Baked Pears With Cinnamon

These tender baked pears with cinnamon and maple syrup are cozy, sweet, and, easy to make in just 30 minutes! Top with yogurt (or a scoop of vanilla ice cream) for a deliciously simple fall treat.

Fresh fruit is always a good dessert option but after a while, it can turn into a real snoozefest. That’s why I love baking fruit, especially pears.

Baking softens the pears and brings out a little extra sweetness. Plus you can dress them up with crunchy chopped nuts and a light drizzle of maple syrup.

What you end up with is a decadent but light dessert that no one would ever call boring.

Recipe Ingredients

• Ripe Pear – Anjou or Bosc are the best for baking. To test if a pear is ripe, gently press your thumb against the pear’s neck or stem end. If it gives slightly under the pressure it’s ripe and ready to be eaten (or baked in this case).
• Cinnamon – sometimes I’ll add a pinch of ginger or cardamom too.
• Chocolate Chips – optional but very yummy.
• Nuts – I used pecan pieces though walnuts would be equally delicious.
• Maple Syrup – just 1 teaspoon, because the pears are already sweet you don’t need a lot.

How To Make Cinnamon Baked Pears

Step 1: Start by lightly oiling a toaster oven-sized baking dish. If you don’t have a baking dish that fits in your toaster oven you can use a small rimmed sheet pan or a mini cast iron skillet.

Step 2: Slice the pear in half and scoop out the seeds. A rounded measuring spoon is a perfect tool for the job.

Place the pear halves in your baking dish or pan. If they’re wobbling around all willy-nilly slice a thin strip off the back of each one and they will lay flat.

Step 3: Sprinkle each half with cinnamon. Pop a few chocolate chips or a small square of dark chocolate in the center cavity. Then cover the chocolate with a tiny bit of nuts. Lastly, drizzle the pears with maple syrup.

Step 4: Bake in a 350°F preheated oven (or toaster oven) until the pears have softened. This will take about 25 to 35 minutes depending on the type of pear you use and how ripe it is.

To check for doneness I like to give the middles of the pears a little squeeze. It’s the same method I use to check if a batch of toaster oven baked potatoes is ready.

Once your baked pears are tender it’s time for toppings!

Topping Ideas

I usually opt for a dollop of plain Greek yogurt. Tim always goes for a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Or you could serve them with some small batch whipped cream and a sprinkle of graham cracker crumble for an extra special treat!

More Easy Dessert Recipes

• Toaster Oven S’mores
• Cinnamon Tortilla Chips (Bake or Air Fry)
• Apple Nachos For Two
• Mini Berry Skillet Cake
• Toaster Oven Chocolate Chip Cookies