Our Favorite Pear Desserts

My husband loves it when I make dessert. Fruit crisps are easy and quick to prepare, so I make them often! I created this fall-flavored grilled version with fresh pears and items I had on hand. We loved it. —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland

I entered this pie in a local baking contest and ended up winning! Bartlett pears hold up well when baked, adding a nice layer of texture. —Darlene Jacobson, Waterford, Wisconsin

In fall, my family loves to kick back after dinner and dig into big bowls of this spiced crisp. It isn't too sweet, but still satisfies a sweet tooth. —Noreen McCormick, Cromwell, Connecticut

While being poached, the pear absorbs the sweetness and spice from the sugar, wine, cinnamon and peppercorn. It makes an easy, yet elegant, dessert that's perfect for a special night. —Kiersten Atkinson, Birmingham, Alabama

Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota

A lattice top serves as a charming frame for this special holiday dessert filled with fresh pears and candied fruit. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you like. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

We grow our own luscious red raspberries and feast on them fresh and freeze them for winter. This recipe combines the berries with fresh pears and a crunchy cereal topping. —Fancheon Resler, Bluffton, Indiana

This is warm, sweet and filling—comfort food at its best! Scoop it up hot from the oven and serve it on those crisp, cool autumn days. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

My son loves pear crisp, but one night I was making bread pudding. He asked if I could make both. I compromised by combining two desserts into this one dish. It's absolutely fantastic! —Kurt Wait, Redwood City, California

Don't expect this old-fashioned dessert to last long. The delicate pears and irresistible caramel topping make it a winner whenever I serve it. It's nice to have a tempting fall cake that puts the season's best pears to excellent use. —Sharon Mensing, Greenfield, Iowa

I saw a recipe for this rustic tart in a cookbook and wanted to try my own version of it. I changed the spices and chose my own fruits. It is a great dessert for the fall.—Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina

Taste autumn aromas —apples, cinnamon and spices —in this delicious recipe. It's even better with a scoop of vanilla or pumpkin ice cream! Whipped cream is always an option. —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey

As a teenage foreign exchange student in the south of France, I was horribly homesick. Then my host family's Grandmother Miette arrived and asked if I'd like to help her bake this nutty tart from scratch. It turned my trip around and inspired my lifelong passion for baking. Weighing ingredients, roasting nuts, kneading dough—the art of baking transcends language. —Lexi McKeown, Los Angeles, California

Old-fashioned pear spice cake is a wonderful ending to a meal. It's not too heavy or rich, but the moist treat is brimming with flavor.—Audrey Golden, Cary, North Carolina

Here’s a home-style recipe I’ve shared with many of my friends and family. Cranberries, pears and cinnamon transform the usual strawberry shortcake into a wonderful wintry treat. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

My unusual fruit crisp celebrates the flavors of the holidays. Offer it as a side, or add ice cream to make it a standout dessert. —Deanna McDonald, Kalamazoo, Michigan

I love cheese and fruit, so this pie is a natural pairing for me. Sweet and spicy wine-poached pears and a flaky, buttery cheese crust make for a winning dessert you’ll want to make again and again. If you’re serving this for Thanksgiving, bake leaf-shaped pie pastry on top for a festive look. —Alexandra Penfold, Brooklyn, New York

These warm spiced pears elevate slow cooking to a new level of elegance, yet they're incredibly easy to make. Your friends won't believe this fancy-looking dessert came from a slow cooker. —Elizabeth Hanes, Peralta, New Mexico

Gingersnaps lend crunch to my heartwarming cool-weather classic, featuring the season's juiciest fruit—pears.—Linda Robertson, Cozad, Nebraska

A sure sign that fall is truly here is when my family asks me to make my signature gingerbread cobbler. Over the years it's been given the nickname of “Autumn in the Oven”. Clever, right? —Cheryl Peterman, Prescott, Arizona

Filled with a bubbling combination of cranberries and pears, this crumb-topped dessert is a wonderful change of pace from traditional pies. — Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

This crisp is packed with a combination of healthy pears and apples, and just the right amount of tasty walnuts in the topping. You'll love it! —Amanda Pettit, Logan, Ohio

We have a huge pear tree in our yard, which is why I came up with this recipe. The tart lime, sweet pears and tangy ginger are a winning combination. —Heather Naas, Lompoc, California

I remember my mom making this pie when I was growing up. I make several while I have fresh pears from the family tree, then freeze them for later. One taste tester declared it “the best pear pie I have ever eaten.” —Paula Hoffman, Plainview, Nebraska

With its crunchy golden topping and flavorful blend of tart cranberries and sweet apples and pears, this dessert makes a refreshing finish to heavy winter meals. —Lois Gelzer, Standish, Maine

From the hazelnuts to the yummy browned butter glaze, this dessert is a little different from an everyday pound cake. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

This basic recipe was one my grandmother used for making crumble pies from fresh fruit. She simply substituted oats, gingersnaps or vanilla wafers depending on the fruit. Pear was always my favorite, and I added the ginger and caramel to give it a new twist. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas

This dessert is perfect for that first autumn day you can feel a nip in the air. It’s full of sweet, crunchy fall flavors. —Lori Choquette, Holyoke, Massachusetts

End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine's bold taste. —Julianne Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I think pears deserve to have a starring role in pies more often. To showcase that mellow fruit, I came up with a spiced filling and gooey nut streusel that becomes the topping. —Marcy Kamery, Blasdell, New York

I was lucky enough to spend the holidays with my husband's family in Montana. I loved the rustic simplicity of each dish we tasted, especially this rustic pear tart my mother-in-law made. —Leah Waldo, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Crave the taste of gingerbread at Christmastime? Why stop at making cutout cookies? Enjoy this elegant swirled dessert. It dresses up a spiced molasses cake with a luscious pear filling. —Gwen Beauchamp, Lancaster, Texas

My family loves pear pie because it's a little less tart than apple pie. The nutty crust complements the tender fruit and buttery pastry. —Kristina Pontier, Hillsboro, Oregon

An elegant dessert doesn't have to take tons of work. Tart and refreshing, this simple-to-make treat is a tasty dinner finale. —Eva Amuso, Cheshire, Massachusetts

I put these pear crisps on the grill to cook while everyone enjoys the day's more savory foods. They're always a hit because they're comforting and fun to eat. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

Two of my family's favorite fruits appear in this splendid pie with a nutty streusel topping. I like to serve slices with cherry-vanilla frozen yogurt.—Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

The aroma of baking gingerbread stirs up such warm memories. This one looks festive and is even on the lighter side. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana

A honey of a salute to late-summer pear season, this cozy dessert looks both elegant and decadent. Wrapped in puff pastry, the pears resemble little beehives. —Heather Baird, Knoxville, Tennessee

This pear apple pie, really says "fall." What a yummy way to use your backyard bounty or the pickings from local orchards! I've made plenty of pies over the years, and this is a real standout. —Grace Camp, Owingsville, Kentucky

The fragrant fruit from the pear tree in my yard inspires me to bake. This upside-down pancake is a favorite. It works best with a firm, not fully ripe, pear.—Helen Nelander, Boulder Creek, California

I had never seen a "pie without a pan" until my daughter brought back this wonderful pear almond tart recipe from a Rotary Club exchange program in Belgium. It's still a family favorite after all these years. —Sherry LaMay, Capitan, New Mexico

Apples and pears are almost always popular, so this warm, comforting dessert recipe is great for potlucks or other get-togethers. I also like to add raisins or chopped nuts to the compote, and for a more adult flavor I add 1/3 cup brandy or rum.—Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

The flavors of fresh, sweet pears and gingerbread blend beautifully in this intriguing variation on pineapple upside-down cake. Leftovers—if there are any—taste great with coffee or tea the next day. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas