Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious honey caramelized pears! They're sweet and tender and even better with a scoop of ice cream and oat crumbles on top. Naturally sweetened, they make the perfect simple dessert.
This Caramelized Pear recipe is sponsored by Local Hive Honey. As always, all thoughts are my own. Thank you so much for supporting brands that make The Fit Peach possible!
If you're like me, you need a little something sweet after dinner to close out the day. Cooking fruit in warm spices, like my cinnamon sugar apples or caramelized peaches, and topping it with vanilla ice cream is one of my favorite ways to satisfy my sweet cravings.
These caramelized pears have all the juiciness of the fruit plus a rich honey caramelized coating that adds even more flavor. They're a perfect way to use up ripe pears and provide an elegant dessert this holiday season.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Super easy to make
- Simple ingredients
- Made in one skillet
- Naturally sweetened
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pears - I used bartlett pears for their juicy and sweet flavoring. Bosc pears or anjou pears will also work well in this recipe.
- Butter - Used to cook the pears. Swap with dairy free butter if needed.
- Local Hive™ Honey - The best premium honey used to add a touch of natural sweetness to these caramelized pears. I used the New England honey which is delicate and smooth and perfect for baking and cooking.
- Spices - A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is used to provide a touch of warm flavoring. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
- Oats - Used to make the oat crumble topping. Make sure to use rolled oats, not steel cut oats or instant oats.
- Pecans - Provide some extra crunch to the oat crumble. You can use any type of nut like walnuts or almonds or leave them out completely.
Types of pears
There are lots of varieties of pears but these are a few of the most well-known pears in the US:
- Bosc - Caramelized Pears a brownish green color and are firm and juicy on the inside making the great for baking!
- Bartlett - Also called Williams' Bon Chrétien pears and are one of the most popular pears with their classic green or red hue. They’re smooth and juicy which makes them perfect for cooking and baking.
- Anjou - This pear has both a red and green variety of pear. They’re also very popular and have a dense juicy flavor. They’re great to enjoy raw or in recipes!
- Comice - These pears are also very popular and known to be a “snacking” pear with their soft and creamy texture. Because they are so soft, they won’t cook well so it’s best to reserve these pears for snacking.
How to Make Caramelized Pears
All you need is a large skillet to make this recipe! I like cast iron skillets but a nonstick skillet will work too.
Step 1 : Slice the pears in half. Use a sharp knife to slice each pear down the middle. Use a melon baller or a teaspoon to remove the core.
Step 2 : Brown the butter. Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt butter until it turns a golden brown color. Make sure your skillet isn't too hot or you risk burning the butter.
Step 3 : Add the honey and spices. Mix in the honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into the browned butter.
Step 4 : Cook the pears. Once the mixture is simmering, place the pear halves flat on the skillet. Let the pears cook for at least 5 minutes until the edges begin to caramelize. Transfer each caramelized pear to a plate and set aside.
Step 5 : Make the oat crumble. With the excess caramel mixture, add the oats, pecans, and vanilla extract to the skillet and toss. Cook the oats until the become soft and turn a golden brown color.
Step 6 : Serve! Place a scoop of ice cream on top of each pear half and top with the oat crumble and extra honey and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- When browning the butter, make sure to stir it consistently to prevent it from burning. If you think the skillet is too hot, turn it down so that the butter is just sizzling and not popping or smoking.
- Try not to overcrowd the pan with the pears. You want the buttery honey mixture to have room to cook the pears.
- Serve the pears while warm so they maintain their soft and tender texture. I highly recommend topping them with a scoop of ice cream!
How to Serve
These caramel pears are best served warm. I recommend using a small bowl or plate. You will need a fork and knife to cut into the pear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bartlett, bosc, and anjou pears are all great options for baking with their sweet and juicy flavor.
Make sure you have enough butter in the pan to coat the bottom of the skillet and that your skillet isn’t too hot.
For more fruity treats, check out my:
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Recipe
Caramelized Pears
Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears
- 2 tablespoon butter - use dairy free butter if needed
- 2 tablespoon Local Hive™ New England Honey
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves
For the oat crumble
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Slice pears in half and use a melon baller or tablespoon to remove the core. Set the pear halves aside on a plate.
- In a skillet, brown the butter over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter turns a light brown caramel color. Add the Local Hive™ New England Honey and stir into the butter mixture. Sprinkle in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and mix to distribute.
- As the honey butter mixture is bubbling, place each pear half flat onto the skillet, skin side up. Allow the pears to caramelize for 4 - 6 minutes until the edges turn a golden brown. Make sure to keep an eye on the skillet’s heat as you don’t want the butter to begin to burn.
- Once the pears are caramelized, transfer them to a separate plate. Add the rolled oats, chopped pecans, and vanilla extract to the skillet and mix into the extra butter mixture over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until the oats have softened and little clusters begin to form.
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