53 Delicious Pear Recipes You’ll Make Again and Again

Fresh Pear Bread

When our tree branches are loaded with ripe and juicy fruit, I treat my family and friends to lots of easy pear recipes. I always receive raves and requests for this particular pear bread recipe because of the mix of fun ingredients.—Linda Patrick, Houston, Texas

Go to Recipe

Slow-Cooked Gingered Pears

My slow cooker allows me to serve a heartwarming dessert without much effort. Topped with caramel sauce, these tender pears feature a surprise filling of nuts and brown sugar.—Catherine Mueller, St. Paul, Minnesota

Apple-Pear Puff Pancake

Whenever I serve this fruity pancake, people think I slaved for hours. They’re surprised that such an attractive, scrumptious dish could be so easy. —Carol Williams, St. Joseph, Missouri

Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

This quick, easy recipe really showcases pears. When I have leftover cooked chicken, I often add it to the recipe to make a main dish salad. —Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina

Pear & Ginger Sparkler

I created this twist on a Bellini when a friend gave me some Asian pears she grew in her backyard. If you like ginger and want more of a kick, try substituting ginger liqueur for the vodka. —Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, California

Cranberry Pear Tart

This homey tart looks and tastes like apple pie, except it uses pears! Each serving has half the calories of an average pie slice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Caramel and Pear Pudding

This is a lovely winter dessert that uses pears that are seasonally available. It’s easy to fix, and a comforting treat after any meal. I enjoy snacking on it in front of the fireplace. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Hazelnut Pear Cake

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

Homemade Pear Honey

Pear honey is an old recipe that’s been passed down through families. We especially like it with hot biscuits and butter. It’s also good on pound cake or even ice cream. Make sure the pears you use are very firm. —Charlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, Alabama

Grilled Bistro Breakfast Sandwiches with Pears

I used to make a classic breakfast sandwich when my kids were still at home. Now that it’s just my husband and me, I’ve jazzed it up with pear, smoked Gouda and spinach. —Wendy Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan

Orange and Pear Upside-Down Cake

I love cooking with my cast-iron skillet, whether it's to make a main dish or dessert. This upside-down cake is a fall version of a typical summer favorite. — Linda Persall, Cullman, Alabama

Pear Waldorf Pitas

Not all pear recipes are sweet! Here’s a guaranteed table brightener. Just stand back and watch these sandwiches vanish. For an eye-catching presentation, I tuck each one into a colorful folded napkin. —Roxann Parker, Dover, Delaware

Pear Crisp

Since he’s a livestock truck driver, my husband often starts work around 2 or 3 a.m. A piece of this crisp will keep him going till breakfast. And our two boys—ages 10 and 7—love to have it for dessert and in their school lunches. —Joanne Korevaar, Burgessville, Ontario

Taste-of-Fall Salad

My parents stayed with me at a friend’s beautiful ranch for the holidays and I made them this great salad. It turned into every night’s first course. —Kristin Kossak, Bozeman, Montana

Pear ‘n’ Fennel Pork

Fresh fennel has a large bulbous base and pale green stems with wispy foliage. Often mislabeled as sweet anise, it has a sweeter and more delicate flavor than anise. This aromatic matches well with pear. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pear Upside-Down Cake

Using a packaged cake mix speeds up the preparation time of this tasty pear and pecan upside-down cake. This moist cake is pretty to look at and luscious, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Red Wine & Cranberry Poached Pears

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

Saucy Spiced Pears

We serve these tangy, saucy pears over angel food cake, pound cake or with a little yogurt or vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle with a favorite topping. —Joy Zacharia, Clearwater, Florida

Apple Pear Cake

When my sister Catherine made her apple cake for me, I knew I needed the recipe. When I made it, I added some pears from the trees on our acreage. The resulting apple pear cake is so moist and tastes so good. Now every time I make it, people want my recipe. —Mary Ann Lees, Centreville, Alabama

Deconstructed Pear Pork Chops

You’ll be tempted to eat this main dish right out of the pan but try to resist. These chops are sure to wow guests at the dinner table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Butterscotch Pears

This grand finale simmers during dinner and impresses as soon as you bring it to the table. Serve as is, or with vanilla ice cream and a slice of pound cake. Leftover pear nectar is heavenly when added to sparkling wine or simply poured over ice. —Theresa Kreyche, Tustin, California

Almond Pear Tart

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

Bacon Pear Salad with Parmesan Dressing

This simple salad is an elegant side dish for any menu. With a blend of fresh pears and warm, comforting flavors, it’s perfect for special meals. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia

Pear Cake with Sour Cream Topping

This is a great way to combine bread and fruit for an all-in-one breakfast. The cake is very tasty and the unique topping is simply delicious.

Cranberry-Pear Apple Crisp

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. It’s one of my favorite pear recipes to make during the fall. —Lois Gelzer, Standish, Maine

Glazed Pear Shortcakes

Family and friends will savor every last crumb of this lickety-split dessert. The pound cake absorbs the apricot flavor and the warm sweetness of the pears. Special enough to serve company—and cute, too! —Fran Thomas, St. James City, Florida

Pear Tart

My sister-in-law brought this pretty pastry to dinner one night, and we all went back for seconds. It is truly scrumptious and it’s quickly become one of my favorite pear recipes. —Kathryn Rogers, Suisun City, California

Mushroom Pear Melts

I really like mushrooms with cheese. Add pears, broil away, and you have got a scrumptious open-faced sandwich. Serve with a salad and fruity tea. —Marla Hyatt, St. Paul, Minnesota

Cherry Pear Pie

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

Toffee-Pear Crisp Bread Pudding

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

Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup

Although pears and parsnips may seem like an odd combination, the pears bring out the natural sweetness of the parsnips in this winter soup. Don't skip the topping; it's the best part! —Sara Petrie, Grassie, Ontario

Gorgonzola-Pear Mesclun Salad

This pretty salad is a tasty way to get your greens. To change it up, swap apples for pears and pecans for walnuts. —Joylyn Trickel, Helendale, California

Spiced Pear Jam

A neighbor of mine passed along this spiced pear jam recipe. I've given many jars of this jam as gifts. We enjoy it on toast with ham and eggs or on hot rolls with meat. —Karen Bockelman, Portland, Oregon

Ginger-Lime Pear Cobbler

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

Caramelized Pears

After picking an abundant crop of pears, I was looking for new ways to enjoy them. A friend suggested warming them with butter and brown sugar. This tasty recipe was the result! We like them with vanilla bean ice cream, but plain vanilla or cinnamon are also quite delicious! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Vanilla Pear Berry Jam

This is the first jam that I came up with on my own—and I love the flavor combo!—Rachel Creech, Marion, Indiana

Pear Pandowdy

I pulled out this pear recipe one night when my husband was craving something sweet, and it was a big hit with both of us. It’s a superb last-minute dessert that almost melts in your mouth. Plus, who doesn’t love a fun treat called a pandowdy? —Jennifer Class, Kirkland, Washington.

Autumn Pear Bread

Pears give these little loaves delicious flavor and help keep them nice and moist. They make lovely gifts to share, too. —Mary Lynn Wilson, Linden, Texas

Caramel Apple-Pear Crisp

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

Pear Bundt Cake

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. It’s one of the easiest pear recipes I’ve made! —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Pear Harvest Salad

We came up with this delicious salad trying to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. We think you’ll love it, too! —Nancy Prewitt, Beaverton, Oregon

Fresh Pear Ginger Crisp

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

Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry

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

Rustic Pear Tart

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 perfect dessert for fall. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Spiced Tea Poached Pears

Pears are among my favorite fall fruits. This lovely dessert makes them especially spectacular. Easy elegance at its best—and that’s important around the holidays. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Pear Upside-Down Cake

Using a packaged cake mix speeds up the preparation time of this tasty fall cake. Topped with pecans and golden pears, this moist cake is pretty to look at and luscious, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Roquefort Pear Salad

Guests at a barbecue we hosted one summer brought this cool, refreshing salad. Now it’s a mainstay at many of our gatherings year-round. The mingling of zesty tastes and textures instantly wakes up the taste buds. —Sherry Duval, Baltimore, Maryland

Orange Pear Jam

Full of fruity flavor, this delightful jam is a great toast topper. I came up with this recipe when a neighbor gave me an armload of pears. Everyone really likes it. —Delores Ward, Decatur, Indiana

Poached Pears with Vanilla Sauce

This dessert is a great ending to a special-occasion meal. Whole pears are lightly spiced and chilled, then served with a heavenly custard sauce.—Al Latimer, Bentonville, Arizona

Home-for-Christmas Fruit Bake

Pop this special dish in the oven and mouths will water in anticipation— the cinnamony aroma is tantalizing! The fruit comes out tender and slightly tart, while the pecan halves add a delightful crunch. —Bonnie Baumgardner, Sylva, North Carolina