Description
These elegant baked pears with feta, honey, and cranberries are a stunning appetizer featuring tender roasted pear halves filled with tangy feta, tart dried cranberries, and finished with honey and optional nuts and herbs—a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and festive flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe but firm pears, halved and cored
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons honey (plus more for drizzling)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional for crunch)
- Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Cut the pears in half lengthwise and scoop out the cores to create a small cavity in each half.
- Place the pear halves cut‑side up on the prepared tray. Brush each with olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkle with the pinch of cinnamon if using.
- Bake the pears for 20–25 minutes, until they are tender and golden.
- Remove the pears from the oven and fill each cavity with crumbled feta and dried cranberries.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons honey over the pears and return them to the oven for another 5–7 minutes, just to soften the cheese slightly.
- Finish by drizzling more honey if desired, and sprinkle with chopped nuts and fresh herbs for garnish. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- You can substitute goat cheese or gorgonzola for the feta if you prefer a different tang. For example, one version uses pears with gorgonzola and honey for a similar elegant effect. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- For a vegan option, use vegan feta and maple syrup instead of honey. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Choose pears that are ripe but still firm so they hold their shape while baking. Many recipe sources suggest this is key for best results. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Prepare the pears ahead of time, chill, and bring to room temperature before serving if you want a cooler appetizer.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently at 325 °F (160 °C) for 10–12 minutes to warm through without softening the texture too much.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Modern American / Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pear half
- Calories: ≈ 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
