Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears Recipe: I first made this for a weeknight date at home, and the sweet, juicy pears with creamy, salty blue cheese and toasted crunch won us over. This easy appetizer suits cheese fans and holiday hosts, and it takes about 25 minutes start to finish.
Easy Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears Recipe
Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears Recipe keeps prep simple with a short ingredient list and a quick bake. You mix a few pantry staples, stuff the pears, and slide the tray into the oven. The result looks fancy, yet you barely lift a finger.
You choose your favorite blue cheese style, mild or bold, and let the oven do the heavy lifting. The pears soften, the cheese melts, and the honey glosses the top. Guests think you went to culinary school, and you just used one pan.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pears: 3 ripe but firm Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett (firm fruit holds shape best).
- Blue cheese: 4 oz crumbled (mild: Gorgonzola dolce; bold: Roquefort; balanced: Point Reyes Original Blue).
- Mascarpone or cream cheese (optional): 2 tbsp for extra creaminess and easier stuffing.
- Honey or maple syrup: 2–3 tsp, plus more to drizzle; agave works in a pinch.
- Nuts: 2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted; pistachios add color.
- Fresh herbs: 1 tsp thyme leaves or 1/4 tsp minced rosemary.
- Lemon juice: 1 tsp to brush cut pears and keep them bright.
- Black pepper: a few grinds to balance the sweetness.
- Flaky sea salt (optional): a tiny pinch at the end, since blue cheese brings salt.
- Olive oil or melted butter (optional): 1 tsp to brush the cut sides for extra shine.
- Finishing option: balsamic glaze (store-bought works great; I like the sticky drizzle from Trader Joe’s).
Pantry shortcuts and notes:
- Use pre-crumbled blue cheese to save time, though block cheese melts more evenly.
- Pick up a bottle of balsamic glaze instead of reducing vinegar at home.
- Toast nuts in a dry skillet for 3 minutes to boost flavor fast.
Equipment:
- Baking sheet or small baking dish, parchment paper, sharp knife, small spoon or melon baller, small mixing bowl, measuring spoons, cutting board.
How to Make Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Cook: 12–15 minutes
- Total: 22–25 minutes
- Heat the oven
- Set the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment for easy cleanup.
- Prep the pears
- Halve pears lengthwise. Use a small spoon or melon baller to scoop the core and seeds, making a shallow well. Trim a tiny slice off the rounded backs so the halves sit flat. Brush cut sides and wells with lemon juice.
- Mix the filling
- In a bowl, mash blue cheese with the mascarpone or cream cheese (if using). Stir in nuts, herbs, 1–2 tsp honey, and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste and adjust: add a touch more honey if you want extra contrast.
- Stuff the pears
- Divide the filling among the pear wells and mound it slightly. Brush the cut sides with a dab of olive oil or melted butter if you want a glossy finish.
- Bake
- Bake 12–15 minutes until the pears soften at the edges and the cheese looks molten. If you like deeper color, switch to broil for 45–60 seconds. Keep an eye on it so the nuts don’t scorch.
- Finish and plate
- Drizzle with a little more honey or balsamic glaze. Add a pinch of flaky salt and more herbs. Transfer to a platter.
- Serve
- Serve warm or at room temp. They hold their shape on a board and play nice with crackers, baguette slices, or a peppery arugula salad.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- Pick pears that feel firm with slight give; soft fruit collapses in the oven.
- Level wobbly halves by trimming a thin slice off the backs so they sit flat.
- Don’t skip the lemon; it keeps the pears bright and adds sparkle.
- Choose the cheese style you like: Gorgonzola for mellow warmth, Roquefort for big, tangy energy.
- Fold in mascarpone if the blue cheese crumbles won’t pack nicely.
- Toast nuts ahead of time for better crunch and aroma.
- Go light on the honey; too much sweetness can bury the cheese.
- Watch the broiler; nuts go from golden to char in seconds.
Variations
- Gluten-free: The base recipe already avoids gluten; serve with GF crackers.
- Vegan: Use a plant-based blue-style cheese and maple syrup; brush pears with olive oil.
- Add-ins: Crisp bacon or prosciutto shards, dried cranberries, chopped dates, or a whisper of orange zest.
- Herb swap: Chives or tarragon for a softer, fresh note.
- Nut-free: Use toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for crunch.
- Grill or air-fryer: Grill over medium heat 3–4 minutes cut-side up, or air-fry at 370°F for 6–8 minutes.
How to Serve Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears
Set the warm halves on an arugula bed, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and add a few extra nuts for crunch. Pair with crisp sparkling wine, off-dry Riesling, or a small pour of tawny Port. For a snack board, tuck them alongside prosciutto, olives, and thin baguette slices.
Make-Ahead and Storage
- Prep ahead: Halve, core, and brush pears with lemon, then cover and chill up to 6 hours. Mix the filling and keep it covered in the fridge. Stuff right before baking.
- Store leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Warm on a parchment-lined sheet at 325°F for 8–10 minutes until the cheese loosens and the pears heat through.
- Freezer: Skip freezing; pears turn watery and lose their bite.
Nutrition Information
Calories: about 150 per serving (1 stuffed half), based on pears, blue cheese, honey, and walnuts. Protein: moderate from cheese; Carbs: mostly from pears and honey; Fat: primarily from blue cheese and nuts with a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the pears in half lengthwise and use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the cores.
- Brush each pear half with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Fill the hollow of each pear half with crumbled blue cheese.
- Sprinkle toasted walnuts over the blue cheese.
- Drizzle each stuffed pear half with honey.
- Garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired. Serve immediately as a sophisticated appetizer.