37 Recipes for Overripe Pears
Nothing is worse than throwing away overripe produce—especially pears. This collection of 37 Overripe Pear Recipes will help you use up and ENJOY your pears.
One of my favorite parts of fall is the abundance of fresh pears. There are so many delicious varieties with a wide range of textures and flavors. I love to eat them fresh or dip them in fruit dip.
And, let’s not forget baking with pears! This Pear Bread with Candied Ginger is one of my all time favorite quick bread recipes.
But, sometimes my pears ripen faster than I can use them, and I hate to throw away good produce. This year I decided I had to find more ways to use overripe pears.
So, along with some fellow bloggers, I created this collection of amazing pear recipes that’s perfect for those extra soft pears with brown spots.
From sweet breads to crumble recipes and sauces to fruity drinks, this round-up of overripe pear recipes has it all!
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Jump to:
- What is considered an overripe pear?
- What to do with overripe pears
- Quick breads and cakes
- Pear Bread with Candied Ginger
- Pear Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream
- Honey Pear Cake
- Cinnamon Tea Cake with Pears
- Cranberry Pear Upside Down Cake
- Pear Cake
- Ginger Pear Coffee Cake
- Jam and preserves
- Slow Cooker Pear Butter (For Canning)
- Homemade Pear Preserves
- Cardamom Pear Jam
- Poached Pear Jam
- Vanilla Pear Preserves
- Instant Pot Pear Butter
- Crisps and cobblers
- Pear Crumble
- Pear Crisp With Blood Orange Sauce
- Simple Pear Cobbler
- Fresh Pear & Walnut Crisp
- Pear Crumble with Chocolate
- Blackberry Pear Cobbler
- Blueberry and Pear Crumble
- The Best Pear Crisp with Oats
- Sauces
- Easy Pear Sauce
- Cranberry Pear Sauce
- Pear Chutney
- Slow Cooker Spiced Pear Sauce
- Instant Pot Pear Applesauce
- Pear Compote
- Drinks
- Pear Ginger Smoothie
- Pear Ginger Beer Mocktail
- Almond Pear Green Smoothie
- Honey Pear Margarita
- More things to do with overripe pears
- Homemade Pear Ice Cream
- Salted Caramel Apple Pear Pie
- Stewed Pears
- Pear and Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Pears
- Pear Simple Syrup
- Chai Oatmeal with Spiced Sautéed Pears
- More fall baking recipes
- 💬 Reviews
What is considered an overripe pear?
Generally, people enjoy eating pears raw when they have a slightly soft texture and a little bit of crunch. As pears ripen and become softer, they become less palatable to eat raw.
An overripe pear will be juicy but will not dissolve into mushy liquid. It may have some brown spots but will not be moldy. Mold is a sign that the pear is rotten.
Overripe pears may be past their prime to be eaten raw but will still smell and taste like a pear. If it smells good, it will add a good flavor to baked desserts.
What to do with overripe pears
There are numerous ways to use overripe pears in baking. Here are the most popular:
- Baked in the oven for bread and cake
- Cooked on the stovetop to make fillings for pies, crisps, and cobblers
- Boiled and puréed to make jams, jellies, sauces, and drinks
So without further ado, here are 37 recipes for overripe pears. Which one will you try first?
Quick breads and cakes
Pear Bread with Candied Ginger
Pear bread with candied ginger is a quick bread covered with almond streusel. It’s super moist from all the pears and makes a convenient fall breakfast or after school snack. It’s crave-worthy in every way!
Pear Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream
Can a cupcake get any cuter? These pear cupcakes start with a moist cupcake that contains diced pears and cinnamon. Top them with luscious honey buttercream and a pear jelly bean for maximum enjoyment!
Honey Pear Cake
Look no further for the perfect fall cake! This honey pear cake is easy and delicious. Serve it for a sweet breakfast, an afternoon snack or intimate tea party. Eat it plain, or with a dollop of whipped cream, custard, or ice cream!
Cinnamon Tea Cake with Pears
This cinnamon tea cake is light and fluffy. It’s perfect for a cool fall day and will fill your home with the delicate aroma of cinnamon while it bakes. Make a cup of warm tea, grab a slice of cake, and get cozy!
Cranberry Pear Upside Down Cake
This delectable cranberry pear upside down cake makes a gorgeous presentation for seasonal gatherings and Thanksgiving. Guests will ooh and aah at the beauty of the caramelized pears and fresh tart cranberries — no frosting needed!
Pear Cake
This is the easiest and most tender pear cake recipe! You’ll make the cake batter by pureeing whole pears and save yourself the trouble and time of peeling them. One bite of this sweet, slightly floral pear cake and your friends will be begging you for the recipe!
Ginger Pear Coffee Cake
Who doesn’t love a rich and tender coffee cake? This ginger pear coffee cake is made with oat flour, yogurt, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. It’s full of fall flavor because of its brown sugar spiced pear filling and buttery oat crumble topping.
Jam and preserves
Slow Cooker Pear Butter (For Canning)
Warm fall flavors are packed into this delicious spiced slow cooker pear butter. It’s super easy to make and safe for water bath canning. Prepare some to eat now, and put some by to enjoy anytime throughout the year!
Homemade Pear Preserves
These homemade pear preserves are a chunky jam that can be served in a variety of ways. It tastes amazing at breakfast or brunch on waffles, toast or pancakes. Serve it over yogurt or ice cream for a sweet treat, or alongside cheese on a savory charcuterie board.
Cardamom Pear Jam
Cardamom and brown sugar contain the essence of fall flavor. Blend them into this small batch pear jam for a taste that can’t be beat. You’ll want to spread it on everything from baked breakfast items to sweet frozen desserts. Plus, this recipe doesn’t require any added pectin.
Poached Pear Jam
Red wine and pears are a classic pair. This poached pear jam totally captures the full bodied flavor of deep red wine and seasonal autumn pears. You won’t need any pectin to make this deliciously simple jam recipe, and it makes a great gift.
Vanilla Pear Preserves
Vanilla pear preserves will make you fall in love with breakfast again. The vanilla infused aroma of this easy to make jam will keep you coming back for seconds. It’s fabulous on toast, mixed into oatmeal, or as a topping for yogurt.
Instant Pot Pear Butter
If you’re short on time, you’ll love this instant pot pear butter. Its the perfect way to use all those overripe, fresh pears this fall. Its full of warm spices, only takes 15 minutes to cook, and uses whole pears (no need to peel them!).
Crisps and cobblers
Pear Crumble
This old fashioned Pear Crumble is made with five large pears (overripe pears work great!) and then topped with a cinnamon streusel topping. It’s delicious with a little cream poured on top!
Pear Crisp With Blood Orange Sauce
This small batch pear crisp for two will fill your kitchen with the fragrance of fall. The crisp is warm, bubbly, and highlights the often overlooked pear! It has has a crunchy oat topping that begs for a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of tart blood orange sauce for maximum indulgence.
Simple Pear Cobbler
Looking for an easy fall dessert? This simple pear cobbler with its cake-like crust is as easy as it gets. It’s a rustic and cozy dessert loaded with fresh pears, cinnamon, and sugar. Serve it plain or top with ice cream or whipped cream!
Fresh Pear & Walnut Crisp
Delicious is the only way to describe this fresh pear & walnut crisp! The filling is made of tender fresh pears, and it is topped with a crunchy sweet streusel made from oats, brown sugar, and walnuts. Enjoy it warm or chilled according to preference.
Pear Crumble with Chocolate
In my opinion, you can never have too much chocolate. This delectable crumble recipe combines fresh pears with Nutella for a unique and rich filling. It’s then covered with a crunchy, buttery topping of oats, hazelnuts, and almonds. I recommend serving it warm with a big scoop of ice cream!
Blackberry Pear Cobbler
There’s nothing like a fresh cobbler in the fall. This blackberry pear cobbler starts with a filling made from juicy pears and plump blackberries tossed in brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. The biscuit topping is uber-fluffy and easy to make. Serve with a dollop or two of vanilla ice cream for a dessert you won’t soon forget!
Blueberry and Pear Crumble
Blueberries and pears taste fantastic together. This very customizable blueberry and pear crumble recipe allows you to use fresh or frozen blueberries and fresh or canned pears. It is the perfect blend of soft, sweet fruit covered with crumbly, buttery topping. It is wonderful for breakfast or dessert!
The Best Pear Crisp with Oats
This is hands down the BEST pear crisp. It’s moist and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside! It has a buttery oat and pecan topping baked over freshly spiced pears. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to the crumble to create the ultimate comfort food!
Sauces
Easy Pear Sauce
Lemon, honey, and cardamom highlight the naturally sweet flavor of pears in this easy pear sauce recipe. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, and you can freeze it for later use! Don’t let the fall pass you by without trying this recipe.
Cranberry Pear Sauce
The holidays are just around the corner. Try something new this year with this cranberry pear sauce. You can make it with either fresh or frozen berries, pears, juice, and Grand Marnier. It’s a delicious side for any holiday gathering and tastes great with leftovers.
Pear Chutney
Chutney is a savory condiment that can be paired with cheese, meat, fruit, and crackers. This pear chutney has a spicy kick that balances the fruity sweetness of the pears. Take your snacking to the next level with this flavorful spread!
Slow Cooker Spiced Pear Sauce
‘Tis the season for slow cooker recipes, warm autumn spices, and fresh produce. This spiced pear sauce is made from pears, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and honey. You’ll love how your home fills with the amazing aromas of this easy to make pear sauce while it slowly cooks on your counter!
Instant Pot Pear Applesauce
Get ready for a fast and easy autumn treat! This instant pot pear applesauce comes together in a flash. It is made with pears, apples, and a mix of fall spices for a uniquely sweet and soft sauce you can snack on any time of the day. If you love homemade fruit sauces, this recipe is for you!
Pear Compote
This spiced pear compote is made with sweet pears and warm spices. It is destined to become your favorite topping for waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, desserts, puff pastry, yogurt, crepes, savory dishes and more! It’s very easy to make and doesn’t have any processed sugar. Now that’s what I call a win!
Drinks
Pear Ginger Smoothie
Shake up your smoothie routine with something fresh and different. You’ll fall in love with this pear ginger smoothie because it is creamy, high in protein, and full of the flavors of juicy Bosc pears, Greek yogurt, and fresh ginger!
Pear Ginger Beer Mocktail
This pear ginger beer mocktail is a sophisticated non-alcoholic drink that blends fruity pear nectar and spicy ginger beer. The sweet and tangy notes are refreshingly flavorful. It’s the perfect non-alcoholic beverage for a fancy date night or party with friends!
Almond Pear Green Smoothie
Energize your morning with this almond pear green smoothie. It’s a simple recipe that will fuel your mind and body with whole, good-for-you ingredients. You’ll feel great starting your day with the sweet and juicy pear flavors in this green smoothie recipe. Drink up!
Honey Pear Margarita
Fun and fruity! This pear honey margarita recipe is everything a margarita should be. It’s easy to make and doesn’t need a mix. Add a little splash of fun to your next holiday party or intimate gathering with this sweet, pear infused beverage!
More things to do with overripe pears
Homemade Pear Ice Cream
Making homemade ice cream was never so easy! This pear ice cream recipe is the perfect starter recipe for beginners because you won’t need any special equipment! It’s fun to make with kids, tastes great on its own, and makes the perfect topping for pear crisp or pear pie!
Salted Caramel Apple Pear Pie
Have you ever tried an apple pear pie? This gorgeous salted caramel apple pear pie features thick, rich, homemade caramel sauce. The pie filling is supremely flavorful because of the caramel sauce and the variety of apple and pear slices. Everything is baked under a buttery, flaky crust that begs to be topped with ice cream.
Stewed Pears
Stewed pears cook on your stovetop and are an easy recipe to turn fresh pears into an even sweeter treat. The pears are simmered in a cinnamon sugar sauce that creates a glaze for the pears and enhances the natural floral scent of the fruit. It can be eaten plain or as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, or crepes!
Pear and Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
Get ready to rise and shine with a smile on your face when this healthy baked oatmeal recipe is served. It’s made with browned butter, pears, and dark chocolate. It’s my favorite fall breakfast to use up pears that are a little past their prime. Added bonus — my kids think they are getting dessert instead of breakfast!
Baked Pears
These baked pears make a simple, elegant dish. The pears are tossed in maple syrup, cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne for just a little bit of a kick to balance out the sweetness. Pair the baked pears with toasted walnuts for added texture, flavor, and crunch!
Pear Simple Syrup
This pear simple syrup is sweet, fruity and floral. It is the perfect mix-in for cocktail drink creations, flavored sodas, or herbal teas. In under 20 minutes, you’ll take your drink making skills to the next level with only three simple ingredients. The syrup also makes a lovely fall gift.
Chai Oatmeal with Spiced Sautéed Pears
Cozy fall breakfast coming right up! You’ll love the sweet, spicy flavors of chai oatmeal with sautéed pears. After cooking rolled oats in chai infused almond milk, top with cinnamon and cardamom spiced pears (so sweet and syrupy), and sprinkle with toasted walnuts for crunch!
More fall baking recipes
Looking for more fall baking inspiration? Here are a few more of my favorite cozy recipes for your next gathering.
What a fantastic collection of recipes. Now I know where to come next time I have pears past their prime. Thank you also for including my pear and blueberry crumble.
My pleasure! Thanks for the lovely contribution!