Spiced Red Wine and Dark Chocolate Poached Pears

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

Tender pears gently poached in a fragrant blend of red wine, spices, and dark chocolate for an elegant dessert. This French-inspired recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers Bosc pears, peeled and cored, red wine, water into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 whole Bosc pears, peeled and cored
• 2 cups red wine
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 2 ounces dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups red wine, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 star anise pods. Heat over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture simmers.
2. Step 2: Add 4 peeled and cored whole Bosc pears to the simmering liquid, spooning the liquid over the pears. Cover and poach gently for 25-30 minutes until pears are tender when pierced with a knife.
3. Step 3: Remove pears carefully and set aside. Discard cinnamon and star anise from the poaching liquid.
4. Step 4: Stir 2 ounces chopped dark chocolate, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest into the poaching liquid. Simmer over low heat, stirring until chocolate melts and sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
5. Step 5: Serve each pear drizzled with the warm chocolate-spiced wine sauce.