These roasted pears with balsamic and honey, made with only four ingredients, are a delight and a must-try this fall!
These caramelized roasted pears with balsamic and honey are a super easy-to-make dessert.
I didn’t even plan on making this recipe; it was not something that immediately caught my eye while perusing a cookbook.
So yesterday, after we finished lunch (we had these delicious German Meatballs or Königsberger Klopse again), I told my family to give me another half an hour, and then they could have dessert. A roasted pear dessert!
This roasted pears recipe was first published in 2017 and has had rave reviews over the years, especially on Pinterest. Check out a few of them below!
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Recipe ingredients
Pears for roasting: Choose slightly underripe and large ones. This recipe is perfect for using those stone-hard pears we all buy occasionally. The roasting process softens them without making them mushy, and the added honey makes them sweeter. Don't use very ripe fruit; it will get mushy.
The best ones for baking would be Bartlett, Anjou, or Bosc. They all retain their shape and flavor when baked or cooked.
Other ingredients: unsalted butter, honey (the clear, runny kind), and balsamic vinegar.
You will also need a cast-iron or another oven-proof heavy-bottomed pan.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Check out these Honey Pears with Greek Yogurt, too. Or make some Stewed Pears.
How to roast pears?
- Step #1: Halve and core the fruit carefully, but leave the peel on.
- Step #2: Melt the butter in the skillet. Place the pears in the pan with the cut side facing down and saute them for 2 minutes.
- Step #3: Transfer the pan to the hot oven and roast for 20 minutes.
- Step #4: Flip in the pan, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, and roast for a further 5 minutes.
- Step #5: Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle each half with honey, and let rest for a few minutes. You can garnish with a small thyme sprig, but that is not mandatory. It just looks nice.
Variations
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts or almonds before drizzling with honey. The caramelized, roasted nuts really add lots of flavor. About 1 teaspoon per pear half should be fine.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon before serving.
How to serve baked pears?
Serve warm with some pan juices and more honey, if you wish.
Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top or the side.
Drizzle the pears with Greek yogurt or serve with strained yogurt.
Storage
You will probably not have any leftovers, but just in case. Keep them refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
You can chop the leftovers and serve them over oatmeal, porridge, or homemade muesli.
The pears are not suitable for freezing.
Reviews from delighted users
Trinette: It’s fall and pear season. I Made this as written. It was Terrific! Easy, healthy, tasty, and inexpensive if you have a tree pick a few pears.
Cheyenne: I’ve made this twice so far and it’s fantastic. I added a touch of flakey sea salt and a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream - yum. It’s fairly easy too, but makes a big impact presentation-wise.
Emilia: I used to make something almost exactly like this in the restaurant I worked in. The only difference was we splashed a little white wine in the cast iron pan before sticking it in the oven. So tasty!
Elisabeth: These were absolutely amazing and so simple to prepare. The best was they cooked while we had the main course. Easy & so delicious.
Roasted Pears
Equipment
- Cast iron skillet or another ovenproof heavy-bottomed pan
Ingredients
- 2 pears large and slightly underripe, Note 1
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar good quality
- 4 teaspoons runny honey or more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C.
- Cut pears: Halve and core the pears. Don't peel them.2 pears
- Melt butter in the skillet or ovenproof pan.2 teaspoons unsalted butter
- Cook on the stove: Add the pears, the cut side facing down, and saute them for two minutes on the stove.
- Roast pears: Place the pan in the oven and roast the pears for 20 minutes.
- Flip the pear halves and drizzle the balsamic vinegar on the pears. Continue roasting for a further 5 minutes.3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Drizzle pears: Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle each pear with some honey, and let the pears rest for another few minutes.4 teaspoons runny honey
- Serve warm with some of the pan juices and more honey, if you wish.
Notes
- Choice of pears: Make sure they are slightly underripe; they should not be soft, or the roasted pears will be mushy.
mjskitchen says
These look fabulous! We're getting some great pears this season, so I'll have to pick some up next time I hit the market because I can already taste how good these are going to be. Can't wait!
Juan Maciel says
Those look amazing, probably would be great with a side of vanilla ice cream
Adina says
Thank you, Juan. Vanilla ice cream would be great!
Susie says
Could I do these ahead of time.
Adina says
I have never done it. You can try roasting them for the first 20 minutes. Before serving drizzle with balsamic and heat for another 10 minutes or until heated through.
Esther says
I assume you flip the pears to cut side up when they go into the oven?
Adina says
No, but you can flip them halfway through if you feel they are getting too brown on one side. Depends on your oven.
monique van munster says
nice! but I have a problem with your website... the social buttons are covering the text, so it's not easy to read...
Adina says
on mobile?
Kate says
I've noticed the same thing (on my laptop).
DCarre says
@Adina, yes it hasn't changed and we are now in 2022. Could you please check it out yourself? I would be happy to send you a print screen. It would make your already appealing site that much better.
Adina Beck says
@DCarre, Hi. A screen shot would be great, thank you. I can't see it myself, I could send that to the people provinding the share buttons. ä
mjskitchen says
I've done something similar with peaches, but never with pears. These look quite scrumptious!
Anca says
Wow, they look delicious. I would love to try them. The glaze looks so shiny and pretty.
Joan Smith says
Great recipe, I'm thinking of making it for Thanksgiving. When are the pears turned cut side up? Before they're put in the oven? Before adding the vinegar? Before the honey?
Adina says
Hi Joan. Before the balsamic.
grace says
how delicious! that glaze is so shiny and those flavors are so appealing!
Brie says
Adina, these pears look heavenly and I LOVE how easy they are! You can't go wrong with balsamic and honey, I bet they'd taste great with some crumbled blue cheese and nuts too though I doubt your daughter would still let me call them dessert 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
These look wonderful, I just happen to have a big bowl of pears! I hope those little people didn't have to wait for you to get pictures before they enjoyed their dessert 🙂
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
These pears are roasted and caramelized to perfection, Adina! It's a perfect dessert for a chilly night. I've got to try it!
Marvellina|What To Cook Today says
I Love the combination of balsamic vinegar and honey. We have unsweetened Chinese black vinegar that when I sweetened with sugar or honey, tastes pretty similar to balsamic vinegar, which I love
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Oh, these pears look absolutely heavenly, Adina! I need to put them on my holiday list!
Kathy@Beyond the Chicken Coop says
The caramelization is perfect! I love how simple, yet how elegant this is. Beautiful pictures! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
wow they look beautifully caramelized and so good!