Baked Pears with Goat Cheese, Honey, and Cranberries Recipe
This delightful dessert features baked pears stuffed with creamy goat cheese and topped with a luscious honey-simmered cranberry sauce. The pears are gently roasted to bring out their natural sweetness and paired with a hint of cinnamon and fresh mint for a beautifully balanced treat perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings (3 pears halved) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pears and Toppings
- 3 ripe but firm pears (Bartlett or Bosc), halved and cored
- 3 oz goat cheese
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp honey (plus more for drizzling)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Cranberry Sauce
- 1/3 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for roasting the pears.
- Prepare pears: Slice each pear in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the cores. If the pear halves do not sit flat, trim the bottoms slightly.
- Add butter to pears: Place the pear halves cut-side up in a baking dish and add a small pat of unsalted butter to each half.
- Roast pears: Bake the pears in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until they are fork-tender and lightly golden on top.
- Make cranberry sauce: While pears are roasting, combine fresh cranberries and 2 tablespoons of honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Simmer until the berries burst slightly and form a syrupy sauce.
- Cool pears and add cheese: Remove the pears from the oven and let them cool briefly. Then, fill each pear half with goat cheese.
- Top with cranberry sauce: Spoon the warm cranberry sauce over the goat cheese filling in each pear.
- Drizzle honey and garnish: Drizzle additional honey over the pears and sprinkle with ground cinnamon if using. Garnish with fresh mint leaves for a pop of color and flavor.
- Serve: Serve these baked pears warm or slightly chilled as a sophisticated and healthy dessert.
Notes
- Choose pears that are ripe but still firm to ensure they hold their shape when baked.
- If fresh cranberries are unavailable, frozen cranberries can be substituted.
- The cinnamon and mint garnish are optional but add a lovely aroma and flavor.
- This recipe can be made ahead; keep the cranberry sauce and pears separate and assemble just before serving.
- Try drizzling with additional honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness.
Keywords: baked pears, goat cheese dessert, honey cranberry sauce, healthy dessert, roasted fruit dessert
