Here’s a few simple desserts using fresh pears which I happen to have an abundance of!
Marsala Baked Pears, doesn’t that sound good to you? Believe me when I tell you, it was!
The flavor is out of this world because what happens here is while the pears are baking their continually soaking up butter and Marsala to the point where they become beautifully caramelized, when finished and still warm they become the perfect companion to ice cream,whipped cream, or luscious mascarpone! You can garnish with something crunchy like nuts or crumbled biscotti, need I say more?
Not really a recipe, here’s what you do;
Peel and slice pears lengthwise, place them in a baking dish, pour in sweet Marsala wine half way up the side of the pears, place dabs of butter all around and sprinkle wine with sugar or you can even use honey just to sweeten everything up a bit. Place in a 350F oven for around a good hour basting them often, you’ll know their done when the liquid becomes caramelized.
Pear and Ricotta Tart, This is a standard recipe I use whenever I want to bake a fruit of any sort with ricotta. I use a 9″ tart pan with a removable bottom then place a good pre made pie dough into the bottom, ( I told you it was simple!) of course you can make your own if you like. To insure the dough being crusty and cooked on the bottom I like to blind bake the dough for a five minutes in a 425F oven by placing a piece of parchment paper on top and then adding some beans or pie weights, then remove, take off the weights and reduce oven to 375F.
Pear and Ricotta Tart, This is a standard recipe I use whenever I want to bake a fruit of any sort with ricotta. I use a 9″ tart pan with a removable bottom then place a good pre made pie dough into the bottom, ( I told you it was simple!) of course you can make your own if you like. To insure the dough being crusty and cooked on the bottom I like to blind bake the dough for a five minutes in a 425F oven by placing a piece of parchment paper on top and then adding some beans or pie weights, then remove, take off the weights and reduce oven to 375F.For the filling;
1lb ricotta cheese
6 0r 7 ripe pear halves, sliced lengthwise and cored
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
Fresh orange zest or 1 heaping tablespoon of apricot preserves
Pinch of cinnamon
Mix everything together in a bowl until well blended, (except the pears of course). Place filling into pie shell and position pears all around. ( optional, sprinkle and swirl more cinnamon on top) Bake at 375F for around 30 minutes. While still warm brush apricot preserves on top of pears. Let it cool down while you put on a pot of espresso!
And last but not least, Chocolate Ricotta Filled Pears. Turning creamy white ricotta into chocolate is so quick using cocoa powder and then pairing it with orange is a match made in heaven! I can’t wait to try this with strawberries, because we all know how good chocolate and strawberries are!
Poach 3 whole peeled pears in 3 cups of water and 1/4 cup of orange juice, cook around 10 minutes in a covered pan , when pears are tender remove and cool down.When cooled, slice them lengthwise and remove cores.
Ricotta Filling:
1 cup ricotta
1/3 cup of powdered sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mini chocolate chips, ( as many as you like)
Combine everything into a bowl then spoon the mixture into the center of the pears. Garnish with orange zest and more chocolate chips.
Recipe adapted from BHG
Note: For a real quickie, use purchased bottled pears, I tried it, it’s good too!
Buon Appetito!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
All three sound delicious but the chocolate ricotta filled might just be my favorite.
Wow, that tart has my mouth watering! I want all 3 of these desserts. Yummy.
Delicious! I’ve never used pears in dessert before but you gave some great ideas.
I’ve been eating so much ricotta lately. I love to just make the cannoli filling and I’ll mix it with oatmeal for breakfast. hehe. Your chocolate ricotta paired with strawberries be a nice treat for Valentine’s Day. Going to have to try that out!
Oh Marie – I’ve got to get myself a bottle of Marsala asap. I make poached pears in red wine frequently in winter, but never tried them with Marsala. It sounds divine – as do all the pear recipes.
All three recipes sound delicious! I cook fruit in Marsala wine all the time – yummy!
I’m not the biggest pear fan but…I bet I could use a little creative license and make these with apples!
Yum! I actually just bought some pears to make Pear Granita. Have you ever tried that? We had it in Rome, topped with homemade whipped cream. It was divine!
Marie you know I love to make tarts so the pear tart recipe will be one I definitely try. All three recipes look delicious!
How wonderfully fragrant your kitchen must have been! I love cooking with pears.. and Marsala.. and yours recipes look divine!
Well now, this is the most amazing pear fest I’ve seen in awhile, Marie. They all look good, but those marsla baked pears are calling my name. A little creme fraiche and a sprinkling of toasted almonds. Oh, my.
Pears are one of my favorite fruits – thanks for these recipes. The Chocolate Ricotta Filled Pears recipe is making my mouth water – can’t wait to give them a try!
Like Marilyn, pears are a favourite of mine as well. I will definitely try the Marsala pears and the ricotta tart looks amazing. I’ve never made a ricotta pie and I think it’s time I did.
Bev K
Agreed with Marilyn, the Chocolate Ricotta Pear sounds amazing. I make a similar pear to the marsala pears, with red wine. Thanks for the ideas!
I’m in pear heaven just looking at your photos, Marie! I love all the recipes, but that one with the chocolate ricotta and orange rind (did you make the candied peels yet?) is calling my name.
I love cooking with pears – and your recipes sound amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Laura
http://www.athomeinthesuburbs.blogspot.com
That tart is so beautiful. Me want now.
I also love your idea of the chocolate filled pear. It’s almost like a pear canolo!
Yumm. Do you have a pear tree? Im jealous.
Fabulous Marie! All three sound great, I really like the tart (and I can use pre-made pastry, YAY!) Great overhead shot too!
LL
You just entered my sweet-fruit-loving gene. I haven’t make pears in wine in ages – used to to do so frequently- and I have a bottle of Marsala looking lonely. All 3 recipes will find a place in my home.
I heart pears. There’s no doubt about that. Nice line-up of pear recipes. Like the chocolate ricotta stuffed pears idea.
Your post makes me want to run right out for some pears! What delicious desserts!
If heaven had a taste…
These all look amazing!
LOOOOOVE fruit desserts. The first one looks amazing!!!! I’ll have to try it, really really soon. New to your site. Love it here already. Can’t wait to poke around some more.
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
Stopped by to see “what’s for dinner”. And it’s always good, your pears look devine Marie.
Hi Marie – thinking of you and that monster storm! Hope all is well…
LL
Every recipe looks so good, I don’t know which one to start with first!
simply AWESOME Marie… love pears anyway I can eat them and these look delicious.