24 Pear Recipes - Sunset.com

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Caramelized Pear and Sage Crostini

Sweet pears and sharp blue cheese create an exciting yet homey appetizer. Serve them with sparkling wine, or a slightly sweet white wine.

Recipe: Caramelized Pear and Sage Crostini

Photography by Leigh Beisch

Asian Pear, Fennel, and Walnut Salad

This pretty mix of fall favorites, sweet Asian pears, crisp fennel, and crunchy walnuts, is a perfect salad for special occasions.

Recipe: Asian Pear, Fennel, and Walnut Salad

A Thanksgiving dessert of Rustic Pear Tarts with Creme Fraiche

Photography by Rachel Weill; styling by Dan Becker

Rustic Pear Tarts with Crème Fraiche

Fresh pears and purchased puff pastry add up to an incredibly easy seasonal dessert.

Recipe: Rustic Pear Tarts with Crème Fraiche

A Thanksgiving dessert of Pear Cranberry Crisp.

Photography by Lisa Romerein

Pear Cranberry Crisps

Juicy pears take the place of apples in this twist on the apple cranberry crisp. Bake them in individual dishes for an especially pretty presentation.

Recipe: Pear Cranberry Crisps

Monica Buck

Pear and Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Brown sugar glazed pears top moist ginger cake in this fall-inspired twist on the classic pineapple upside-down cake.

Recipe: Pear and Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Photography by Leigh Beisch; food styling by Dan Becker

Asian Pear Salad with Pecans

This salad is all about bold contrasts: crisp pears and pecans with tender frisée, and maple syrup with sharp blue cheese.

Recipe: Asian Pear Salad with Pecans

Photography by Annabelle Breakey

Gingerbread Pear Trifle

A spicy, molasses-rich gingerbread is the base of a wonderfully festive dessert.

Recipe: Gingerbread Pear Trifle

Photography by James Baigrie; styling by Karen Shinto

Caramelized Pears with Toasted Hazelnuts and Chocolate Sorbet

These golden-brown pears make a stunning finale, and they can be made well ahead of time. Chocolate sorbet adds a deep, rich flavor note.

Recipe: Caramelized Pears with Toasted Hazelnuts and Chocolate Sorbet

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Romney Steele

Upside-down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-roasted Pears

This old-fashioned, moist cake, jazzed up with vanilla bean and roasted pears, takes on even more flavor if you start the pears a day ahead so they can steep in their syrup.

Recipe: Upside-down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-roasted Pears

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; styling by Karen Shinto

Blue Cheese and Pear Tart

We cut this tart up into small pieces for an elegant appetizer, but you could also slice it into large wedges and serve it with a green salad for a light meal.

Recipe: Blue Cheese and Pear Tart

Iain Bagwell

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

Here's a recipe to add to your go-to list: easy enough to pull off for a Tuesday night dinner but special enough to serve to guests.

Recipe: Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Candied Pecan, Pear, and Spinach Salad

Sometimes combining three simple ingredients is all that is needed to create something spectacular, and this recipe is the perfect example.

Recipe: Candied Pecan, Pear, and Spinach Salad

Photo by Iain Bagwell

Pear Punch Sparkler

This fizzy and fruity cocktail uses pears in three ways.

Recipe: Pear Punch Sparkler

Photography by Monica Buck

Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

This fall salad is bursting with color and flavor from sweet poached pears, crunchy macadamia nuts, creamy goat cheese, and jewel-colored pomegranate seeds--very impressive.

Recipe: Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

Photo by Leo Gong

Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad

Crisp pancetta and juicy pears make this salad special enough to be holiday-worthy.

Recipe: Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Braised Pork with Pears and Chiles

The gentle heat of the dried chiles is highlighted by the sweet pears, which become soft and a bit savory while cooking in the pork juices. With a side of greens, this is one of our favorite fall dinners.

Recipe: Braised Pork with Pears and Chiles

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Pear Upside-Down Cake

A rich flavor and soft crumb made this cake a favorite in our test kitchen.

Recipe: Pear Upside-Down Cake

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Pear Sorbet

Light and refreshing, this sorbet is a delightful way to end a heavy meal. If you want to serve sparkling wine with the sorbet, choose one that's sweeter than the one in the sorbet.

Recipe: Pear Sorbet

Photo by Minh+Wass

Caramelized Rosemary Pears

These pears aren't too sweet, and have subtle notes of black pepper and rosemary.

Recipe: Caramelized Rosemary Pears

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Roasted Cranberry Pear Relish

This fresh holiday side is a nice alternative to cranberry sauce, packing in added seasonal flavor.

Recipe: Roasted Cranberry Pear Relish

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Pear Ginger Crisp with Crumbly Streusel

In this sensational seasonal dessert, prebaking the topping adds crispness.

Recipe: Pear Ginger Crisp with Crumbly Streusel

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Asian Pear, Persimmon, and Almond Salad

A mix of chartreuse and bronze lettuces--if you can find them--really sets off the fruits' fall colors.

Recipe: Asian Pear, Persimmon, and Almond Salad

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts

Pears and pomegranate seeds and juice flavor this tasty fall starter.

Recipe: Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts

Photo by Leo Gong

Red Wine Poached Pears

These pears are so beautiful, it's hard to believe how easy they are to make. You can also try the recipe with white wine or apple juice instead of the red wine, but the pears won't have the same pastel color.

Recipe: Red Wine Poached Pears

24 ways with pears

Caramelized Pear and Sage Crostini

Asian Pear, Fennel, and Walnut Salad

Rustic Pear Tarts with Crème Fraiche

Pear Cranberry Crisps

Pear and Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Asian Pear Salad with Pecans

Gingerbread Pear Trifle

Caramelized Pears with Toasted Hazelnuts and Chocolate Sorbet

Upside-down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-roasted Pears

Blue Cheese and Pear Tart

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

Candied Pecan, Pear, and Spinach Salad

Pear Punch Sparkler

Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad

Braised Pork with Pears and Chiles

Pear Upside-Down Cake

Pear Sorbet

Caramelized Rosemary Pears

Roasted Cranberry Pear Relish

Pear Ginger Crisp with Crumbly Streusel

Asian Pear, Persimmon, and Almond Salad

Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts

Red Wine Poached Pears