SLOW COOKER SPICED POACHED PEARS

Slow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears image

Some of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.-Jill Mant, Denver, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 4h25m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups dry red wine or cranberry juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons dried cherries
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 whole star anise
1 dried Sichuan peppercorn, optional
4 ripe Bosc pears
GANACHE:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
TOPPINGS:
2 tablespoons pine nuts
Fresh blackberries
Sweetened whipped cream, optional

Steps:

In a 3-qt. slow cooker, mix wine, brown sugar, cherries, cinnamon, star anise and, if desired, peppercorn until blended. Peel and cut pears lengthwise in half. Remove cores, leaving a small well in the center of each. Arrange pears in wine mixture., Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until pears are almost tender. Discard star anise and peppercorn., Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth., To serve, remove pears to dessert dishes; drizzle with some of the poaching liquid. Spoon ganache into wells of pears. Top with pine nuts and blackberries. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 295 calories, Fat 12g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 8mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 2g protein.