Got a sweet tooth? You can’t go wrong with these satisfying, healthy Whole Baked Pears With Honey.
I’m all about fruit. Give me all the bananas, apples, strawberries, cantaloupe, and watermelon! In fact, I’m growing a ton of fruit in my garden this year, so I’m hoping to have fruit salads all summer and extra to slice and freeze for later.
For as much as I love fruit, I often relegate it to breakfast time. It’s so delicious straight from the fridge as a whole food, so I rarely think about dressing it up as a dessert. What a fool I’ve been! Fruit is incredible if you add a few ingredients and bake it a little. And perhaps no fruit is as well-suited for dessert as the noble pear.
This recipe for baked pears is so simple, it barely requires more effort than eating a whole piece of fruit. You simply cut pears in half and drizzle them with honey, cinnamon, ginger, and pecans, then slip them in the oven for a half-hour warm hug. They’re perfect right out of the oven, but they’re also elevated by a scoop of vanilla ice cream, vanilla yogurt, or crème anglaise, if you’re feeling fancy. I would say baked pears are as easy as pie, but this is actually a lot easier to make than pie!
Are Whole Baked Pears With Honey Healthy?
Yes! This recipe uses whole, unprocessed ingredients like pears, honey, and pecans. Believe it or not, pears are an incredible source of fiber—they contain more of it than most fruits per serving. They’re moderate in calorie content and give doses of vitamin C and potassium, too. Honey is the sweetening agent in this recipe, and while it contains plenty of sugar, it’s unrefined, at least. Pecans give doses of protein and fiber, and they’re a good source of healthy unsaturated fats. Ginger and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory properties, too. For a dessert, this dish is remarkably healthy and full of nutrition, but I wouldn’t call it low-calorie or low-sugar, so definitely eat it in moderation.
Overall, this dish is vegetarian-friendly, dairy-free, and gluten-free. You can easily make this a vegan dessert by substituting the honey for a vegan sweetener, like agave nectar.
Types Of Pears—And Which Pears Bake Well
In the U.S., we typically have ten different varieties of pears. Some are great for raw snacking and baking, while others aren’t so great unless you bake them, and some you might never see in your local grocery store, depending on where you live. Here’s a breakdown of the three you’re most likely to see in stores. Any of these pears will work for this recipe, but there’s one you’ll want to keep an eye out for in particular.
Bartlett: Bartlett pears are the softest type of pear, and they’re also among the sweetest. Lucky for us, they’re delicious when baked, too, but you may want to bake them a little under-ripe so they don’t fall apart. Bartletts come in red and green varieties.
Bosc: Bosc pears are a brownish-yellow and are crisper than soft and juicy when ripe, which makes them great to cook with. But you may want to add more honey to a Bosc pear if you use it for this recipe, as it’s less sweet than a Bartlett.
Concorde: Concorde pears are also very common. They’re green and longer than most other types of pears, and when ripe, they’re somewhere in the middle of soft and crisp in texture. But they’re even sweeter than Bartlett pears, which means these might be the perfect pear for this recipe, if you can find them!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
What leftovers?! Just kidding… but if you’re feeding a crowd, leftovers of this dish are unlikely. If you do have some pears left over, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing these, as the texture of the pear might turn grainy or mealy when thawed.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve these as a glorious, rustic dessert all by their lonesome. But they’re amazing with a dollop of ice cream on top, too. Try it with this Cookie Dough Banana Ice Cream, Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, or this Healthy Ice Cream With Chocolate And Pomegranate. You can also use vanilla Greek yogurt if you like.
If you’re feeling extra decadent, try your hand at this Salted Caramel Sauce, or this Dairy-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce version. Either will make this dessert a luxury experience!
Ingredients
- 4 large, ripe pears
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- 5 tablespoons chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the pears in half lengthwise, and use a small spoon or melon baller to scrape out a hole in the center of each half.
- Arrange the pears cut-side up on the baking sheet and drizzle the honey over them, then rub it in slightly. Sprinkle the cinnamon and ginger over the pears, and fill the holes with chopped pecans.
- Bake until fork-tender, about 20-30 minutes.
- Let the pears cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Leave a Comment