25 Fancy Dessert Recipes
12. Poached Pears Belle Helene
Poached Pears Belle Helene is a classic French dessert that looks impressive but is easy to make at home. With gentle poaching, the pears become soft and flavorful, and pairing them with rich chocolate sauce feels special. This dessert can fit into a balanced meal because it uses fresh fruit and is not too heavy.
The recipe needs only a few simple steps and common ingredients. Anyone looking for a dessert that stands out at gatherings yet doesn’t require complicated skills will find this dish appealing. Its balance of warm sauce, cool ice cream, and tender pears might encourage even beginners to try making it.
Cooking Times
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Serving Size
- Serves 4 people, with 1 pear each
Ingredients
- 4 Bosc pears, peeled and cored, stems left on
- 6 cups water
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 vanilla bean
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup chocolate sauce
Preparation
- Bring the water, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and the vanilla bean to a gentle simmer in a large pot.
- Place the pears in the pot and let it simmer gently for about 20–25 minutes, until the pears are soft but hold their shape.
- Carefully lift the pears out and let them cool slightly.
- Place one pear on each plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Warm the chocolate sauce and pour it over the pears right before serving.
Nutrition Info
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Fat: 6 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Calcium: 90 mg
