Baked Pears with Goat Cheese, Honey & Pecans

A flavor combo you didn’t know you needed: Baked Pears with Goat Cheese, Honey & Pecans. This easy, healthy treat works as a snack, appetizer, or fruit dessert. Firm or slightly underripe pears are brushed with melted butter and fresh rosemary, lightly oven baked until tender, then topped with crumbled goat cheese, a drizzle of honey, and toasted pecans.

A reader favorite since 2017! The same delicious pear season recipe—now updated with a step-by-step video.

Featured review

Fast, easy to make, delicious! Thank you for the great recipe! – Litlbud

Ingredients

• Pears
• Melted butter
• Rosemary
• Goat cheese
• Honey
• Pecans

Best pears for baking

Any firm pear works well for baking – Anjou, Bartlett, or Bosc pears. Firm pears hold their shape as they bake, while ripe ones turn too soft and mushy.

This is why I used Anjou pears which are the firm variety. They can stand up to baking, which brings out their natural sweetness. This entire recipe takes around 10 minutes from start to finish.

Apples or pears

Not a fan of pears, or they’re not in season? Try using sweet apples instead and prepare them the same way. All the same flavors pair beautifully together.

Flavor combination

The addition of a drizzle of sweet honey and the nuttiness of toasted pecans for a little crunch, along with the piney flavor of fresh rosemary, round out the flavors of this dish that all complement each other perfectly.

If you don’t want to use pecans, chopped almonds and walnuts are both good options.

Goat cheese substitute

To balance the rich, tangy flavor of goat cheese, a sweet fruit is a must—and with pear season just around the corner, they’re the perfect match. If you prefer, you can swap the goat cheese for cream cheese, which melts just as beautifully.

Serving suggestion

Serve this pears recipe warm or at room temperature as an elegant appetizer, easy snack, or light fruit-based dessert. It pairs beautifully with a crisp white wine or sparkling prosecco, and a handful of arugula or baby greens turns it into a simple, fresh salad.

Tips for baking pears

1. Choose the right pear:
   Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett pears hold their shape best when baked. Avoid overly ripe pears—they’ll turn mushy.
2. Check ripeness:
   You want pears that are just slightly firm to the touch. If they’re too soft, they’ll collapse during baking.
3. Peel or not to peel?
   The skin is edible and adds texture and stability. But you can peel if you like.
4. Watch the bake time:
   Bake at a high temperature of 425°F (220°C) for just a few minutes. They should be tender, warmed through and the cheese melted, but not falling apart. Keep plenty of room between the slices on the baking pan. Also use parchment paper so they don’t stick.
5. Get creative:
   Sprinkle a little warm seasonal spices on them like cinnamon or nutmeg or a mixture of both.

If you’ve made my Baked Pears with Goat Cheese, Honey and Pecans, please leave a rating in the recipe card. You can also leave a comment or ask a question below.

Janette is a professionally trained chef based in California who channels her passion for cooking into thoughtfully crafted recipes. Her culinary creations are inspired by her English heritage as well as her favorite global cuisines, including Indian and Italian. Connect with her on  Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more delicious inspiration. More About Janette…