Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears (Easy Elegant Appetizer)
These blue cheese stuffed pears are the ultimate effortless yet elegant appetizer. Juicy pears are baked with creamy blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and fresh thyme, then drizzled with honey for a perfectly balanced sweet and savory bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, these are ideal for dinner parties, holidays, or wine nights.
Equipment
- Baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Small skillet (for toasting nuts)
- Small bowl
- Spoon or melon baller
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- Main Ingredients
- 2 medium ripe but firm pears (Bosc or Anjou recommended)
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese (Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton)
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted for best flavor)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1 tablespoon honey (for drizzling)
- olive oil (for brushing)
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease with olive oil.
- In a dry skillet, toast chopped walnuts or pecans over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and golden. Remove from heat to cool.
- Slice pears in half lengthwise. Using a spoon or melon baller, remove the core and seeds to create a small cavity for filling. Brush cut sides with olive oil and place cut-side up in baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix blue cheese, toasted nuts, and thyme until evenly combined. Keep the mixture crumbly, not mashed.
- Spoon or press the cheese mixture into each pear’s hollow center, slightly mounding it above the surface.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, until pears are tender but still hold their shape and the cheese is soft and creamy.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 2–3 minutes. Drizzle each pear half with honey and sprinkle with black pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.