Air Fryer Pears
Air fryer pears are slightly sweet, perfectly spiced and so easy to make. Baked pears in the air fryer are a healthy, simple dessert that you will find yourself making again and again all week long!
Serve air fried pears as dessert (with ice cream or whipped cream) or as part of breakfast with some Greek style yogurt and homemade granola.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make – this recipe for caramelized cinnamon pears in the air fryer is so simple. It’s a great recipe for beginner chefs and perfect for those days when you don’t feel like turning on the oven.
- Simple ingredients – you likely have all the ingredients you need to make these air fryer pears in your pantry or fridge right now. Be sure to check out the substitutions below if you are missing an ingredient.
- Versatile – make these air fried pears for breakfast, a healthy snack or dessert. You will have no problem finding lots of ways to enjoy these pears. They have a sweet, spiced exterior and are juicy in the center.
Ingredients
- Pears – use whatever pears you have on hand. Be sure they are ripe, but not overly ripe. They should be firm to the touch but not rock hard.
- Coconut sugar – coconut sugar is made from the coconut palm tree and is considered a natural sweetener. It’s similar in flavor to light brown sugar. You can use maple sugar or light brown sugar in place of coconut sugar if needed.
- Cinnamon – cinnamon adds a warm, deeply flavorful addition to the pears and pairs perfectly with the coconut sugar. The cinnamon is not overpowering to the pears but compliments them very well.
How to make air fryer pears
Start by cutting the pears in half then use a spoon or melon baller to spoon out the seeds in the center.
Lay the pears skin side down in the air fryer basket.
In a small bowl, combine the coconut sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over the pears in the air fryer basket.
Bake the pears in the air fryer basket at 360F for 10 minutes.
What if you want to add an oat crumble topping
In a small bowl combine 3 tablespoons oats, 1 tablespoon maple syrup and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Combine these ingredients in a bowl and spoon them over the pears after sprinkling the pears with coconut sugar and cinnamon.
Bake at 350F for 9 minutes to help prevent the oat topping from burning.
Top tips
- If you choose to peel the pears, be sure to put parchment paper in the air fryer for easier clean up.
- Use a spoon or melon baller to remove the seeds from the center after cutting the pears in half.
- Liberally coat the pears with the coconut sugar and cinnamon mixture to ensure you end up with sweet, sticky pears with every bite.
- If you want to add a crumble topping, cook the pears for slightly less time or the crumble will burn.
Topping ideas
- Whipped cream
- Ice cream
- Granola
- Maple cashew frosting
- Chopped nuts – pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
- Greek yogurt + maple syrup
Common questions
What kind of pears to use?
I used Bartlett Pears – they are typically green but start to turn yellow when they get ripe. You can also use Anjou pears, that are green or red and do not change color as they ripen.
Bartlett pears often ripen earlier in the year (late summer, early fall) and the Anjou pears ripen slightly later. So, depending on what time of year it is will likely change what pear you use.
Bosc pears have brown skin and are slightly thinner than the bartlett pears and they are also great for baking.
How to know if pears are ripe?
When deciding if your pears are ripe for baking, you want to choose a pear that is still firm but has a little give (not too hard). If the pears have gotten too soft, they will fall apart when baking. If they are too hard, they will not soften when baking.
If you find that your pears are overly ripe, you can make pear butter (just like apple butter) with them instead.
How to cut pears
To cut pears for baking in the air fryer, cut them in half lengthwise (from right down the stem to the bottom).
Once cut in half, use a spoon or melon baller to spoon out the seeds. You can leave the stem attached (for presentation) or remove it at this point.
Do you have to peel pears before cooking?
You don’t have to peel the pears before baking them in the air fryer.
However, if you don’t love the skin on pears, you can peel them. I would recommend that you use parchment paper to line the air fryer basket if you peel the pears for easier clean up.
Can you make baked pears in the oven?
Yes, to make baked pears in the oven, put the pears in a casserole dish or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in 350F oven for 30 minutes.
Storing leftovers
Fridge: If you have leftover air fried pears, you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave (1 minute) , toaster oven (5-6 minutes) or air fryer (350F for 2-3 minutes) until warmed through.
Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing any leftover cooked pears, as they will fall apart when defrosting.
Substitutions
Pears: you can also make a very similar dish with apples instead. Check out this air fryer baked apples recipe if you don’t have pears on hand.
Coconut sugar: You can also use light brown sugar or maple sugar in place of the coconut sugar.
Cinnamon: If you don’t have cinnamon on hand, you can use pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice. Or use ground nutmeg (only use half the stated amounts of cinnamon for nutmeg as it can be stronger in flavor than cinnamon).
If you love healthy desserts, you should try
Peanut Butter Cookies in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Pears
Ingredients
- 2 medium pears
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut the pears in half lengthwise then use a spoon to spoon out the seeds.2 medium pears
- In a bowl combine the cinnamon and coconut sugar.2 tsp coconut sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Add pears to air fryer basket (skin side down). Sprinkle pears with cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake in air fryer at 360F for 10 minutes.
Equipment
Notes
- In a small bowl combine 3 tablespoons oats, 1 tablespoon maple syrup and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Combine these ingredients in a bowl and spoon them over the pears after sprinkling the pears with coconut sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake at 350F for 9 minutes to help prevent the oat topping from burning.
