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A pear nut pile is the five-minute dessert that looks far fancier than the effort: warm pear slices layered with cinnamon-spiced nuts and a drizzle of maple syrup. The butter-based nut mixture melts over the fruit while it is still on the plate, so every bite gets both crunch and warmth. It is the elegant answer to a weeknight sweet tooth.
Pro Tips
- Only warm the pear slices in the oven — never cook them through. You want the fruit to keep its shape between the nut layers.
- Bosc pears hold their structure best when warmed, while D'Anjou and Bartlett give a softer, juicier layer. Pick based on the texture you prefer.
- Toast the chopped nuts in the butter for the full 1-2 minutes until fragrant; raw nuts would taste flat against the warm fruit.
- Assemble and serve immediately while the butter-nut mixture is still pourable. It seizes up as it cools and loses the sauce-like drizzle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nuts work best in a pear nut pile?
Macadamia nuts, almonds, and pepitas are the favorite mix in this recipe, but chopped walnuts or pecans are equally good with the cinnamon and maple.
Can I make this dessert dairy-free?
Yes — use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute in place of the grass-fed butter. The flavor will be slightly different but still rich.
Is maple syrup paleo-friendly?
In moderation, pure Grade B maple syrup is widely accepted in paleo cooking as an unrefined sweetener. A light drizzle is all this dessert needs.
Can I prep this ahead for a dinner party?
Slice the pears and chop the nuts ahead, then warm and assemble just before serving. The full dish takes about five minutes at that point.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- drizzle of pure maple syrup, Grade B Rinse, dry and slice pear. You can choose your favorite variety of pear, Bosc is my favorite but you may regularly find D'Anjou or Bartlett available.
- Warm pear slices on a parchment paper lined 15x10 rimmed baking sheet in the oven. You don't want to cook the pear, just warm the slices up prior to serving, so keep an eye on them. Choose your preferred nuts. I enjoy using macadamia nuts, almonds and pepitas. Melt butter in a small pot over medium-low heat.
- Stir in cinnamon, lemon juice, vanilla and chopped nuts.
- Cook 1-2 minutes or until mixture is warm.
- Transfer a slice of pear to the serving dish, layer with nut mixture then another slice of pear then nut mixture and a third layer of the pear & nuts.
- Repeat for the second serving.
- Top the Pear Nut Pile with a drizzle of pure maple syrup and serve immediately, while warm.
- Enjoy!
