53 baked pear recipes

Swiss gingerbread from Lucerne with pear purée, walnuts, whole wheat flour and a warming mix of star anise, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. Traditional Lebkuchen-style holiday bake.

This is the second recipe I'll post tonight--promised it to AH earlier tonight. My mother found this recipe 35 or so years ago in a magazine and it has become a family favorite. For years she only made it at Thanksgiving until I took over the baking reigns in the family; now she makes it more often especially when my brother, Lewis, is going to be in.

Vegetarian mincemeat with fresh pears, mixed dried fruit, candied peel, glace cherries, dates, almonds, citrus zest, and whiskey. A meat-free version of the British holiday classic.

No-bake cafe au lait blender cheesecake whips cottage cheese, instant coffee, and whipped topping into a light gelatin-set dessert. Cinnamon zwieback crumbs top each slice.

Individual rustic fruit tarts with shortcrust pastry, apricot jam glaze, and thinly sliced apples or pears. A French-bistro dessert that bakes in 15 minutes and looks gorgeous.

Cato's grape bread recreates an ancient Roman recipe with feta, cumin, anise, and grape juice baked over fragrant bay leaves. A 2,000-year-old loaf with rustic Mediterranean character.

Gluten-free pear breakfast cake made with rice flour and cornstarch, topped with a crackly sugar bloom. Light, simple, and naturally gluten-free with tender fruit in every bite.

French pear fondant tart with chunks of unpeeled pear baked into a tender egg-rich batter. Rustic country dessert sometimes called clafoutis aux poires.

A lighter blueberry pear cobbler with a fluffy drop-biscuit topping. Made with pears packed in juice and skim milk, this fruit-forward dessert keeps things simple and satisfying.

Pear and anise skillet tart with caramelized sugar, fresh pears arranged spoke-fashion, and a lemon-anise pastry crust baked on top then flipped. A tarte tatin-style dessert with warm licorice notes.

Fantastic fruit muffins: low-fat whole wheat muffins with oats, pear, cranberry, and golden raisin. Prune puree replaces butter for natural moisture; egg whites keep them light and healthy.

Deep-fried fruit fritters made with apples, pears, and bananas in a light vanilla batter, served with a warm lemon-bourbon sauce. A Creole-inspired dessert.

Tender sliced pears baked beneath a rich cocoa batter with dark brown sugar and golden syrup. This British-style chocolate pear pudding serves 8 and comes together in about an hour.

This cake is remarkable; no one would ever believe that it is so low in fat and calories.

Fruity cake loaded with dried dates, papaya, pears, and raisins baked with honey, sesame oil, and orange zest using a muffin mix shortcut. A dense, fruit-packed holiday loaf.

Pear and almond pancakes with syrup-soaked Bartletts and slivered nuts pressed right into the batter, finished with warm fig-maple syrup. A weekend breakfast with real brunch-menu flair.