27 Best Pear Recipes

There are few fruits as overlooked as pears. While apples, bananas, oranges, and berries may get more attention than their subtly flavored cousins, that doesn't mean you should write pears off completely. As they're not as intensely flavorful as other types of fruit, they can be used in a wide range of recipes. Yes, you can certainly cook your pears into pies and crisps for dessert, but they can also be used raw to give salads some freshness and crunch, and they can be added to a wide variety of savory dishes as well.

Whether you've gotten your hands on a ton of pears you need to use up or you're just looking for new ways to incorporate more fruit into your diet, these pear recipes are just what you're looking for. They range from super-simple to ultra-elegant, but they all have one thing in common: they'll prove to you that pears deserve to be in the limelight. Here are some of our absolute favorite pear recipes.

Forget the apples: Pears shine in this classic pie recipe, with ginger providing just enough flavor to keep things interesting. The braided lattice crust gives it visual appeal, so you'll want to serve it to all of your pie-loving guests.

With just 15 minutes of prep time and about an hour in the oven, this beautiful pear recipe comes together in a pinch. It's the perfect light but satisfying way to end a meal shared with family and friends.

Recipe: Pear-Ginger Pie

Sure, you may have had your share of raw pears in your life, but they can't prepare you for what you'll taste when you take your first bite of a sous-vide red wine poached pear. The red wine both softens the pears and adds a rich, full flavor to the otherwise subtle fruit.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, orange zest, and cloves offer this dessert a richness and intensity that'll keep you coming back for more after you finish the first pear. Plus, the beautiful color and presentation will take a casual dinner party to the next level.

Recipe: Sous-Vide Red Wine Poached Pears

Pears shine when they're served with rich, creamy Manchego cheese. Add in a base of lettuce leaves, and you've created an unforgettable sweet-savory salad. Dijon mustard and grated ginger give the salad an extra punch of flavor, and hazelnuts add the perfect crunch to the combo.

We love that this recipe only takes around 30 minutes to put together, so you can have dinner on the table in no time. Add some salmon or chicken if you want some extra protein in the mix.

Recipe: Roasted Pear and Manchego Salad

Want to make a dessert that's guaranteed to impress your guests — or just provide a gorgeous centerpiece for your dinner for two? You have to try this pear almond tart. Who knew that these two simple ingredients could yield such flavorful results?

By using a premade pie crust, you can get this tart in the oven in only 25 minutes. However, feel free to make your own pie crust if you happen to have the ingredients on hand and don't mind spending a little extra time in the kitchen.

Recipe: Pear Almond Tart

It's hard to beat the moist, rich texture of olive oil cake, but this simple dessert is even better when it's paired with poached pears and fragrant rosemary cream. You'll poach the pears in red wine, which lends them an intensity that their raw counterparts just can't compete with.

The rosemary cream is surprisingly easy to make and adds a hint of complexity and lightness to this fruit-forward dish. You can always make extra to use in other recipes.

Recipe: Olive Oil Cake with Poached Pears and Rosemary Cream

We all love well-made cheese ravioli, but it may be time for your average ravioli recipe to get an upgrade. That's where this pear and gorgonzola recipe comes in. The pear adds not just brightness but also a slight crunch to the ravioli, which makes this recipe ideal for summer days when you're craving a big bowl of pasta.

When you're done forming, filling, and cooking your ravioli, finish it off with some freshly grated Parmesan for maximum cheesiness.

Recipe: Pear and Gorgonzola Ravioli

Despite their impressive appearance, Dutch babies are actually relatively easy to make at home. We like stepping our Dutch baby up a notch by adding caramelized pears and toasted almonds to the equation. The sweet, softened pears play especially well with the crunchy bitterness of the toasted almonds in this recipe.

Don't forget to sprinkle plenty of confectioner's sugar on top for an almost snow-dusted appearance. Serve this as a dessert at the end of a delicious meal, or make it first thing in the morning for breakfast.

Recipe: Dutch Baby with Caramelized Pears and Toasted Almonds

You've probably had your fair share of BLTs in your lifetime, but if you're looking for an alternative to the classic, you may want to swap the tomato for pears. It may sound like an odd combo, but believe us when we say that crisp pears work perfectly with rich, crumbly bacon and light, refreshing lettuce.

You can use whatever bread you have on hand. However, the autumnal flavor profile of pumpernickel bread works especially well here. Top your sandwich off with a few tablespoons of aioli.

Recipe: Bacon, Lettuce, and Pear Sandwich

Pear juice gets a rare chance to shine in this incredible sparkling pear cocktail. The chilled juice is at its best when it's paired with good-quality gin, dry sparkling wine like crémant, Cava, or Prosecco, and just a spritz of lemon juice.

We love serving this elegant and sippable drink in a flute to capture the bubbles from the sparkling wine but feel free to serve it in whatever glasses you have available. Add a lemon twist for an aesthetic touch.

Recipe: Sparkling Pear Cocktail

Who doesn't love the crisp-but-moist texture of a freshly made scallion pancake? Any scallion pancake will do in our books, but this snack is at its best when it's paired with an Asian pear-apple sauce and combined with potatoes to create a latke-like situation. This subtly sweet sauce contrasts nicely with the savory components of the scallion pancake, resulting in a symphony of flavor in the final product.

This recipe yields an extra-large scallion pancake, so there will be enough to share with guests (or keep to yourself to snack on throughout the week).

Recipe: Scallion Pancake Latke with Asian Pear-Apple Sauce

Don't have a cake pan on hand? No problem. You don't even need to dig out your baking equipment to make this incredible ginger pear cast iron skillet cake.

In this recipe, pears provide a lot of bulk to the skillet cake, but the crystallized ginger plays an integral role in delivering plenty of flavor to the equation. With just 50 minutes of cook time, you'll have dessert ready in no time at all.

Recipe: Ginger Pear Cast-Iron Skillet Cake

Plain pears are delicious enough on their own. But what if they were ... bubbly? That's just what you'll get when you follow this recipe from Francis Ang. All you'll need is a few pears, pear liqueur, pear juice, and some Guinness beer.

Although you can certainly eat these pears on their own, we think that they really shine when they're served over ice cream, in a salad, or on a cheese plate with your favorite dairy selections.

Recipe: Carbonated Pears

Aperol Spritzes are having their moment, but if you've had your fill of the traditional variety, it may be time to switch things up. That's where this pear Aperol Spritz recipe comes in. The subtler and more autumnal flavor profile of the pears makes this drink ideal for those late-summer, early fall evenings when you're looking for something to sip on.

This cocktail takes just 10 minutes to throw together, so make sure you keep the ingredients on hand for a simple drink you can make any time you get thirsty.

Recipe: Pear Aperol Spritz Cocktail

There are few combinations that work as well as fruit and meat, which is why prosciutto-wrapped pears are one of our latest food obsessions. This recipe couldn't get much easier — you're literally just wrapping pears in prosciutto — but it's sophisticated enough to serve at any casual dinner party.

Don't forget to add some maple syrup to the equation for some extra sweetness, and remember the black pepper to round out the flavor profile with a dose of earthiness that makes this snack a balanced bite.

Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears

Most of the time, we eat our fruits raw, but cooking them can uncover even more intense and delicious flavors. That's certainly the case when you char pears, a process that enhances their sweetness and adds that flame-grilled flavor we can't help but love.

Once you've charred your pears, combine them with fresh vegetables to make a refreshing but complex salad. It's perfect for those hot summer days when you're craving both freshness and flavor. A simple, unique dish.

Recipe: Charred Pear Salad

Black cherries might be the standard for clafoutis, one of France's great pie-like desserts. But that doesn't mean you're limited to only using the summery, colorful fruit. If you want to give your clafoutis a twist, try making it with pears.

This pear clafoutis recipe utilizes both Bosc pears and pear brandy to really seal in that signature fresh fall taste. Freshly grated nutmeg is an optional addition that can add a hint of spice to the finished dessert.

Recipe: Pear Clafoutis

We all love a berry crisp in the middle of the summer, but what if you want to change up your standard crisp recipe? You have to check out this version that utilizes both berries and Warren pears. The pears add a lovely crispness and nice freshness to the tartness of the blackberries and raspberries.

Although you can use fresh berries if you happen to have some on hand, you can also utilize frozen berries to cut your costs slightly.

Recipe: Warren Pear and Berry Crisp

Looking for a fall dish that will leave you feeling full and nourished? Roasted pears are, of course, a great place to start. Then, pair them with kabocha squash for some added bulk along with pumpkin seeds for that ideal crunch.

This healthy fall dish makes an elegant side and can even replace a salad at the dinner table. Just don't forget the grated Parmesan and finely grated lemon zest on top for best results.

Recipe: Roasted Pear and Kabocha Squash with Pumpkin Seeds

You'll have to make this poached pear and frangipane tart from scratch, but trust us when we say that it's totally worth the time and effort it takes. The poached pears are the star of the show — cinnamon and Lillet Blanc infuse them with an incredible depth of flavor.

This recipe from Jason Bond of Bondir in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is sure to wow all your guests at your next dinner party ... if you can keep yourself from eating it all before they arrive, at least.

Recipe: Poached Pear and Frangipane Tart

Have some pears on hand and don't know what to do with them? Don't overthink things — just turn them into a salad. Pears pair particularly well with blue cheese, which adds some tang to the otherwise fruity dish. With its iconic floral quality, mint pulls the dish together beautifully.

We love this recipe for weeknights because it only takes 20 minutes to assemble. In less than half an hour in the kitchen, you can make yourself a salad that rivals your favorite restaurants.

Recipe: Pear Salad with Mint and Blue Cheese

Panzanella is generally made with tomatoes, and it's almost always a savory salad. However, that shouldn't stop you from trying out this sweet panzanella recipe. Pink pears provide the backdrop for the sugar-soaked brioche bread cubes. Don't forget the star anise for some added depth of flavor.

This may not be the most conventional dessert you've ever tried, but it's hard to beat this beautiful panzanella for summertime entertaining. This fruit-forward dessert is guaranteed to impress even the most sweets-averse of your acquaintances.

Recipe: Sweet Panzanella with Pink Pears

You don't have to live your life eating boring, basic sandwiches. That's exactly why we love this recipe from Chef Julianne Jones that calls for both pears and parsnips. It may not be the most classic sandwich combo, but believe us when we say that it makes a life-changing tartine.

Creme fraiche is an essential ingredient here, as is the blue cheese. The dairy provides a creamy backdrop for the more pungent flavors from the root veggies and fruit. Black pepper brings it all together in one undeniably pleasurable package.

Recipe: Pear-Parsnip Tartine

When you want to make something more interesting than a standard, everyday dessert, you need to turn to this recipe for pear croustades. The pie-like crust is perfecting for holding the sweet, cooked pears. But you need something to balance it all out, right? That's where the prune-armagnac ice cream comes in to cool things off. It also contains pitted prunes, which add to the depth of flavor and give the recipe a touch more sweetness.

This recipe may seem intimidating at first glance, but it really is as simple as making a pie.

Recipe: Pear Croustades with Prune-Armagnac Ice Cream

You don't have to keep making the same old boring chocolate and vanilla cakes again and again when you have more creative recipes at your disposal. That's where Nigella Lawson's recipe for pistachio cake comes in. The pistachios give the cake some crunch and color, not to mention a subtle nuttiness that keeps this cake from being too sweet.

The pears and rose are what really make this cake shine, though. Once the pears are cooked down, they'll take on a lovely soft consistency, and the rosewater gives this otherwise fruity cake an elegant touch.

Recipe: Pistachio Cake with Pear and Rose

Apple crisps are all the rage during the autumn months, but that doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to apples and apples only. We love that this crumble cake includes both apples and pears, which gives the dessert some complexity and depth. Cherries also add some sweetness in addition to a light tartness that plays well with the other fruits.

We love that the topping for this crumble comes together so quickly. Instead of using regular all-purpose flour, you should look for buckwheat flour, which will give the finished product a crunchier texture.

Recipe: Apple-Pear Crisp with Walnut-Buckwheat Crumble

Pears are at their best when they're served in a salad, which is why we love this salad that contains endives, radicchio, and walnut in addition to one of our favorite fruits. This recipe works so well because the sweetness of the pears pairs beautifully with the bitter veggies. The walnuts add some much-needed crunch and an earthy nuttiness that tempers the other flavors in the dish.

You may be tempted to skip the blue cheese in this recipe, but you shouldn't. Its bright, acidic tang gives this salad the refreshing quality that you're going for.

Recipe: Endive, Radicchio, Pear, and Walnut Salad

Who knew you could turn one of your all-time favorite beverages into a soup? That's just what you'll do when you prepare this pear-Champagne soup with blue cheese from Chef Dirk Flanigan. Champagne gives some body to the pear puree, while lemons offer the dish some mouthwatering acidity.

This is definitely supposed to be a savory dish, which is why the blue cheese is so important. But don't forget the celery, either — it gives this starter a freshness and crunch you won't get from those pureed pears alone.

Recipe: Pear-Champagne Soup with Blue Cheese