For the foodie, the falling of leaves might not symbolise the arrival of autumn and winter, but rather the return of pear season. Celebrate the juicy fruit in all its glory with this plethora of cooking ideas.
Roasted pears in chai syrup
Lucy pairs perfectly roasted autumn pears with a honey and chai syrup for a deliciously easy dessert.
Poached pear and hazelnut crumble cake
This great make-ahead cake by Darren Robertson and Magdalena Roze tastes better over time and will also save you time when entertaining.
Whole pear and spiced brownie loaf with espresso mousse
Tracey Pattison uses autumn's abundant pears as the perfect partner for chocolate and coffee in this spectacular loaf.
Pear tarte tatin with mocha ice cream
Syrupy pears encased in a crisp pastry, finished with a scoop of no-churn mocha ice-cream – this delectable dessert is sure to impress.
Maple-roasted pears with nut crumble
This fuss-free crumble is one to commit to memory - sprinkle it over any in-season fruit for an easy weeknight dessert.
Pear, sage and almond upside-down tray cake
Admire the intricate layers of this cake from above.
Maple pear tart
A rustic tart made for a cool Autumn's day.
Alistair Wise's fig and pear cider 'novel'
The name ‘novel’ comes from my gran; this was her go-to dessert. It made it into my mum’s recipe book and now it’s mine. It was always Dad’s favourite when Mum used whatever seasonal fruit she could find to whip into a quick pudding. It looks disconcerting as a split batter poured over the fruit, but once baked, it has a crisp crust and sauce at the bottom, as well as tender fruit, says Alistair.
Caramelised pear and bourbon turnovers
Yes, we can assure you these taste as good as they look. Recipe by Andy 'Bowdy' Bowden.
Dan Lepard's ruby pear, white chocolate and macadamia crumble
“A crazy but mightily delicious super-chunky crumble. This pudding has a deconstructed cookie top, with a hint of spices, oats and coconut, layered with chunks of white chocolate and chopped roasted macadamias. Underneath you’ve got simple red-wine-cooked pears with a dash of vanilla, slightly thickened so there’s a sauce around the fruit. It’s the ruby dessert to get your spirit warm, says Dan.
Jamie Oliver's earl grey spiced poached pears
These pears will benefit from being left in their poaching syrup overnight to develop a gorgeous golden hue and thoroughly absorb all the lovely flavours from the spices, says Jamie.
Silvia Colloca's healthy dairy-free pear, sultana and olive oil cake
Nothing soothes the soul more than a bit of home baking, says Silvia Colloca.
Matt Preston's golden almond, pear and raspberry cake
Warm, this cake is a decadent, but it stays moist for ages, making it equally as tasty cold.
Chocolate pavlova with spiced pears
Phoebe Wood provides a sleek spin on a timeless classic with this chocolate pavlova with spiced pears.
Pear, sage and hazelnut bread
A nordic fruit and nut loaf of bread that will satisfy the desire to eat more healthily, more interestingly, and more deliciously.This is an edited extract from Nordic Light by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant Books (RRP $49.99), and is available in stores nationally.
Silvia Colloca's marsala poached pears
An aromatic dessert that highlights the humble pear. There is nothing more comforting than the scent of fruit poaching away in syrupy bliss. The warm aroma that wafts through the house when the firm flesh of pears slowly surrenders to the virtues of sugar and spice is a powerful mood-booster, especially in the cooler months.
Blackberry, pear and white chocolate crumble
This pear and blackberry crumble brings this old classic to new heights with its white chocolate crumble. Just add cream.
Spiced pear, blueberry and almond shortcake
This shortcake pie puts every good early Autumn thing into a crumbly and impressive dessert.
Pear and coconut crumble with double-thick cream
Try this luscious dessert of pear and nutty almonds, baked to crumbly perfection and served with a generous dollop of double-thick cream. Winter never tasted so good.
Almond, pear and olive oil cake
This moist pear and almond cake is the ideal afternoon tea choice to enjoy alongside a pot of piping hot tea.
Pear puff-pastry tart with a rich red-wine glaze
This easy to prepare winter dessert is perfect for entertaining.
Pear and almond upside down cake
This moist upside-down cake is the perfect accompaniment for a cuppa.
Amaretto and pear crespelle
Pears and brown sugar go together like peas and carrots (except, in our opinion, they're far more delicious...)
Teff pancakes with sweet dukkah and apple and pear compote
Pancakes are given a healthy makeover, with gluten-free teff flour and Greek yoghurt, and a sweet cinnamon-spiced dukkah to serve, by Yoni Kalfus.
Pear and chocolate croissant cakes
Apple, pear and hazelnut deep-dish pie
Katie Quinn Davies says, "You can top the apple pie with a standard pie crust, but the pretty lattice topping adds rustic charm"
Chocolate pavlova with spiced pears and butterscotch sauce
"Wow your friends with a triple-layer chocolate pavlova filled with spiced poached pear, oozy butterscotch sauce and creamy mascarpone. It's easy to assemble and guaranteed to be a show-stopper." – Katie Quinn Davies
Jamie Oliver's Vin Santo and pear chocolate tart
Wine-drenched pears, baked into rich, gooey chocolate, encased in a fragrant nutty pastry – there won’t be any leftovers.
Roasted pears with spiced crumbs and sweet labne
This recipe for sweet labne cheese showcases the versatility of this subtle cheese.
Creme fraiche panna cotta with cinnamon-poached pears and praline
A gourmet panna cotta dessert that will wow the most discerning culinary critic.
