Zinfandel-Poached Pears with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

This is an ideal dessert for entertaining because it has to be made far ahead of serving time. The overnight soak in the spiced wine syrup allows the flavor to deeply penetrate the pears.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

FUNCTION: Sauté (Normal); Pressure/Manual (High)

CLOSED POT TIME: 15 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes + overnight chill

RELEASE: Quick

SERVES: 4

PREP

Combine wine, sugar, orange juice, orange peel, cinnamon stick, cloves, and berries in the Instant Pot®. Select sauté and adjust to normal. Allow wine mixture to come to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar.

While wine mixture cooks, peel pears, taking care that fruit is smooth and retains its shape. Do not remove stems. Cut a ½-inch slice from the bottom of each pear to make it stand upright. When sugar has dissolved, press cancel. Gently turn pears in wine mixture to coat, then arrange upright in mixture. Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve.

COOK

Select manual and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. When cooking is complete, use a quick release to depressurize. Press cancel. Open lid; carefully remove the pears to a bowl. Pour wine mixture over the pears. Cover and transfer to refrigerator. Let wine-immersed pears chill for at least 12 hours, turning pears in mixture a few times during chilling time.

Using a slotted spoon, gently remove pears from wine mixture and transfer them to serving plates.

Transfer wine mixture to pot, select sauté, and adjust to normal. Cook and stir wine syrup over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is syrupy. Press cancel.

SERVE

While syrup is simmering, prepare Cinnamon Whipped Cream: In the chilled bowl of an electric mixer beat cream on high speed until soft peaks form. With mixer running, slowly sprinkle cream with sugar and cinnamon. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.

Spoon syrup over pears. Serve generous dollops of Cinnamon Whipped Cream alongside poached pears.