🍐 Baked Pears Stuffed with Cheese, Walnuts & Cranberries
Serves
4 people (or 2 people who don’t want to share)
Time
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 30–35 minutes
Ingredients
Pears
4 ripe but firm pears (Bosc or Anjou are perfect)
1 tbsp lemon juice (prevents browning)
Filling
120–150 g (4–5 oz) soft cheese
Brie (rind removed) or
Goat cheese (tangier) or
Cream cheese (milder)
½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
⅓ cup dried cranberries
1–2 tbsp honey (plus more for drizzling)
½ tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped (or a pinch dried)
Pinch of salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Baking Sauce
2 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp pear juice, apple juice, or water
Optional: splash of white wine or maple syrup
Finishing (optional but highly recommended)
Flaky sea salt
Extra thyme
Extra chopped walnuts
Instructions
1. Prep the pears
Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F.
Slice pears in half lengthwise.
Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the core and seeds, creating a small cavity.
Brush cut surfaces lightly with lemon juice.
👉 Tip: Don’t scoop too deep—you want a sturdy pear that holds its shape.
2. Make the filling
In a bowl, mix:
Soft cheese
Walnuts
Cranberries
Honey
Thyme
Salt & pepper
You want a chunky, creamy mixture—not fully smooth.
3. Stuff the pears
Arrange pears cut-side-up in a baking dish.
Generously spoon the filling into each cavity, slightly mounded.
4. Make the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together:
Melted butter
Honey
Pear juice (or substitute)
Pour the sauce around the pears, not directly on top (this helps them caramelize instead of drowning).
5. Bake
Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes
Pears should be:
Fork-tender
Lightly caramelized on the edges
Cheese soft and creamy (not fully collapsed)
If the tops brown too fast, loosely tent with foil.
6. Finish & serve
Spoon some of the hot honey-butter sauce over each pear
Sprinkle with flaky salt, extra thyme, and walnuts
Optional final drizzle of honey ✨
How to Serve
As a starter with crusty bread
As a side dish for pork, chicken, or turkey
As a dessert with vanilla ice cream or mascarpone
Flavor Variations (if you want to remix it)
Savory: Add crispy bacon or prosciutto bits
Extra fancy: Swap walnuts for pecans + add a splash of bourbon
Vegan: Use dairy-free cream cheese + maple syrup
Spicy-sweet: Add a pinch of chili flakes
