The warm spices of mulled wine combine with winter pears for a simple but classic dessert.
500ml red wine (or non-alcoholic wine)
¼ cup maple syrup
1 orange, thickly sliced
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
2 cardamom pods
1 star anise
6 small, firm pears
unsweetened whipped cream, to serve
Place all the ingredients except the pears into a medium saucepan, large enough for the pears to just fit in upright in a single layer. Peel the pears, leaving them whole, and place them directly into the poaching liquid. Add up to a cup of water, if needed, to ensure the liquid reaches most of the way up the side of the pears. Bring the liquid to a slow simmer and simmer, covered with a sheet of round baking paper, for 30 minutes until the pears are tender. As they simmer, rotate the pears gently to cook them evenly.
Allow the pears to cool in the liquid for at least 15 minutes, then remove and place them in a bowl. Discard the orange slices and return the poaching liquid to a simmer until it’s reduced to around the consistency of maple syrup.
Serve the pears with the syrup and whipped cream.
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