🍐 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
