10 Pear Recipes Featuring This Massively Underrated Fall Fruit From soups, sides, and main courses to desserts, these pear dishes let the versatile fruit really shine. Close Credit: Grant Webster Pears are prized in so many dishes, yet pear recipes don't get the attention they deserve. We think it's due to deprivation—the seasonal kind. Pears ripen from late summer through fall, so it's easy to go pearless until then. While desserts soak up much of the limelight, pears can also play major roles in salads, soups, warm appetizers, and entrees. Our best pear recipe lineup provides a taste of pear season and will hopefully inspire you to experiment further. Pears are hard when they arrive at the market because they ripen off the tree from the inside out. Apply thumb pressure at the stem end of a pear to test for ripeness: When it's ready to be enjoyed, it will yield. It's Pear Season! These Are the Most Popular Varieties for Baking and Snacking 01 of 10 Mini Pear Bettys These individual Pear Bettys are layered with Bartlett pears and a spiced sourdough topping made with butter, sugar, ginger, and apple cider. Bake until golden and tender for an easy, cozy fruit crisp made for one. View Recipe 02 of 10 Pear Tarte Tatin Credit: Brie Goldman This classic upside-down tart features caramelized pears and a crisp, flaky puff pastry crust. Cut down time and dishes with a frozen puff pastry and one skillet—it’s an impressive pear dessert for fall dinners or holidays. View Recipe 03 of 10 Quick & Easy Caramelized Pears Credit: Andrew Purcell Just a few pantry ingredients turn Bartlett pears into a simple yet sumptuous dessert. Vanilla ice cream just found its new best friend. View Recipe 04 of 10 Pear Crisp Credit: Bryan Gardner Sweet Bosc pears are nestled under a crunchy oat-almond topping in this oh-so-simple crisp. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. View Recipe 05 of 10 Whole Roasted Chicken with Pear, Shallots, and Thyme Anjou pears, shallots, and thyme give this succulent roast chicken recipe an intriguing flavor boost. The combo also makes a fabulous presentation when served side by side with the golden bird. View Recipe 06 of 10 Poached-Pear Frangipane Tart Talk about eye appeal! Poached pears are mulled in red wine and then sliced over a fantastic frangipane filling, creating a showstopping ombre effect. View Recipe 07 of 10 Butternut and Pear Soup Credit: Johnny Miller Winter squash and pears make for a velvety soup whose natural sweetness is offset by a healthy dollop of sharp yogurt. View Recipe 08 of 10 Sausage and Pear Stuffing Credit: Marcus Nilsson This standalone, one-dish meal is fragrant with onions and leeks, fennel and celery, rosemary and sage; autumn's best pears lend just the right amount of sweetness. Use good artisanal bread and your favorite pork sausages. Who needs turkey? View Recipe 09 of 10 Easy Poached Pears Credit: Grant Webster Sweet Bosc pears are cooked in a spiced apple cider. This recipe is easy and the results are delicious, the tender pears absorb all the delicious flavors of the syrupy liquid. It's a dish you'll want to make all through fall and beyond. View Recipe 10 of 10 Quick Pear Chutney Credit: EARL CARTER This quick pear chutney features ripe pears with honey, cider vinegar, golden raisins, and toasted walnuts for crunch. Serve it warm or at room temperature alongside pork, poultry, or rich cheeses for an easy upgrade to fall meals. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Fruit