15 Pear Dessert Recipes for Fall That’ll Steal the Show

I’ll be honest — I used to think pears were just apples’ shy cousin. But once fall hit and I started baking with them? Game. Changer. Pears are soft, buttery, and soak up spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar in the most magical way.

Whether you’ve picked up a fresh batch from the farmers market or found a few ripening fast on the counter, these pear dessert recipes are everything cozy, fragrant, and downright drool-worthy.

From caramel-dripping tarts to puff pastry hand pies and even a maple-pecan pear cake that tastes like fall gave you a warm hug — this list has something for everyone. And yes, they’re easy enough for weeknight baking, but fancy enough to make your guests think you’ve trained in Paris.

Ready to fall in love with pears? Let’s roll into these viral-worthy, sweetly spiced pear desserts!

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1. Brown Butter Pear Crumble Bars

Description:
Buttery, nutty, and loaded with fall spice — these bars have a brown sugar shortbread base, cinnamon-roasted pears, and a brown butter streusel topping that’s dangerously addictive.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe pears, diced
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter (browned)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8” pan with parchment.
2. Brown the butter on medium heat until golden and nutty. Cool slightly.
3. Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and half the brown butter to form the base. Press into the pan.
4. Toss pears with vanilla, nutmeg, and remaining butter. Spread over base.
5. Crumble reserved flour mixture on top.
6. Bake 28–32 minutes or until golden. Cool, slice, and swoon.

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2. Pear Cardamom Upside Down Cake

Description:
This warm, spiced cake is a showstopper. Sliced pears caramelize into golden sweetness, while the cardamom-infused sponge makes every bite feel like a luxury.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe pears, sliced thin
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cardamom
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch cake pan.
2. In a skillet, melt butter + brown sugar. Pour into pan and layer pear slices.
3. Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and milk.
4. Mix dry ingredients, then fold into wet. Pour over pears.
5. Bake 35–40 mins. Cool 10 mins, flip, and reveal that glossy pear top.

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3. Rustic Honey-Pear Galette

Description:
Think pie without the pressure. This free-form galette is crisp on the outside, juicy in the middle, and drizzled with honey that caramelizes as it bakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet store-bought pie crust
• 2 pears, sliced
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp honey + more for drizzling
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• Egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Toss pears with cornstarch, honey, and cinnamon.
3. Lay crust flat. Arrange pears in the center, leaving a 2-inch border.
4. Fold edges over pears, brush with egg wash.
5. Bake 35 mins. Drizzle extra honey while warm.

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4. Pear & Maple Pecan Muffins

Description:
Soft, spiced muffins bursting with chopped pears, sweetened with maple syrup, and topped with crunchy toasted pecans. These taste like a cozy sweater in muffin form.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ginger
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 egg
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 1 ½ cups chopped pears
• ¼ cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin.
2. Mix dry ingredients. In another bowl, whisk wet ingredients.
3. Fold wet into dry. Stir in pears and pecans.
4. Divide into cups and bake 20–24 mins. Cool and enjoy warm.

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5. Chai-Spiced Pear Bread

Description:
Fragrant and tender, this quick bread combines juicy pears and chai spices like cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon for the coziest breakfast or dessert slice.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp cardamom
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup grated pear

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan.
2. Mix all dry ingredients. In another bowl, mix sugar, oil, egg, and milk.
3. Stir in grated pear. Combine wet and dry.
4. Pour into pan and bake 45–50 minutes. Let cool 10 mins before slicing.

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6. Salted Caramel Pear Puff Pastry Tartlets

Description:
Crispy puff pastry, warm pears, gooey caramel, and a touch of sea salt — these mini tartlets look fancy but come together in 25 minutes flat.

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1 pear, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• Flaky sea salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut puff pastry into 6 rectangles.
2. Score a border around each and prick the center with a fork.
3. Layer pear slices in center. Brush edges with egg wash.
4. Bake 15–18 mins until golden. Drizzle with caramel and sprinkle sea salt.

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7. Pear & Ricotta Cheesecake Bars

Description:
These bars have a buttery shortbread crust, creamy ricotta cheesecake filling, and a baked pear topping that’s soft and silky with hints of vanilla and lemon.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup ricotta
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Zest of ½ lemon
• 1 pear, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 8×8” pan.
2. Mix flour, sugar, and butter for crust. Press into pan, bake 10 mins.
3. Mix ricotta, sugar, egg, vanilla, and lemon zest. Pour over crust.
4. Top with pear slices. Bake another 25–28 mins. Chill before slicing.

8. Maple Roasted Pear Tart with Walnut Crust

Sweet, sticky maple-glazed pears layered over a nutty, golden walnut crust—this tart is pure fall elegance. The maple syrup caramelizes the pears into glossy perfection while the crust brings deep, toasty flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup walnut halves
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 4 ripe pears, sliced thin
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch tart pan.
2. In a food processor, blend walnuts, flour, brown sugar, and salt.
3. Pulse in cold butter until mixture resembles wet sand. Press into pan and bake for 15 minutes.
4. Toss pears with maple syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
5. Arrange on baked crust and return to oven for 25–30 minutes.
6. Cool before slicing. Drizzle with extra maple syrup to serve.

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9. Pear and Cardamom Pound Cake

A buttery, dense pound cake spiced with ground cardamom and studded with chopped pears. This cozy dessert smells like fall and slices beautifully for tea time.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups diced ripe pears

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
5. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with sour cream.
6. Fold in pears. Pour into pan and bake for 50–55 minutes.
7. Cool before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

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10. Brown Butter Pear Blondies

These rich, chewy blondies are loaded with brown butter flavor, soft pears, and just a hint of cinnamon. Think classic cookie bar meets fall orchard.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup diced pear

Instructions:

1. Brown butter in a pan, then cool slightly.
2. Mix in sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Stir in flour, cinnamon, and salt until combined.
4. Fold in pears gently.
5. Spread into greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes.
6. Cool before cutting into bars.

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11. Pear Pecan Upside-Down Cake

Sticky, gooey, caramelized pear slices layered over crunchy pecans and fluffy vanilla cake. Flip it and let the magic pour out.

Ingredients:

• 2 pears, sliced
• 1/3 cup butter (for topping)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter (for cake)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a skillet and stir in brown sugar. Pour into cake pan.
2. Arrange pears and sprinkle with pecans.
3. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in egg and vanilla.
4. Mix dry ingredients and add alternately with milk.
5. Pour batter over pears. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
6. Cool 5 mins, then invert onto plate.

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12. Pear Chai Crumble Bars

These crumble bars taste like a pear pie and a chai latte had a baby. Warm spices, sweet fruit, and a buttery oat base—fall in one bite.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 3/4 cup cold butter
• 3 cups diced pears
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 pan.
2. Mix oats, flour, sugar, salt, and spices.
3. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press half into pan.
4. Toss pears with cornstarch and syrup.
5. Spread over crust. Top with remaining crumble.
6. Bake 35–40 mins until golden and bubbly.

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13. Vanilla Poached Pears with Whipped Ricotta

Elegant, easy, and fall-ready. Poached pears in warm vanilla syrup, served with creamy ricotta and a drizzle of honey.

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe pears, peeled
• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 vanilla bean or 2 tsp extract
• 1 cup ricotta
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Bring water, honey, and vanilla to a simmer.
2. Add pears and poach for 20–25 mins until tender.
3. Remove pears and reduce syrup for 10 mins.
4. Whip ricotta with sugar and lemon zest.
5. Serve pears with whipped ricotta and syrup drizzle.

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14. Pear Cranberry Galette

Rustic meets refined in this stunning galette filled with juicy pears and tart cranberries, wrapped in golden flaky pastry.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
• 3 ripe pears, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Toss pears, cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.
3. Roll out crust, pile filling in center, and fold edges over.
4. Brush crust with egg wash.
5. Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbling.

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15. Pear and Mascarpone Puff Pastry Braid

This showstopper dessert layers sweet pear slices and creamy mascarpone cheese inside buttery, braided puff pastry. It looks bakery-made, but it’s deceptively easy.

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup mascarpone
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix mascarpone, honey, and cinnamon.
3. Roll out puff pastry and spread mascarpone down center.
4. Layer pears over mascarpone.
5. Cut diagonal slits on sides and braid over filling.
6. Brush with egg wash and bake 25 mins until golden.