Cinnamon Stewed Pears
With only 4 ingredients, Cinnamon Stewed Pears are soft, perfectly spiced, and incredibly easy to make. They’re naturally sweet and taste delicious spooned over oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, or even ice cream.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 25 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 8
- 🍽 Calories: 112 kcals
- 📋Main Ingredients: Pears, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: These easy cinnamnon stewed pears are warm and comforting but provide a natural sweetness to anything they top.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
This stovetop stewed pears recipe is one of those simple fruit recipes that feels a little special without taking much effort (exactly like my raspberry compote recipe). Simmering the pears gently helps them become soft and flavorful without turning mushy, and the cinnamon gives them that warm, homemade flavor that works just as well for breakfast as it does dessert.
Another reason I keep making these cinnamon stewed pears is that they’re such an easy way to use up ripe pears before they go bad. They store really well in the fridge, so I’ll often make a batch ahead of time for quick breakfasts or snacks during the week. They’re also surprisingly good warmed up over ice cream or pancakes. I’ve even topped them with my keto granola recipe for an easier kind of “crumble”.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flavors To Try
- How To Make Cinnamon Stewed Pears
- Helpful Hints
- How To Enjoy Them
- Cinnamon Stewed Pears FAQs
- More Indulgent Breakfast Recipes
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- Air Fryer Banana Tortilla Roll Ups
- Old Fashioned Blueberry Pancake Syrup
- Cinnamon Stewed Pears (4 Ingredients)
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ripe pears: I prefer to use a firmer pear as I find they hold their shape a bit better when simmered.
- Brown sugar: This gives an almost caramel-like sweetness to the breakfast pears. But know that maple syrup could work here as well.
- Lemons: You need both the zest and the juice for flavor and to prevent browning. Make sure to use ripe lemons so that you get the most out of them.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Tools you’ll need
Before starting the recipe, you’ll want to have all your kitchen essentials ready. I recommend having the following items:
Flavors To Try
There are so many ways to adjust this soft cinnamon pears recipe that you can make it seem like “new” almost every time you make it.
- Use different spices: Try adding star anise, cloves, nutmeg, or ground ginger for a different warm spice profile.
- Add vanilla: This makes your house smell amazing.
- Include other fruits: For a new kind of sweetness, you can actually make a blend. I like adding cranberries personally.
- Use different citrus: Try orange juice or zest in place of lemon for an uplifting, citrusy twist.
How To Make Cinnamon Stewed Pears
Step 1: Create a lemon water bath by squeezing the juice of 2 lemons into a bowl with 1 cup of water. Then, add in the pears as you slice them to keep them from browning.
Step 2: In a small pot, combine ½ cup of brown sugar with 1 cup of water and a cinnamon stick. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Step 3: Add the pears to the pot along with lemon juice and enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender.
Step 4: Once tender, remove them with a slotted spoon and then strain the liquid and pour it over the pears. Let them cool before placing them in the fridge.
Note
Keep the heat low and simmer gently as this helps the pears cook evenly without falling apart.
Helpful Hints
Pro tip: Ripe, Firm, Softened!
Use pears that are ripe but still firm, they’ll soften beautifully during cooking without turning to mush.
Here are more helpful hints for making this recipe:
- Best pears: Choose Bartlett or Anjou pears for the best balance of sweetness and texture.
- Browning: Don’t skip the acid (like lemon juice); it keeps the pears from browning and adds brightness.
- Texture: Stir gently while cooking to avoid breaking the pears apart.
- Taste test: Taste the syrup as it simmers and adjust the sweetness or spice to your liking.
- Flavors: Let the stewed pears sit for a bit after cooking; the flavors deepen as they rest.
- Storing: Let them cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container along with their cooking liquid. Keep them in the refrigerator, where they’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Warm the pears and some of the syrup in a small saucepan over low heat until heated through. You can also microwave them in short intervals, stirring gently in between to ensure even heating.
How To Enjoy Them
Stewed pears are delicious served either warm or cold, which makes them easy to use for everything from breakfast to dessert. We enjoy them the most with the following:
- Spoon them warm over cinnamon Brioche French toast for a breakfast that feels extra comforting and flavorful.
- Pair them with savory brunch dishes like this smoked salmon frittata with Gruyere cheese for a sweet-and-savory combination that works surprisingly well together.
- Serve them chilled over yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, or ice cream for a simple make-ahead snack or dessert option.
They also make a really sweet gift around the holidays if you like to can. Even if you don’t can them, they’re nice as a fresh jar for neighbors and friends.
Cinnamon Stewed Pears FAQs
More Indulgent Breakfast Recipes
If you tried this Cinnamon Stewed Pears Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Cinnamon Stewed Pears (4 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 4 ripe pears
- 1 cup of water plus enough water to submerge the pears in the pot
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 lemons plus 1 lemon
Instructions
- Create a lemon water bath by squeezing the juice of 2 lemons into a bowl with 1 cup of water. Quarter, peel, and core the pears, placing the slices in the lemon water as you go to keep them from browning.
- In a pot, combine ½ cup of brown sugar with 1 cup of water and a cinnamon stick. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Carefully add the pears to the pot, along with the juice of 1 lemon (straining out any seeds). Add enough water to cover the pears. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes until the pears are tender.
- Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the pears from the liquid and place them into a bowl.
- Strain the syrup and pour it over the pears.
- Let the pears cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled. For the best flavor, serve the next day after chilling.
Notes
- Begin with ripe pears, as they’re softer and easier to stew.
- Sweeten to your liking with honey, agave syrup, sugar, or maple syrup.
- Check the pears by gently piercing them with the tip of a small knife. They are ready when the knife glides through easily.
- Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the pears from the liquid and place them into a bowl, this helps them keep their texture.
- Stewed pears are especially good for meal prep because they store well and reheat easily.
The cinnamon in these pears makes the house smell amazing. My kids enjoy them hot on pancakes but I love them cold swirled into yogurt.