Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries

5 from 6 votes

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A delicious sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for fall and Thanksgiving!

These Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries are incredibly easy and fast to make with delicious flavors.

A half of Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries on a small plate

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Oh my WORD these Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries are not only GORGEOUS but delicious as well!

I love fun and unique Thanksgiving recipes (it is my favorite food holiday by far!) like my popular Parmesan Garlic Green Bean Casserole.

They are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish that bring a lot of class and allure with minimal effort!

A spoon scooping a savory baked pear out of a baking dish

Now there are several substitutions you can make here based on what you have/get/want.

Blue cheese and gorgonzola are pretty much the same thing in my head, so use either.

Pecans can be substituted for walnuts. Pecans are a touch sweeter but they both work wonderfully here.

And fresh cranberries could be used instead of dried, but fresh are much more tart, so it will adjust the balance.

Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries on three small plates

Any pear variety works here. I love to use Anjou or Bosc because they hold their shape well when baked.

And while the Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries are a touch sweet, they are still balanced with savory flavor which makes them a great side dish recipe for Thanksgiving or fall holiday meals.

A dish full of baked pears

I say leave the stems on the pears because they are just SO cute!

I tried cutting through the stem, in half, so each half had it, but that did not go very well.

So half would have a stem and half would not if you leave them.

A close up of a Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries

I love to really stuff the pears which can be done either by making the hole in the pear larger, or mounding up the filling and even putting some on the flat part of the pear. 

You may need more or less of the cheese mixture depending on how much filling you want, the size of your pears, and the size of the hole you make.

After baking, leftover pears get softer so it is best to bake these right when you want to serve them and not in the days before.

This would be a great thing to bake while the turkey is resting for a Thanksgiving meal!

 

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Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries

A delicious sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for fall and Thanksgiving!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Fall/Thanksgiving, Gluten Free, Holiday, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 177kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 large pears
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup gorgonzola cheese (or blue cheese)
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries (or fresh)
  • 2 Tablespoons honey for finishing

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F.
  • Cut the pears in half from top to bottom. Leave the stems on if desired for presentation.
  • Use a melon baller or sharp spoon to scoop out approximately 1/2 Tablespoon sized hole where the seeds are. Make the hole larger or smaller as desired.
  • Place the pear halves in a large baking dish, cut side up.
  • Drizzle the pears with olive oil.
  • Sprinkle the thyme over the pears, and sprinkle with a little salt and black pepper.
  • Bake the pears for 20 minutes (12-15 if you want firmer pears in the end).
  • While the pears are baking, combine the cheese, chopped nuts, and cranberries in a small bowl.
  • Remove the pears from the oven and stuff the hole of each pear with the cheese mixture, so it is mounding up. You may need more or less cheese mixture based on how large the holes you made are.
  • Place the pears back in the oven and finish cooking for about 10 more minutes until the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the pears from the oven. Drizzle with some honey and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1half | Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

 

By on October 7th, 2020

About Kim

Kim has grown up with a passion for cooking good food! You can find her in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, making dog treats, and eating Italian food!

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3 thoughts on “Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries”

  1. Oh, I love this flavor combination. Baked pears with gorgonzola walnuts and cranberries sounds so delightful for the this fall season and perfect for serving guests at holiday gatherings. Thanks for the great appetizer recipe!

    Reply

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