Pears in Orange Syrup
Pears in Orange Syrup is an elegant dessert of tender pears poached in a warm syrup of orange juice, Marsala wine and cinnamon. The Thermomix TM7 caramelises the caster sugar with controlled heat and steams the pears gently, creating a velvety syrup without any risk of burning. Serve with vanilla ice cream for a festive finish.
About this recipe
Pears in Orange Syrup Thermomix TM7 is a classic poached pear dessert that turns a handful of everyday ingredients into something truly elegant. If you have been searching for pears in orange syrup recipes or an all-in-one kitchen machine solution for festive desserts, this one deserves a place in your collection. Ripe pears are gently steamed until tender, while caster sugar is caramelised to golden perfection and combined with freshly squeezed orange juice, a splash of Marsala wine and a cinnamon stick to create a glossy, aromatic syrup. The controlled heat of the TM7 means the syrup never catches or burns, something that is notoriously tricky in a saucepan on the hob. Finished with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a little sparkling mineral water for lightness, this dessert is ideal for dinner parties, Christmas dinners or any autumn evening when pears are at their sweetest. It looks impressive on the plate yet asks very little effort from the cook, making restaurant-style poached pears genuinely achievable at home.
Preparation tips
- Choose pears that are ripe but still firm, such as Conference or Doyenné, so they hold their shape while steaming and absorb the orange and Marsala syrup without collapsing into mush.
- Taste the syrup before serving and adjust the balance: a little extra freshly squeezed orange juice brightens the sweetness, while an extra pinch of caster sugar rounds out a sharp Marsala.
- Leftover syrup is delicious drizzled over the vanilla ice cream or stirred into sparkling mineral water for a quick festive drink; store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipe variations
- Alcohol-free version: simply replace the Marsala wine with additional freshly squeezed orange juice and a dash of almond extract, keeping the cinnamon stick for that same warm, spiced character — ideal when serving children.
- Festive winter variation: add a split vanilla pod, a star anise and a strip of orange zest to the syrup, and serve the pears warm with toasted almonds scattered over the vanilla ice cream for a Christmas dinner finale.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing the caster sugar directly in the mixing bowl gives an exact caramel base so the orange syrup reaches ideal consistency every time.
- Controlled heating melts and caramelises the sugar with Marsala wine into a golden syrup without burning, far more reliable than a saucepan.
- The Varoma steaming function cooks the pears gently in their orange and cinnamon steam, keeping them tender yet intact for beautiful plating.
- The Thermomix mixes the freshly squeezed orange juice with sparkling mineral water into a light, evenly blended syrup in seconds.
- Whipping the vanilla ice cream accessory-style creates a soft, cloud-like scoop that melts slowly over the warm pears in syrup.
Ingredients
- orange
- freshly squeezed orange juice
- sparkling mineral water
- Marsala wine, sweet or dry
- cinnamon stick
- pears
- caster sugar
- vanilla ice cream