16 Best Pear Desserts for Flavorful Fall Baking
Take a bite out of these sweet, juicy ideas.
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Dear fans of fall, we’re going to challenge you this season. When it comes to, quite literally, picking your favorite fruit, we know the apple of your eye is probably, well, apples. And we get it! It’s just so easy to give the spotlight in fall recipes to all the different types of apples out there. But this year, try to switch it up a bit and focus on another juicy, sweet option that’s just as bountiful when the weather turns cold. We’re talking, of course, about pears!
Pear recipes are plentiful because they work just as well in savory applications as they do sweet. But let’s be honest, where they really shine are in pear desserts. That mix of flavor and texture works so well with many classic recipes, from cakes to crumbles to pies and more. In case you’re looking for a little inspiration to get all those (pear) juices flowing, look no further than this roundup for easy pear dessert recipes you’ll bake all season long.
Want to know the best go-to pear for baking? You can bet on Bosc. You’ll find it listed in practically every recipe listed here, and for good reason. They are sweet and juicy with a texture that’s just soft enough to eat raw yet will hold its shape while cooking. And yes, you can freeze pears, too, which means you can stock up when they are at their peak and bake for months to come! So will you accept our fall baking challenge? Great, now get to work!
Apple-Pear Lattice Pie
Sometime two is better than one, and Ree proves that deliciously with this pie. Tart Granny Smith apples and sweet Bosc pears, ahem, pair perfectly for a twist on a classic that will surely delight with each bite.
Get Ree's Apple-Pear Lattice Pie recipe.
Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake
There's something so magical about upside down cakes. The fruit not only takes on a stunning pattern (no decoration required!) but becomes extra caramel-y sweet. This spicy delight is best served warm.
Get the Pear Upside Down Cake recipe.
Pear Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream
Bosc pears work really well for this dessert, because they’re juicy but will retain some shape so they don't get mushy. The topping has an added crunchy bite thanks to the pecans. Serve right out of the oven topped with creamy vanilla ice cream.
Get Ree's Pear Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream recipe.
Pear Clafouti
This classic French dessert is creamy, sweet, and surprisingly easy to make. In fact, Ree experiments with three different versions here! If you have a lot of pears, you can try all three, too.
Get Ree's Pear Clafouti recipe.
Fresh Pear and Pecan Cake
You'll find double the pears, double the fun in this cake. It uses chopped pears in the batter itself, and then full pears are pressed into the batter before baking. They peek out just a little bit at the top, giving a hint as to what's inside.
Get the Fresh Pear and Pecan Cake recipe at Celebrate Creativity.
Pear and Raspberry Bread
Move over bananas―there's a new bread in town! All you need is one pear and one cup of raspberries to create a sweet/tart bread that would taste as good for dessert as it would for breakfast.
Red Wine Poached Pears
If you're looking for a real stunner, try poaching pears in a spicy red wine syrup. They not only absorb all that delicious flavor but take on the color as well for a jewel-toned result.
Baked Pears
Another gorgeous way to display pears is by baking them. They retain their telltale shape but become soft and luscious, which contrasts perfectly with the crunchy granola filling.
Get the Baked Pears recipe at Preppy Kitchen.
Pear Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Is it possible to make cinnamon rolls even better? Yes, just add pears! Chopped Boscs are tucked in with the cinnamon filling for a surprise in each bite. Topped with cream cheese frosting, these delectable rolls will become a seasonal favorite.
Get the Pear Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Britney Breaks Bread.
Caramel Pear Cheesecake Bars
Cheesecake, caramel, and pears are all delicious on their own. But combined? Well, that's a whole other level of delectable! Cut into easy-to-serve squares, these bars will become an instant favorite.
Get the Caramel Pear Cheesecake Bars recipe at Sugar and Soul.
Pear and Plum Puff Pastry Tart with Blue Cheese
Get a bite of both sweet and savory in this puff pastry tart. Crumbles of blue cheese and chopped thyme speckle slices of ripe pears and plums, and then the whole thing gets a drizzle of honey.
Get the Pear and Plum Puff Pastry Tart with Blue Cheese at Foodie Crush.
Pear, Date and Coconut Cake
If you're looking for something just a little bit different, try this simple yet complex cake: simple because it's quite easy to assemble, yet complex with different flavors. Dust on a pretty pattern of powdered sugar for extra oomph.
Get the Pear, Date and Coconut Cake recipe at Hummingbird High.
Roasted Pear and Vanilla Bean Scones
Are scones for breakfast, brunch, or dessert? We say all, especially when they are delicious as these. Topped with a salty honey glaze, you'll be glad for each bite no matter the time of day.
Get the Roasted Pear and Vanilla Bean Scones recipe at Cloudy Kitchen.
Poached Pear Tarts
If you're already a pro at poaching pears with wine, why not take it a step further and make individual tarts with them? Talk about a perfect party idea! Filled with almond cream, these little tarts are sure to wow your guests.
Almond Pear Tart
This French tart is a classic for a reason: It's as pretty as it is tasty. Slices of pears are placed in a pattern a top a creamy almond filling and baked until it puffs around the sides of the fruit. Dust with a little powdered sugar and prepare to wow your tastebuds.
Get the Almond Pear Tart recipe at The View from Great Island.
Spiced Pear Cake
You can make this super moist cake any time of year, because it uses canned pears. That also makes prep time way shorter. So what are you waiting for? This cake takes less than an hour from start to finish!
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