I originally planned to share this recipe as “Mulled Pomegranate Cider Poached Pears with Vegan Cardamom Ice Cream & Candied Pecans,” but I thought you’d all be too tired after reading the title to actually feel inspired to make it (which would be a darn shame!). So I’ve split it into two posts (get the cardamom ice cream recipe here!). But really all the pieces are quite simple, I promise. And if you want to blow your guests away with a holiday sundae, you should pick up some pears and head to your kitchen asap.
While the spices are mulling, the pears are poaching, and the ice cream is steeping, you’ll have plenty of time to watch cat videos. Speaking of – surely you’ve all seen videos of cats climbing (and knocking over) Christmas trees, right? In years past, our cats have seem most interested in sleeping among the gifts beneath the tree.
Until this year.
The year they finally realized we set up a giant tree full of shiny cat toys hanging from the branches – obviously just for them! Last night, we came into the living room to find Aioli 2/3 the way up the tree, laying among the lights and ornaments (left). Just chillin’ like “yeah, this is a great cat bed.” Then while writing this post – this happened (right).
This morning, I found a scattering of my childhood ornaments cat toys all around the tree skirt and not a guilty cat in sight. They are trying their hardest to prepare us for toddlerhood. Let’s keep our fingers crossed the tree stays standing through the season.
We’ve officially embraced the holidays at Chez Menanix – I’ve got Christmas tunes blasting all day, while Lucas throws old holiday classic movies on repeat at night. We’ve even got some of mom’s homemade english toffee to munch on and allofthebakedgoods loaded up on plates for the neighbors. With the aroma of mulled pomegranate cider wafting through the house, it’s feeling mighty Christmas-y up in here.
When my shiny multi-cooker moved in, I packed up my rice cooker and my slow cooker to replace them with just one appliance that does everything those two did and more. It sears, steams, simmers, boils, and even makes yogurt – it’s a super appliance! One that’s also so much sexier than its predecessors.
In the case of these poached pears, you can set the multi-cooker to boil or simmer and go back to watching Home Alone and decorating your tree without having to keep an eye on the flame. Plus in the hustle and bustle of holiday cooking, it opens up extra space on the stove for all your other goodies.
Anything that allows me the freedom to make these mulled pomegranate cider poached pears without standing over the stove is a major win. With a drizzle of aromatic mulled pomegranate syrup on top, these warm poached pears are sweet and citrusy with roasty toasty fall mulled spices infused throughout. Serve them over a few scoops of homemade vegan cardamom ice cream with a handful of candied pecans sprinkled on top, and you’ve got a wintry sundae worthy of gold medals. Get the recipe for the vegan cardamom ice cream up here!
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- 2¾ cups pomegranate juice
- ¼ cups fresh orange juice (from 1 large orange)
- 1½ teaspoons orange zest
- 6 whole cloves
- 3 cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 medium ripe firm bosc pears, peeled, halved, and cored
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice, orange zest, cloves, crushed cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks to the bowl of your KitchenAid Multicooker (or a medium/large pot) and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce to simmer and nestle in the pear halves, cut side down. Cook, covered with a small crack to allow steam to escape, for 20-25 minutes, or until the pears are soft when poked with a knife. If using the Multicooker, make sure the lid opening slots line up with the spout of the bowl to allow some steam to escape.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the pears from the poaching liquid and transfer to a plate.
- Return the pomegranate cider to a boil over medium heat and reduce to a syrup for about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Serve warm pear halves over scoops fresh cardamom ice cream with a drizzle of the mulled pomegranate syrup and a small handful of candied pecans.
- Melt the butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Add the pecans and sugar and stir to coat.
- Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves completely and begins to lightly brown.
- Transfer the pecans to a sheet of parchment paper and spread them out with a spoon to cool.
- Once cool and crisp, break them up and serve over poached pears and ice cream.
Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post. KitchenAid has generously providing the KitchenAid Multicooker and Stir Tower for this post as well as for one reader. As always, the opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Alanna -
I’d make THESE FREAKING PEARS (duh)… then I’d make a batch of yogurt, because I tried so many times and could never get the milk to hold the right temperature to firm up. Multi-cooker to the rescue! I’m SO glad I got to try this dessert, because it’s one of my favorites that I’ve had in while… crispy, creamy, just sweet enough, with lots of spice and acidity for balance. Those candied pecans are just the perfect topping. Looooooovvvvvveeeeee.
Florian @ContentednessCooking -
Looks so good! Perfect for the holidays!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine -
Such a lovely dessert dear! Pears are my winter joy! (eating one right now!) Surprisingly I’ve never poached them…but I must! It sounds so good!
Shoshana -
I am strangely obsessed with poached pears so I would definitely try making these!
grace -
i’ve always wanted to make yogurt at home, so if this machine can do that, it would be my first endeavor!
Jessica -
I love poached pears and I’ve been looking for a winter-weather dessert that isn’t too heavy for a while, so the first thing I’d try is these pears, of course!
Bonita -
I would love to make my roasted squash, apple, onion & garlic soup, it would be heaven…
Carrie powers -
I think I’d try to make risotto with shrimp. Those pears look amazing, though?
Matt @ Plating Pixels -
These are absolutely stunning photos! I could totally just stare at them, but of course I’d eat the recipe too.
Kat ball -
I’m down with those pears…mmmmmmmm
mimi -
Not to be unoriginal but I would love to make a risotto! I’m so intimidated by the process and would love to try it.
Steph -
I Would do soup!!
Allison -
I would love to try making these poached pears! Merry Christmas :)
itzia -
i would try this recipe in the multicooker
HS -
I would make sweet potato curry.
Janet -
Dulce de leche all the way. Plus, um, everything else.
Hazel -
For my trial run with the Multi-cooker, I’d do either Braised Lamb
Shanks or Coq au Vin, followed by those sumptuous poached pears – my favourite fall and winter dessert – but never had them with candied pecans nor pomegranate. I normally use cranberries and port!
Erica D. -
Because anything KitchenAid belongs in MY kitchen :) Thanks for sharing!
Dale Gray -
I’d love to make my grandmother’s spaghetti sauce in it.
suki -
it’s soup weather, so probably some kind of bisque to warm the belly. :)
Mimi -
This looks amazing and am looking forward to the companion recipe too as cardamon is my favourite spice
Mimi -
Regarding the Kitchen Aid appliance–I would make a vegetarian tagine, as the fragrant middle-eastern spices stewing with yams/squash/apricots/parsnips and served with rice and a simple salad with red leaf lettuce, pomegranate seeds dressed with a pomegranate/raspberry vinaigrette would be very tantalizing as an easy no-fuss meal when things get hectic with holiday preparations.
Crystal Sell -
I’d love to make some sort of stew with all my favorite vegetables and meat!
Tyler -
I’d obviously make this recipe first because it looks amazing!
Annie -
This looks incredible! And such stunning styling!
Bud -
I just sent this recipe to my daughter to try, and we will compare results! Regarding the KitchenAid Multi-cooker, If I won one, I would purchase another one to send my daughter and again we could compare results with the cooker an other recipes. I am looking forward to the cardamom ice cream recipe also.
cyndi br -
I would make a pot roast with potatoes and carrots
Megan -
I would make homemade applesauce!
Laureen Fox -
Lately, I’ve been into cooking freezer meals in my slow cooker, so I would start with one of those and next I would make yogurt.
Lane Schmidt -
First I’d cook.your delicious pear recipe. Next, I would thumb thru my list of Snixy recipes & whip up another of your healthy & delicious creations! Wishing you & Lunas a wonderful Christmas ♡♡
Tina -
I would make the poached pears first! I’m just discovering pears…use them a lot in salads …..but looks like they belong in desserts as well!
levi -
Its pretty obvious… I would make these pears!!!!
DessertForTwo -
Poached pears, of course!
nicole (thespicetrain.com) -
Okay, so you’ve convinced me that I need to do two things: 1) make these delicious poached pears (in the Multi-Cooker should I win it) and 2) watch more youtube videos of cats – those christmas tree acrobatics were hilarious! And your two cats are adorable, I love that spotlight right in front of her face. :)
Renee -
This would be great to make my stewed oxtail. And this recipe of course.
Annette -
I love the poached pears! The first thing I’d make is a stew.
Cindy A. -
I would make these pears! *drool*
Dana S -
cranberry Apple sauce
Elise -
I would make the pears!! Can’t wait for the ice cream recipe!
Dina -
I would love too use the kitchenaid multicooker to prepare this recipe :D
Holly -
You have me so sold on these pears!
Alana -
The first thing I’d make would clearly and obviously be these pears. And what–this replaces the rice cooker!?! Stoppp. Is this even real life? And then yogurt? If I win, I’m def consulting you on all the awesomeness I can make!!
Julie -
I’d make some yummy chicken noodle soup with it!
Charles-Linda Bradshaw -
I have to make these pears. My kids love pears and I have never cooked them before. These look amazing! I would make these first.
Josh Lippman -
Those pears would be my first attempt…they look amazing!!! Love to give it a shot
Hila G. -
Poached pears to top off vanilla ice cream and gluten free blondies…or maybe gf brownies. Yum
Tom H -
I definitely make some hot chili for the cold winter days ahead here in Pennsylvania
Paula -
Poached pears would be amazing. Thanks!
melissa baker -
I would definatley use it for fresh veggies roasted from the garden each year. Wow how awesome that would be!!! :)
Sharon Levin -
Hmm, hard to decide. The pears look AMAZING! But I also loved someone’s idea of soup. Maybe a whole meal then from soup to nuts (um pears) then.
ellie -
Oh what to make, what to make!!! Gahhh…I think I’d try making sauces and spreads, like dulce de leche, korean gochujang paste, things of that sort! ^^
Miguel -
I’d make these pears and then I’d make them again. Amazing!!!
Caitlin -
I’d make some soup
angela -
Honestly I’d probably just make rice. :)
Stacy D. -
I’d try making something I have never made before, maybe applesauce, or even a stew
Carolsue -
I would make Tomato Basil and Spinach Risotto
Debbi -
Risotto for sure! That self stir is a fab idea!
LA THOMPSON -
I would definitely make these PEARS!! we are drooling just looking at the photos and my husband said he will love me even more if i made this recipe for him haha! he’s sooo bad. gotta love that! and then (since we live in colorado) i would be making lots of stews and rice and yummy soups for the snowy season. this machine is inspiring!! thanx!!
Candace -
What a wonderful appliance! I think I’d try this poached pear recipe for a first go, as your instructions are perfectly detailed for the appliance.
Melissa K. -
I too, am salivating over these pears!
Then, I’d make a mess of dried beans, and make soup with them!
Anna -
I love cardamom and pear combo!!
betsy -
I think yogurt, the possibilities are endless, what an amazing appliance!
Liz N -
I’d make steel cut oatmeal with cranberries!
Antoinette -
I’d try butternut squash risotto…vegetable beef soup…or lentil stew with ham & greens. Oh oh…Korean short ribs…yum!