Go Back

Baked Pears with Berries, Honey, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese

A warm, fruit-forward appetizer featuring cozy baked pears, juicy berries, toasty walnuts, and melty blue cheese that is easy to prepare and sure to impress guests.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Vegetarian
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 pieces ripe but firm pears, halved and cored Bosc or Anjou are recommended.
  • 1 cup mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)
  • 3 tablespoons raw honey plus more to taste
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese Gorgonzola or Roquefort work well.
  • 1 pinch sea salt with a little cracked pepper
  • 1 squeeze lemon (optional) for added flavor
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme (optional) for extra seasoning
  • 1 drizzle balsamic (optional) for a finishing touch

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Nestle pears cut side up in a baking dish. If they wobble, slice a thin bit off the back so they sit flat.
  3. Tuck berries around the pears and sprinkle with walnuts.
  4. Drizzle pears with honey and add a small pinch of salt and pepper.
Baking
  1. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until pears are tender and the berries are juicy.
  2. Pull the dish out, dot warm pears with blue cheese so it gets melty, then rest for 5 minutes.
  3. Taste the pan juices and adjust flavor if necessary with a splash of lemon or balsamic.
Plating
  1. For a clean presentation, place a pear half on the plate and spoon berries and juices over the top.
  2. Add a sprinkle of walnuts and additional crumbles of cheese.
  3. Serve with crostini or over baby arugula with a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

This recipe works well with variations. You can swap blue cheese for goat cheese or feta. For a nut-free option, replace walnuts with toasted pumpkin seeds.