Dessert, Pear Recipes

Fresh fruit medley with apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes tossed in orange juice concentrate, topped with a spiced yogurt-ricotta sauce. A light, diabetic-friendly dessert.

Streusel and cream pear kuchen with a yeasted hot-roll base, sweet cream cheese filling, cinnamon-pecan streusel, and fanned poached pears on top. A German-style coffee cake worthy of a holiday brunch table.

Dried prunes, apricots, and pears slow-cooked with vanilla bean, lemon zest, and a touch of sugar until thick and jammy. Make it on the stovetop or set-and-forget in a crockpot.

Fresh gingerbread cake paired with whole pears poached in ruby port with ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. Served with ginger-scented whipped cream for an elegant holiday dessert plate.

Warm pear pudding cake with pecans, cinnamon, and cloves baked under a bubbling brown sugar caramel sauce. An old-fashioned comfort dessert best served hot with ice cream or whipped cream.

Buttermilk pear pound cake built on reduced pear puree and nutty brown butter, with whipped egg whites folded in for a tender, moist crumb. A lighter spin on a classic tube cake.

A whole-wheat vegan pear clafouti with almond meal base, naturally sweetened with fruit juice concentrate, finished with a glossy red wine glaze. A French-inspired dessert without dairy or refined sugar.

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.

Homemade apple-pear butter with orange juice and orange zest, slow-cooked until thick and spreadable, then canned in a boiling-water bath. A classic fall preserve that keeps for months.

Pear-apple mincemeat pie: a lattice-topped classic with homemade or jarred pear-apple mincemeat, extra sugar, and buttery pastry. Old-fashioned holiday dessert at its best.

Savory cheese cookies with sharp cheddar, butter, and crisp rice cereal. Rolled into balls and fork-pressed flat. A crunchy, cheesy appetizer or snack that bakes in 10 minutes.

Fruit compotes are a typical dessert for a Sabbath meat meal.

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.

Pear and apricot tart layers fanned pears and apricot halves over almond paste filling in a buttery almond pastry, then glazes with apple jelly. A bakery-worthy fruit tart for special occasions.

Upside-down pear gingerbread cake with caramelized pear slices under a spiced molasses cake loaded with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Served with vanilla whipped cream.

Pineapple-walnut dip: creamed cottage cheese and sour cream blended with crushed pineapple, toasted walnuts, and lemon. A versatile sweet-savory dip for fruit, cookies, or chicken.