Description

This delightful recipe features baked pears stuffed with creamy Brie cheese, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries. Lightly seasoned with cinnamon and drizzled with honey or maple syrup, these baked pears make a perfect cozy dessert or elegant appetizer, combining sweet, nutty, and savory flavors with a touch of fresh herb garnish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pears and Seasoning

3 ripe pears, halved and cored
1 tbsp olive oil or melted butter (15 ml)
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (15 ml)
Pinch of ground cinnamon

Filling

4 oz Brie cheese, cut into small cubes (115 g)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (35 g)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (30 g)

Garnish (Optional)

Fresh rosemary or thyme
Extra honey for drizzling

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pears.
Prepare Pears: Halve the pears lengthwise and carefully scoop out the cores to create hollow centers for the filling.
Arrange Pears: Place the pear halves cut-side up into a small baking dish, ensuring they are stable and evenly spaced.
Add Flavoring: Brush each pear half with olive oil or melted butter. Then drizzle honey or maple syrup evenly over the pears and sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon for warmth and sweetness.
Stuff Pears: Fill the hollowed pear centers with small cubes of Brie cheese. Top each pear with toasted chopped walnuts and dried cranberries for texture and flavor contrast.
Bake: Bake the pears uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until the pears are tender when pierced with a fork and the Brie cheese has melted beautifully.
Optional Broil: For a golden, slightly caramelized topping, broil the pears for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs. Optionally, drizzle a little extra honey over the pears before serving warm for added sweetness.

Notes

Choose ripe but firm pears to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
To toast walnuts, spread them on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes, stirring halfway.
You can substitute Brie with Camembert or a mild creamy cheese if preferred.
This dish is best served warm immediately after baking but can be gently reheated.
For a vegan option, replace Brie with a vegan cheese and use maple syrup instead of honey.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American, Contemporary

Keywords: baked pears, brie cheese, walnuts, cranberries, dessert, easy baked fruit, fall dessert, holiday appetizer