This is the easiest pear appetizer, featuring blue cheese and candied walnuts. It requires only three ingredients and can be whipped up in less than five minutes!
It’s the best fall appetizer recipe for a crowd.
Sweet, savory, crisp and crunchy – it’s the perfect start to your holiday meal!
With the holiday season coming up, I am always looking for easy appetizer recipes for my friends and family can munch on while they anticipate the holiday meal. And I love a quick appetizer that is easy for guests to eat. A finger food at its best.
I love bringing you fast and easy appetizers that are perfectly portioned for guests. Try my spinach artichoke cups or this Handheld Endive Salad for a delicious and pretty appetizer guests will love.
That’s why I decided on pears, blue cheese and candied walnuts. These three simple ingredients make this pear appetizer sweet, salty, crunchy and sweet.
As much as we love dips, there is a lot to be said for handheld individual appetizers, too. Don’t skip my guide to the BEST Easy Hors D’oeuvres.
Pear Appetizer
This easy pear appetizer takes just five minutes to make and no clean-up necessary! Light, crisp and refreshing, it will keep your friends and family going back for more. It’s an elegant bite-sized snack and the perfect start to your holiday meal!
Why You’ll Love It
I love pears, especially when they’re in season in fall and winter. If you love them too, be sure to check out this incredible Pear Cider recipe!
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Pears – I choose to make this appetizer recipe with Comice pears, which just so happens to be the sweetest pear variety! Bosc or Red Anjou would work beautifully, too.
- Blue Cheese – Purchase a whole block from the cheese counter in your grocery store or local market. The softer and fresher the cheese, the easier it is to stick to the pear slice. My favorites are Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton. Soften to room temperature before assembly.
- Candied Walnuts – I love to make homemade candied nuts, especially during the fall and winter season, but feel free to purchase a store-bought brand for convenience. Of course, to keep this recipe lower carb, you can always use regular walnuts, too.
Tools to Use
- Mandoline (you can also chop by hand)
- Cutting Board
- Bamboo Toothpicks
How To Make
- Thinly slice pears on a mandoline or with a knife.
- Place the pear slices on the serving platter, top with a soft, fresh blue cheese and a candied walnut.
Tips
I found the best way to get the most even pear slices is with a mandolin.- First, set the mandolin to a medium thickness.
- Then, cut the pear into four and remove the core.
- Slice each quarter on your mandolin, using the hand guard for safety! Each quarter should give you six even slices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brie, creamy mascarpone, and blue cheese all pear beautifully with pears. Switch the cheese in this pear appetizer recipe to create an entirely new flavor profile!
Coat them in something acidic to prevent browning. You can try lemon juice, or even orange or pineapple juice!
How to Store
- Room Temperature – These walnut and pear appetizers can sit out for up to two hours while serving. However, keep in mind that the pear slices will brown with oxidation so they won’t be as beautiful!
- Refrigerator – Sliced pears don’t store well in your refrigerator unless you treat them with something to prevent browning.
More Fall Appetizers
Pear Appetizer with Blue Cheese and Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1 pear (sliced thin on a mandolin)
- 2 ounces blue cheese
- 24 candied walnuts
Instructions
- Place the pear slices on serving platter.
- Top each slice with a small dollop of blue cheese and candied walnut.
Julie’s Tips
- First, set the mandolin to a medium thickness.
- Then, cut the pear into four and remove the core.
- Slice each quarter on your mandolin, using the hand guard for safety! Each quarter should give you six even slices.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Delish and simply elegant. I made my balsamic candied pecans, used violife non-dairy blue cheeze crumbles, a tiny piece of caramelized onion on each, and drizzled balsamic glaze on the serving platter for plating. Hit of the party!! Thanks for the inspiration!
It’s such a simple and fun app!
This looks amazing! I love all of these ingredients. I am going to make it for Christmas. Will the pears brown once cut? Just curious if they are like apples once you cut them? Thank you in advance!
I recommend tossing them in lemon, lime or orange juice. Enjoy!
Is there any issue with the pears browning once they are cut? Should these only be prepped immediately before serving?
These are so good and so simple! Canโt wait to make them again!
Thank you! I love easy recipes that taste amazing…that way my friends think I’m Martha!