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Last winter, I set out to create a caramelized pear recipe that would be easy, beautiful, versatile, and of course, delicious. I tested all kinds of techniques, but in the end, the simplest method turned out to be the best. A quick skillet caramelization and a warm honey-maple syrup create pears that feel special with minimal fuss.
Every time I bring Scott a bowl of oatmeal or a salad topped with these pears, there's always a big smile - and a few bites later, he comments on just how delicious they are. They're also wonderful with yogurt and granola and I've served these warm honey-maple pears with vanilla ice cream to guests for a super simple, but elegant dessert, again, garnering rave reviews. After a year of making them on repeat, I decided they were simply too good not to share!
Why we love these caramelized pears
One simple technique opens the door to endless uses, from yogurt and oatmeal to salads, desserts, and sides that feel special without any fuss at all. Here's why these pears have earned a spot on our favorites list:
They're simple and foolproof - just one skillet, minimal prep and a handful of ingredients.
They come together quickly - a few minutes and minimal hands-on time!
So beautiful and versatile- we love them with oatmeal, yogurt, salads, ice cream and as a delicious snack on their own. They're also fabulous served alongside roasted pork!
Elegant but unfussy - if you've been following The Café, you know that I'm a huge fan of recipes that are impressive enough for guests but easy enough for everyday. This one checks both of those boxes!
Naturally delicious - sweet pears with just a touch of sugar and finished with warm honey and maple syrup? Yes, please!
Ingredients you'll need
- Pears - ripe, but still slightly firm work best for these caramelized pears, so they hold their shape as they cook, but also have that natural sweetness.
- Cane sugar - I prefer cane sugar, which is a little coarser than regular granulated sugar, which creates that golden, crisp caramelized surface. In a pinch, granulated sugar will work.
- Honey - adds warmth and a touch of delicious floral sweetness to the syrup.
- Maple syrup - pairs beautifully with the honey and brings depth and a rich layer of flavor
- Butter - everything is better with a bit of butter, right? Just a small pat adds fabulous flavor, as well as a wonderful silky finish.
- Water - helps loosen the honey maple syrup as it thickens.
These simple ingredients come together to create easy, stovetop caramelized pears that are just as good on oatmeal as they are over ice cream!
The easy steps for this recipe
To make these caramelized pears, cut them in half and use a melon baller (or round measuring teaspoon) to remove the core.
Dip the cut sides in cane (or granulated) sugar.
Each surface should be evenly coated with sugar.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and place the pears cut-side down once the pan is hot.
Towards the end, you'll notice a little smoke. Don't be alarmed, get excited instead!
The smoke is a sign that your pears are caramelizing!
Remove the pears, then add honey, maple syrup, water, and a pat of butter to the skillet.
Simmer briefly until the honey maple syrup thickens and becomes glossy then turn the heat off and return the pears to the pan, if not serving immediately.
Serve the pears warm, drizzled generously with the delicious honey maple syrup!
A healthy guest option!
When we have overnight guests, we love splurging on special breakfasts - think scones, biscuits, or a sweet focaccia. But it's also nice to have a lighter option, and a bowl of warm steel-cut oats topped with these beautiful pears fits the bill perfectly. Trust me (I'm speaking from experience), no one will feel even a little bit deprived!
Serving suggestions
As mentioned above, these honey maple caramelized pears are wonderfully versatile and can be enjoyed in so many ways!
- Spoon warm caramelized pears over oatmeal or overnight oats.
- Add to yogurt bowls or parfaits with granola.
- Use as a sweet contrast in green salads or grain bowls.
- Serve over vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for an easy, elegant dessert that's not over-the-top sweet.
- Pair with pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Enjoy alongside roasted meats.
- Serve on cheese/charcuterie boards for a sweet-savory touch!
A simple recipe you'll be making again and again!
These stovetop caramelized pears are one of those simple little recipes that quietly elevates whatever you serve them with. Whatever you pair them with, they'll add warmth, sweetness, and a touch of something very special! Anyone for a bowl of vanilla ice cream with Maple Caramelized Pears?
- What kind of pears should you use for this recipe? I've made these caramelized pears with red and green Anjou, Bosc and Bartlett pears, all with delicious results. The key is choosing pears that are ripe but still firm. They'll soften as they caramelize, and starting with pears that are too soft can result in mushy pears.
- You'll need a nonstick skillet for this recipe. It makes flipping and syrup-making much easier and, more importantly, keeps the pears intact. I love these All-Clad non-stick pans.
- Don't rush the pan when preheating. Let the skillet get nice and hot (over medium heat) before adding the pears for the best caramelization. You should hear a little sizzle when the sugared pears hit the pan.
- Resist flipping too soon. Leaving the pears undisturbed allows a deep golden crust to form. You want to see a little smoke towards the end.
- If you start seeing a lot of smoke, lower the heat.
- You can easily adjust the sweetness of these caramelized pears to suit your taste. Simply increase or decrease the honey and maple syrup as you like.
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Honey Maple Caramelized Pears
Ingredients
- 4 medium ripe but firm pears, halved and cored
- ¼ cup cane or granulated sugar, For coating the pears - you won't use all of this
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Cut pears in half lengthwise and remove cores using a melon baller or small round measuring teaspoon.
- Place the sugar in a medium, flat-bottomed bowl or on a flat plate. Gently shake the bowl or plate to create an even layer of sugar.
- Dip the cut side of each pear half into the cane sugar to lightly coat.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot.
- Place pears cut-side down in the skillet. They will sizzle just a bit but shouldn't smoke at this point. If you see smoke, reduce the heat a bit.
- Cook undisturbed for 3 minutes, then use tongs to gently check the underside of one pear. It should be lightly caramelized. If the pears are still pale, increase the heat slightly and continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes, until deeply golden and caramelized. You will notice a bit of smoke toward the end -this is a good sign and means the caramelization is happening.
- Remove pears from the skillet, reduce the heat and set aside.
- Add the honey, maple syrup, and water to the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the butter and continue cooking and stirring until the syrup thickens slightly and becomes glossy. This should take approximately 1 minute.
- Return the pears to the pan, if not serving right away. Serve warm with oatmeal, ice cream, yogurt, or roasted meats. Drizzle with the honey maple syrup.
Notes
Storage: Store pears and syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Warm gently in a skillet over low heat or briefly in the microwave.
Nutrition
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Think I could replace the sugar with stevia?
Hi Diane, I haven’t tried this recipe with Stevia. I’m not sure you would get the same type of caramelization that sugar gives, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it!