8 of our best pear recipes to get you excited for autumn
Katy Salter
Ripe pears are a true autumn highlight. Whether you prefer them crisp and green or golden and juicy, there are dozens of British pear varieties to enjoy as summer mellows into winter. Look for the first Williams and Conference pears in August and September. October is the peak of pear season, with Concorde and Comice pears tumbling from the trees, but the harvest can last into December.
Once you’ve gathered your ripe pears and tried a few new varieties, it’s time to get creative in the kitchen with these brilliant pear recipes. There’s classics like poached pears and an elegant pear tart, as well as a few unexpected surprises like a gothic pear and blackberry pavlova (did someone say Halloween?) and a fragrant Vietnamese beef and pear salad.
Apples are not the only autumn fruit. If you’re Team Pear, then you’re going to love our best-ever pear recipes. Scroll down for pear cakes and bakes, cosy puds, showstopper desserts and an incredible autumn salad…
Almond, pear and tonka bean tart
French baking queen Manon Lagrève’s pear tart is a thing of beauty. Pear slices are artfully arranged then baked in a fragrant almond and tonka bean filling. Serve with generous dollops of crème fraîche.
Poached pear cake with chai-spiced buttercream
Former Bake Off champ Edd Kimber knows how to give classic bakes a modern twist. Take this sponge cake which is filled with a silky chai buttercream and topped with poached pears and swirls of salted caramel.
Pear and butterscotch cheesecake
Cheesecakes are often topped with summer fruits, but this rustic bake shows why they should be in your autumn dessert repertoire, too. Juicy pears go perfectly with the rich cream cheese filling, ginger nut base and rich, salted butterscotch sauce.
Poached pears are a French dessert classic. A slow simmer in wine coaxes out their natural sweetness and leaves you with tender fruits that keep their natural shape. Using rosé wine is a great idea as it’s full enough to impart flavour but delicate enough for the pears’ buttery taste to come through. One of the easiest festive puds going.
Lemongrass beef, pear and chicory salad
Sweet pears prove a worthy foil to strong salty and savoury flavours in all sorts of dishes (think of the classic pairings of pears and walnuts or blue cheese). Here, pears hold their own in a filling Vietnamese beef salad with chicory.
Chocolate and pear brownie torte
Pears and chocolate make natural bedfellows. Try them in this simple but striking brownie torte. The rich, fudgy brownie is dotted with poached conference pears. Serve it at a Bonfire Night bash or relaxed autumn supper with friends.
A towering meringue base is topped with blackberry sauce, cream and conference pears poached in sloe gin. It’s boozy, it’s dramatic and your guests will love it.
Autumn calls for proper pudding – the kind you can dig into with a big spoon and pour lashings of custard over the top. Our pear and ginger Eve’s pudding ticks all the autumnal boxes, especially when you serve it with the homemade brown sugar custard.
If that’s not enough, click this way for our complete pear recipes collection including plenty more puds and savoury dishes.
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