I'm a sucker for desserts that feel elegant without requiring a ton of fancy cooking tricks. It may sound like a tall task, but a dessert like wine poached pears proves that it's possible. Fresh pears ...

To make the wine syrup, in a 3-quart saucepan (or the size that holds your pears snuggly on their sides but not pressed together), combine the sugar, water, wine, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over ...

This classic, French-inspired dessert is a showy finish to any meal. Instructions: In a 4-quart saucepan, combine wine, sugar, orange juice, zest, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce ...

Pears poached in red wine make for a festive and easy make-ahead dessert. Look for crisp — very slightly under-ripe — pears with no blemishes. Bosc or Anjou are winning options as they can withstand ...

Christina Seillan, one of the family members behind Château Lassègue in the Bordeaux region of France, shares this recipe for poached pears spiced with the toffee and dark-fruit notes of Armagnac.

Pears tend to get lost in the shuffle when it comes to fall fruits, but they're nearly as versatile as apples, pomegranates, and cranberries. If you need more convincing, scroll through for sweet and ...