Asian Spiced Roasted Pears are warm, cozy, and sweetened with the aromatics of Chinese five spice powder, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla. This easy six ingredient Chinese dessert is baked to perfection and topped with a little coconut whipped cream or ice cream. It’s the ultimate lightly sweet treat at the end of a Chinese New Year feast or gathering.
This Asian pear recipe was originally published in 2013. We updated the photos, added step by steps and a video in January 2025.
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Recipe Perks
- While these Asian spiced pears bake in your oven, your whole house smells like a gorgeous bouquet of sweet goodness.
- Roasting the pears in half, allows some of the natural sweet juices and spiced honey mixture to pool in the hollow created by removing the core. The 5 spiced sauce is pure liquid gold – not to be missed!
- Can be made in advance for easy entertaining. Enjoy the spiced pears hot out of the oven or at room temperature. We do not suggest serving this pear dessert chilled because cold foods are not good for your spleen qi.
- Bakes in the oven to offer more room on the stovetop for stir frying or steaming.
- Guilt-free fruit dessert! Lightly sweet, gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free.
- Perfect fall dessert. Delicious served on top of coconut rice pudding with condensed milk.
Ingredients
Pears – The beauty of this recipe is you can use any type of pear you desire. We used a red Anjou pear but also delicious with bosc, Bartlett, Asian pear and more. However, the ripeness and time to cook will differ depending on the type of pear used.
Lemon – prevents oxidation (browning of the pears) and gives the Asian spiced roasted pears a nice balance in both sweet and tart flavor.
Chinese Five Spice Powder – is a classic spice mixture including star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and Sichuan pepper. You are probably wondering, what does 5 spice powder taste like? The spice is warming with notes of licorice and a little tongue numbing sensation from the Sichuan pepper at the end. It’s a must have ingredient for any Chinese kitchen so you can make recipes like General Tso’s chicken wings and Tofu Vegetable Pancakes.
Cinnamon – extra cinnamon is always a good thing. Have you ever noticed that if something is sprinkled with cinnamon- your brain thinks you are eating something sweet. The bonus is that you do not need to add extra sugar or sweeteners to achieve the sweet flavor. In addition, cinnamon has antibacterial properties, according to a study in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. It’s delicious way to ward of the cold and flu season.
Butter – or coconut oil to keep it dairy free and vegan. It adds a little flavor and prevents the spiced pears from sticking to the pan while baking.
Vanilla extract – balances out the rich warm flavors of Asian spiced pears.
How to Roast Pears?
- Pre-heat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Grease 9 x 13 baking pan
- Add butter or coconut oil, cinnamon, 5 spice powder and honey in a bowl. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds or until the butter is melted and the honey is runny. Add vanilla and stir well.
- Prepare pears by slicing in half and removing the core.
- Drizzle pears with lemon juice to prevent oxidation.
- Place pears in baking pan and drizzle with five spiced butter honey mixture.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until fork tender.
Recipe Tips
- Choose pears that are still firm but have a slight give when pressed. If they are over-ripe, they will fall apart in the oven. On the other hand, if they are not ripe enough, they will not be sweet.
- Keep the stem on as it makes for a super cute presentation.
- Save Time: Keep the skin on to provide structure for the pears while they bake.
- Drizzle on the lemon juice as soon as you cut and core the pears to prevent oxidation.
- If you don’t have an oven, try our stove top Chinese pear dessert soup for a quick and easy guilt-free dessert.
Whole Star Anise and Cinnamon Twills
If you have a fully stocked Asian Pantry, you may wish to use whole star anise ("Bat gok" in Cantonese and “Ba jiao" in Mandarin) and cinnamon twills instead of Chinese 5 spice powder for this pear dessert recipe.
- In a small saucepan, add the butter, 5-star anise and 3 cinnamon twills and steep for approximately 10 minutes over low heat.
- Add the honey.
- Once the spices start to bloom, turn off the heat add the vanilla.
- Remove the whole star anise and cinnamon twill spices.
- Now you spiced honey “brown butter” to pour over the prepped pears before baking. Yum!
If you purchase delicious star anise, be sure to try our star anise braised bamboo shoots and braised orange anise lotus root recipes.
How to Core a Pear without a Melon Baller?
Did you know that you can use an ice cream scooper to core a perfectly ripe pear? Hey, either did we! In the middle of creating our Asian spiced roasted pear video, we realized we did not have a melon baller. Ayahh!
We scoured the kitchen looking for something firm to core the pears with easily. Some other ideas include using a metal teaspoon/tablespoon, regular spoon, or knife. Now you can add ice cream scooper to the list of everyday items to core the pears if you do not have a melon baller. So, there you have it!
Vegan Options
To keep this baked Asian pear recipe vegan, use coconut oil or vegan butter instead butter. Swap the honey with maple syrup or your favorite sweetener.
Storage and Reheating
Asian spiced roasted pears can be kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Oven Method: 350°F (176°C) for about 10 minutes or until toasty warm.
Microwave Method: On high heat, microwave at 30-second intervals until toasty warm.
More Asian Desserts
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Asian Spiced Roasted Pears
Equipment
- 9 x 13 baking pan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil
- 1.5 teaspoons five spice powder dried ground (Chinese 5 spice)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon dried ground
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup to keep vegan
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or juice of 1 whole lemon
- 4 whole pears We used red Anjou but also delicious with bosc, Bartlett, Asian pear and more. Choose pears that are medium ripe that just start to give when pressed.
- Homemade Coconut Whipping Cream - optional garnish
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan with butter or coconut oil.
Five Spice, Cinnamon and Honey Sauce
- In a microwave safe dish, add butter or coconut oil, cinnamon, five spice powder and honey in a bowl. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds or until the butter is melted and the honey is runny. Then, add vanilla and stir well.
Prepare Pears
- Wash pears and dry. Cut in half but leave on the stem for a cute presentation. Core the pears and scoop out seeds.
- Immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the pears to prevent browning (oxidizing).
- Place pears in baking pan and drizzle with mixed Chinese five spice, cinnamon and honey sauce.
- Bake Asian spiced pears in the oven uncovered for about 30 - 40 minutes or until fork tender and are slightly caramelized.
- Serve the pear dessert with a dollop of whipped coconut whipping cream, ice cream or even yogurt with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy warm from the oven or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Choose pears that are still firm but have a slight give when pressed. If they are over-ripe, they will fall apart in the oven. On the other hand, if they are not ripe enough, they will not be sweet.
- Keep the stem on as it makes for a super cute presentation.
- Save Time: Keep the skin on to provide structure for the pears while they bake.
- Drizzle on the lemon juice as soon as you cut and core the pears to prevent oxidation.
- Top with a little Homemade Coconut Whipped Topping for the ultimate treat.
rsmacaalay says
What a coincidence, I made some pear dessert as well and it was pear tarte tatin. Colleague brought a lot at the office the other day
Healthy World Cuisine says
I just love pear tarte tatin and can't wait to head over to your site to get a glimpse of your recipe. I bet the people that you work in the office love all the great food you share with them. I am sure that all new hires are told about the "Ray's Awesome Food employee incentive"! Take care, BAM
yummychunklet says
What a delicious way to prepare pears! Yum!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. It is so easy and so little fuss which makes this a great dessert alternative when hosting guests or for just any day.
john@kitchenriffs says
Great pictures, great recipe, and great looking new site! Really a lovely recipe. BTW, I didn't get an email notification about this post (I follow you through email, and just happened to click on your URL today to see if anything was going on - as it is). Should I resubscribe, or is the email bit one of the things you're still working on? Anyway, good stuff - thanks.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello John, I am so glad you came over for a visit and thank you for your lovely comment! There has been a slight snafu on migrating old e-mails followers over to the new site. Can you please sign back up by e-mail? I will try to keep working on this issue with wordpress to see if they can move people over, but I do not know if it will be successful or not. Take Care, BAM
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
Great lookin' recipe. I love these warm spices in here.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Anne, thanks for your lovely comment. I just made these Asian Pears for the second time when I was a hosting a Chinese Family for Chinese New Year. There is always room for dessert as they gobbled up the whole plate of Asian spiced pears even after they consumed 5 different plates of Chinese dishes. I think these Asian pears are light and a perfect ending. I am on my way to your site just got back from Thailand and had no internet or even phone connectivity for several days. Take Care, BAM
Balvinder says
Desert indeed! I love your new site! Brilliant! Great photographs and the layout is so clean and neat.
Spiced pears sound delicious with all those asian spices.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank so much. I am very happy to hear the positive feedback. I was looking for a way to make it easier to find recipes and look for things by category and also by product. I also really do love the pears as it is a great little dessert without all the guilt. Wishing you a super week and I will be stopping by shortly as I have been in a place without internet or phone. Take Care, BAM
GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) says
Oh this looks like such a delicious and healthy dessert. I love the comment that it feeds four adults or one teenager. I can reall relate to that 🙂 I will be pinning this recipe 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Teenagers are amazing! I think they may have at least one hallow leg. Where do they put all of that food? Take care and thanks for stopping by. BAM
Tandy says
Love, love, love the new site. As I use star anise so often I have to try this. I think dessert is the way to start every meal 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you much Tandy! The new site was a bit of work and still have things I need to do but it is a "process", right? Star Anise is a beautiful spice and I love the slight numbing sensation it gives. Guess what next week I am visiting a friend who is going to introduce me to cooking some traditional South African dishes. How fun is that? Take care and I am on my way to visit you soon as I just returned from Thailand and had no internet or even phone.... Take Care, BAM
Natalie says
They look perfect, I would totally order this at a restaurant!
Healthy World Cuisine says
How sweet of you to say. Thanks! You can make this for about 1/4 of the cost of what it would be in some fancy restaurant and it is so easy to make. I will be over to your site soon. Take Care, BAM
Alex says
They are absolutely gorgeous. I think the most similar we have is poached pears in Port Wine, but these spices AND the whipping cream on top... White flag! White flag! I surrender. 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Alex for your kind comment. I was actually just brainstorming in the park n shop the other day as I was a hosting a traditional Chinese New celebration and wanted something very easy and simple to make. I also wanted something that would tie into my other 5 savory Chinese dishes and be a light ending for our meal. I was happy as this dessert is super easy to make and the guests loved it as it was just slightly sweet. I also love pears poached in port wine and looking forward to visiting your site today. Happy Cooking and take care. BAM
Korena says
Congrats on the new site BAM! It looks great, and so do these pears, yum!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Korena! I miss your baking and I am on my way to your site now to check out what I have been missing. Take care, BAM
Kathleen Richardson says
BAM, I like that the recipe is separate, printer-friendly and includes a small picture of the food being prepared. Seems so strange to see all this newness, but I continue to follow along with an open mind 'cause I just love what you have to say and cook!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Kathleen, Thanks so much for the repost on facebook and your kind words. I know all new things are difficult at first until you get to know them but give it some time. I think you will find out that there is a lot more great ways to find my recipes and things you are looking for on my site. If you get a minute, go to the top of my site and click on the "advanced search button" and put in something you want to cook with tonight and hit search. How fun is that! Have a super weekend and looking forward to catching up with you after my trip to Thailand. I am sure there will be lots of Thai inspired dishes coming your way. Take Care, BAM
Mich - Piece of Cake says
Your pears are simply drool worthy. I would love this as a healthier dessert.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. I love these Asian spiced pears as they are a light sweet ending to a meal without the guilt. Take care, BAM
neharmorarji says
Great new site! Congratulations!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much for coming over to take a look. It was a lot of work and still have many more things I want to update on the site so stay tuned. I am heading on over to your site very soon and can't wait to read about all the goodies I have been missing out on. I'm flying out to Thailand today and will have minimal internet connection but will be back in full force with some new great Thai inspired spring dishes upon my return. Have a super weekend and take care, BAM
Jo (http://blog-diggidy.com) says
MMMMmmmm...nom nom nom. I see your comments are working now! Yay!!! 😉
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for checking back Jo! I am on my way to visit your site now. Take care, BAM
Karista says
Beautiful Bam! And love the new site. Whoo hoo!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you so much Karista. It is a work in progress and thanks for your patience while I was making the conversion. Now I just want to head to your site as I need some sauce ideas and you are the sauce guru. I am on my way to Thailand to be inspired with some culinary ideas and recipes, now so will be catching up with you upon my return. Happy Cooking and have a super weekend. BAM