Baked Pear Recipe: How to Make the Sweet Pear Dessert

Pears are the edible fruit of the pear tree. Types of pears include Bosc, Bartlett, and D’Anjou. Ripe pears are sweet and soft with a thin skin. Eating pears raw is common, but canned pears, preserved pears, frozen pears, and pear juice are also popular. Other methods for preparing pears include poaching and baking.

Baked pears refer to any pear that bakes in the oven, whether it’s a plain pear or a pear in puff pastry. Baking pears brings forward their natural sugars and softens the fruit, resulting in a dish similar to baked apples. Add flavor to baked pears with warm spices, maple syrup, brown sugar, red wine, or lemon juice to complement the pear’s natural sweetness.

Baked pears are soft and sweet. Serve the dish with contrasting but complementary flavors and textures. Here are three foods that pair well with baked pears:

1. 1. Greek yogurt: Flavor plain Greek yogurt with vanilla extract and maple syrup or honey, then dollop it on top of or next to a baked pear. The tanginess of the Greek yogurt balances the concentrated sweetness of the pear and adds a creamy texture to the dessert.
2. 2. Toasted nuts: Use walnuts, pecans, cashews, or hazelnuts to add a crunchy texture and nutty, earthy flavor to baked pears. Lightly toast the nuts in the oven to bring out their natural oils and toasted flavor.
3. 3. Vanilla ice cream: A common side for many baked fruit desserts, vanilla ice cream adds a cold, creamy, and sweet element to a baked pear dessert. Use homemade or store-bought ice cream.