Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 10 Delicious Pear Recipes That are Pear-fect for Fall Whether you're in the mood for savory or sweet, opt for one of these pear-fect dishes. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 30, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Pear recipes—whether they're for breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner, or dessert—run the gamut from sweet to savory. The mild, sweet flavor of pears goes well with everything from prosciutto and potatoes to camembert, cranberries, and cinnamon. Look over our compilation of pear recipes perfect for fall—er...correction—any season. Plus, learn when to look for locally grown pears, tips for picking a ripe pear, and reasons you should eat them. 01 of 10 Maple, Pear, and Pecan Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats Brie Passano Here, we redefine the term "overnight oats" to mean tossing steel-cut oats in the slow cooker and letting them cook overnight. The result is a deliciously spiced, creamy oatmeal generously topped with fresh-cut pears and toasted pecans. Plus, maple syrup gives sweetness to the oats. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 10 Pressed-Crust Pear Tart Beatriz da Costa For this recipe, pear halves are set atop a dough that's hand-pressed into a tart pan and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. After baking, the golden-brown tart is brushed with an apricot jam and lemon juice glaze for a sweet, shiny finish. As an extra indulgence, top with homemade whipped cream. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 10 Balsamic Steak With Radicchio and Pears Antonis Achilleos This gourmet, grown-up steak has slices of sweet pear, bitter radicchio, and crumbly bleu cheese. This high-protein dinner will be on the table in just 45 minutes. The dish works equally well as a Friday-night splurge or the star at your next dinner party. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 10 Pears With Blue Cheese and Prosciutto Mikkel Vang These elegant party appetizers take just 10 minutes to prepare. Rich bleu cheese and salty prosciutto beautifully contrast the crisp sweet pear in what's going to quickly become a dinner party essential. And to top it all off, it all comes together with just five ingredients. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 10 Slow Cooker Apple-and-Pear Sauce Greg DuPree Tender pears and apples blend with aromatic cinnamon, warm vanilla, and maple for a delicate, smooth stick-to-your-ribs treat. You'll just need 10 minutes to prep your ingredients and throw them in the slow cooker. You'll never buy ready-made apple sauce again! GET THE RECIPE 06 of 10 Pears With Rosemary Sugar David Prince Whether it's a quick side or sweet fixing, this dish only takes 10 minutes to prepare. We love that you can whip up this recipe on a whim or easily double it. A crisp, totally satisfying delight awaits! GET THE RECIPE 07 of 10 Gingersnap-Pear Cheesecake Sang An Ginger-spiked pear slices enhance the flavor of this rich dessert's buttery gingersnap crust. Out of the oven, allow plenty of time for this cheesecake to cool to room temperature, and then chill for at least four hours in the refrigerator. To zhush up the presentation, top with thin pear slices. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 10 Brown Butter and Vanilla Pear Pie Johnny Miller Impress guests with this beautiful, super flaky, brown butter-and-vanilla pear pie. We promise it looks more fussy than it is to make. If you're feeling indulgent, pair it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 10 Gingerbread Pancakes With Pears and Yogurt Antonis Achilleos Once you have tasted this gingerbread-and-pear combination, you'll wonder why you waited so long! The spiced-up pancake mix batter balances beautifully with sweet juicy pear slices and creamy vanilla yogurt for a decadent yet healthful start to the day. Serve with additional pear slices and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 10 Sheet Pan Pear Crisp Caitlin Bensel Granted, this recipe calls for apples, but you can swap them out for any hearty fruit like peaches, plums, or—you guessed it—pears. In addition to this dish's versatility, it's easy, feeds a crowd, can be made ahead, and you can take "sheet pan" to mean "easy cleanup." A scoop or two of ice cream alongside each serving takes it to the next level. GET THE RECIPE When Is Pear Season? Pears' peak season begins in late summer and continues through January, with 80% of the U.S. crop grown in the Pacific Northwest. Ten varieties are grown in overlapping seasons, making domestic pears available nearly year-round. With over 3000 types of pears grown worldwide, off-season imports are likely to come from New Zealand, Chile, and Australia. When to Pick Ripe Pears A pear's ideal color depends on its variety. The most popular ones in the U.S.—Green Anjou, Bartlett, and Bosc—come in varying shades of green, pinkish-red, and brown. They're best picked unripe and then ripen off the tree, similar to avocados, plums, and apricots. You can't tell how ripe pears are just by looking, because they rarely change color as they mature. In the produce section, pears are almost always hard because they ripen from the inside out. Look for fruits without soft spots, bruises, or blemishes, and then check for ripeness: Apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb and, if the pear feels soft to the touch, it's ripe. Health Benefits of Pears Like most fruits, pears are super nutritious. A medium pear, which equates to one serving of fruit, has only 100 calories yet packs antioxidants and flavonoids. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), pears are also an excellent source of fiber and provide daily recommended values of 8% vitamin C and 4% potassium; all three of which the DGA identifies as under-consumed by Americans. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit