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Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Snacks » Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer: Easy and Elegant

Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer: Easy and Elegant

Published March 25, 2015. Last updated December 17, 2018 by Judy Purcell 17 Comments

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This Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizer recipe is ideal for easy, elegant hospitality. Enjoy as part of simple date night in or as an easy part of your holiday part table.

Aside from its ease, my favorite part of making this Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizer is the fragrance of the honey and balsamic as it hits the hot dish.

Don’t get in a hurry, be ready to savor the aroma with the first drop.

An impressive appetizer for holiday parties or elegant date night at home. This Pear and Goat Cheese recipe is an easy, go-to appetizer.

This appetizer is so easy to put together, it hardly requires a recipe, but I’ve provided one as a guide for oven temp and timing.

The measurements are approximate—in my opinion, more goat cheese is always better—so use your eyes more than your scale. Serve with gluten-free crackers or crusty bread for special dinners, parties, or any excuse to nosh and linger.

An Easy Date Night Appetizer

It was Valentine’s Day, and instead of wrangling a reservation in a cramped restaurant we spent time planning a menu, shopping, and cooking together. Maple Lacquered Duck Breast was our main course, so we wanted a starter that was easy, yet elegant.

We were in search of fresh figs for our appetizer which were woefully out of season in February. It’s hard to beat the enchantment of figs for indulging in simple pleasures. But alas, there were no figs.

Garnished with 18 year balsamic and honey, this easy Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizer recipe is a beautiful centerpiece for any holiday party table.

Pear is an Excellent Substitute for Figs

Pear is similar to figs in their voluptuous shape and uniquely textured flesh, but more widely available and easier to budget. While figs may seem more romantic, the humble pear can certainly work its own magic.

Pour a glass of white Bordeaux and enjoy a supple, ripened pear from the hand of your sweetheart … well, you get the idea.

For this appetizer, you won’t want the pear to be as ripe as one you’d eat out of hand. Rather, choose one more firm to the touch and let the heat of the oven soften and sweeten it.

Like fresh figs, heat softens and concentrates the flavor of pears, creating a mild canvas for sweet or savory dishes. Warmed pears complement any cheese with a little spunk—goat cheese, Blue cheese, or semi-soft, raw milk cheese is best.

Here, the tangy-sweet balance of goat cheese and pear is delicious warm or cooled (we continued to enjoy it with dinner).

Got oodles of pears? Try your hand making this Hard Pear Cider!

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Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer

Fresh pear and creamy goat cheese bring a tangy-sweet balance of flavor when garnished with honey and balsamic for a simple, elegant appetizer.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time12 minutes mins
Total Time17 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Author: Judy Purcell
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Ingredients

  • 1 firm red pear (such as Red Anjou, Red Bartlett, or Starkrimson)
  • 3 ounces goat cheese (chevre)
  • walnut pieces (for garnish)
  • honey (for garnish)
  • aged balsamic (for garnish)
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Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Slice pear and arrange on an oven-safe platter or plate. Dot with goat cheese. Sprinkle walnut pieces over the pear and goat cheese.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is lightly browned in spots. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey and balsamic, as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 34mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Learn how to make this and all recipes even easier!Check out our Monthly Meal Prep System!

More Easy, Elegant Appetizer Recipes:

  • Shrimp & Prosciutto with Smoky Honey-Mustard Sauce

  • 20 Healthy Holiday Party Appetizers

  • Prosciutto-Wrapped Caprese Salad

  • 7 Tips for Hosting a Wine & Cheese Party

Make this simple appetizer recipe for your holiday table. Pear is an excellent substitution for the usual fig and goat cheese combo.


This post contains affiliate links. If a purchase is made through these links, I receive compensation without any added cost to my readers. Thank you for supporting what I do here at Savoring Today. For more information regarding ads and advertising affiliations, please see our Disclosure Policy.

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Filed Under: Appetizers & Snacks, Cheese, Fruit & Vegetables, Gluten Free, Party Foods, Recipes Tagged With: goat cheese, pear

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    Rating




  1. Stacey Crawford says

    December 9, 2019 at 8:57 am

    I love the combination of the pears with goat cheese & walnuts! So yummy!

    Reply
  2. Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says

    December 9, 2019 at 8:55 am

    5 stars
    I love how simple this is, and it’s definitely very elegant, can’t wait to add it to our next date night!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Fisher says

    December 8, 2019 at 6:25 am

    5 stars
    Pears and goat cheese, such a delicious combo — my favorite in fact!

    Reply
  4. Donny says

    December 5, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    5 stars
    I was expecting this to be on crostini or something I can’t eat but I love that you can just serve it as is! So simple and elegant. I love all these flavors together so I am definitely trying this. Maybe even with blue cheese, too!

    Reply
    • Judy Purcell says

      December 15, 2019 at 8:09 am

      Oh yeah, blue cheese is great with it too!

      Reply
  5. ChihYu says

    December 4, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    So easy to make and so good!

    Reply
  6. Heather H says

    December 4, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    I could eat the everyday, the flavors are such a perfect pairing!

    Reply
  7. Carina says

    December 4, 2019 at 10:26 am

    Looks delicious and so easy to put together!

    Reply
  8. Ashley says

    December 17, 2018 at 10:30 am

    5 stars
    This looks so good! Simple, yet elegant and I bet my kids will love it too.

    Reply
  9. Emily Kemp says

    August 27, 2018 at 4:04 am

    5 stars
    This sounds so simple and delicious, goats cheese and pear are the perfect combination!

    Reply
  10. Joan says

    April 11, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    So simple and easy! Love it.

    Reply
  11. mjskitchen says

    March 31, 2015 at 9:20 pm

    This is my kind of appetizer…simple, healthy and delicious! Great combination of flavors Judy! Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Raymund says

    March 30, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    5 stars
    Totally agree they look elegant and definitely delicious. Love the simplicity here,a good dish to serve when you are very busy.

    Reply
  13. Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says

    March 27, 2015 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    This look fabulous – I love the presentation. I can’t wait to make this!! ‘Pinning’ it, of course!!

    Reply
  14. John@Kitchen Riffs says

    March 26, 2015 at 10:34 am

    Wow, this looks terrific! Great dish, wonderful photos. Thanks.

    Reply
  15. Mandy says

    March 26, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Forget being an appetizer, this could be a meal for me. Wonderful idea and great combination of flavours.
    Have a wonderful day.
    🙂 Mandy xo

    Reply
  16. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    March 25, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    5 stars
    That’s an appetizer I would be eager to get my fingers in.

    Reply
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