Description
Baked Italian pears with cream cheese and walnut delight combine elegant flavors from Mediterranean kitchens. Creamy cheese, toasted walnuts, and warm spices create a simple dessert perfect for sharing with friends after dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ripe pears, halved and cored
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (60 g/2 oz) walnuts, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (50 g/1.75 oz) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a ceramic baking dish with butter or cooking spray for easy dessert removal.
- Pear Preparation: Halve pears, delicately remove cores, position cut-side upward in the dish, and splash with lemon juice to preserve their elegant color.
- Filling Creation: Whip cream cheese until silky, gradually blend brown sugar, honey, vanilla extract, and ground spices. Integrate chopped walnuts thoroughly, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the mixture.
- Assembly: Lavishly fill each pear cavity with the cream cheese mixture, crafting an enticing mound that completely covers the pear’s interior surface.
- Baking and Finishing: Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until pears become tender and topping transforms into a rich, caramelized golden-brown crust. Allow the dessert to rest 5-7 minutes for filling stabilization. Optionally garnish with fresh mint leaves or a delicate cinnamon sprinkle before serving while warm.
Notes
- Prevent Browning: Drizzle lemon juice on pear surfaces to stop oxidation and maintain fresh, bright appearance.
- Cheese Filling Technique: Whisk cream cheese thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring smooth, creamy texture in every bite.
- Nut Distribution Tip: Fold walnuts gently to create even spread, preventing clumping and ensuring consistent crunch throughout filling.
- Caramelization Watch: Monitor pears closely during final 10 minutes of baking to achieve perfect golden-brown topping without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg