Description
This delightful recipe features baked pears stuffed with a creamy goat cheese mixture, sweetened with honey, dried cranberries, and crunchy nuts. The pears are baked until tender and lightly browned, making a perfect warm dessert or elegant appetizer served with a garnish of fresh mint leaves.
Ingredients
Scale
Pears
- 4 medium ripe pears, halved and cored
Filling
- 1 cup goat cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup nuts (such as walnuts or pecans), chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Topping and Garnish
- 1/4 cup honey, plus more for drizzling
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the pears.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish with butter or oil to prevent the pears from sticking during baking.
- Make Filling: In a bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Prepare Pears: Scoop out a small portion from the center of each pear half to create space for the filling, taking care not to scoop too much so the pear holds its shape.
- Stuff Pears: Generously fill each pear half with the goat cheese mixture, packing it firmly into each cavity.
- Arrange in Dish: Place the stuffed pears cut-side up in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
- Drizzle Honey: Evenly drizzle 1/4 cup honey over the tops of the pears to add sweetness and help caramelize during baking.
- Cover with Foil: Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent the pears from browning too quickly as they bake.
- Bake Pears: Bake the pears in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pears are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Brown Tops: Remove the foil during the last 5-10 minutes of baking to allow the tops of the stuffed pears to brown slightly and develop a lovely caramelized finish.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baking dish from the oven and let the pears cool for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Serve the baked pears warm, garnished with fresh mint leaves if desired, and add an extra drizzle of honey for added sweetness.
Notes
- You can substitute nuts with your preferred variety or omit them for a nut-free version.
- Use ripe yet firm pears to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
- The recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
- Serve as a dessert or an elegant appetizer paired with a light salad or wine.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days and reheat gently before serving.
