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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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