelson
just made this for the first time they are great. thanks for the recipe
Roy
Just tried these pears ,delicious
Nkechi Ajaeroh
This is such a perfect healthy topping for anything! I will load it up on my warm waffles; the kiddos will love this too! Thanks so much for sharing!
Ashley
I have become with all things pear -- and this was just the most delightful dessert. Paired perfectly with a glass of Sauternes.
Sarah
I love fall fruits and dessert. Such a wonderful classic recipe, I love that your tips for using this recipe are inspirational for future uses.
Alisa
I am gonna lean over the fence and steel a few pairs from my neighbours tree... they look that good and I need to make some now! So excited I am all sorts of drools over here looking at your pictures.
Pris
Ohhhhh it's actually hard to imagine anything better. Mother nature's sweet, just with a few tweaks 🙂 Thanks for this lovely recipe!
Kristin
I would never have thought to stew pears! But it's a genius idea! My son just told me he can't wait for me to try this recipe. I just put pears on my shopping list. Thanks for the great recipe!
Shelley
These lovely stewed pears just give me such a wonderfully cozy, autumn feeling, just looking at the photos! Super easy and really nutritious, too (you know I love that) - with such a yummy flavor combo from the spices you chose. Autumn in every bite - and really perfect for the holiday season, too! Loved your great suggestions for how to use them (OMG that Gingerbread Parfait?!?!). YUM!!!