If you've ever had, and loved, old-fashioned fried apples, then you’re going to love fried pears! These are buttery, caramelized, and full of cinnamon flavor. They make a delicious side dish, breakfast topping, or even a simple dessert.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick & easy: Only a few simple ingredients cook for about 10 minutes.
- Cozy and nostalgic: Just like fried apples, but with a mellow pear flavor.
- Perfectly spiced: Cinnamon and butter caramelize together for that irresistible syrupy glaze.
- Versatile: Great for breakfast, dessert, or as a sweet side dish for dinner!
Ingredients (with Notes)
- Butter: Unsalted or salted: It adds richness and helps caramelize the pears.
- White sugar: Sweetens the pears and creates a beautiful, glossy syrup. (You can substitute brown sugar for a deeper flavor.)
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warm spice and that classic "fried fruit" taste.
- Vanilla extract: Stir this in after cooking to preserve its sweet, aromatic flavor.
- Pinch of salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the buttery flavor. If you use salted butter, give the pears a taste-test to see if you prefer more salt.
- Pears: Use ripe but firm pears (Bartlett or Anjou are great choices). Peel, core, and slice evenly so they cook consistently.
Instructions
- Prep the pears: Peel, core, and slice the pears. (I cut 4 sides off each pear, then sliced each side in half again for about 8 slices per pear.)
- Melt the butter: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until smooth and slightly bubbly.
- Add sugar and cinnamon: Stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture looks syrupy and fragrant.
- Add salt and pears: Stir in a pinch of salt, if using, then add the sliced pears. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pears are tender and caramelized to your liking.
- Finish with vanilla: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. (Adding it at the end keeps that lovely, rich vanilla aroma intact!)
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or microwave until heated through.
- Freeze: Not recommended, as pears can become mushy once thawed.
Serving Suggestions
These fried pears are so versatile! Try them:
- Over pancakes, waffles, or French toast for a cozy breakfast.
- With ice cream or whipped cream for a quick dessert.
- As a side dish with pork chops or roasted chicken - sweet and savory perfection.
- On top of oatmeal, yogurt, or cottage cheese for a warm and spiced breakfast twist.
Related Vintage Recipes
Recipe
Fried Pears
Fried pears are buttery, cinnamon-spiced fried pears that caramelize beautifully in minutes - just like fried apples, but with a cozy pear twist!
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon I used 2 tablespoons for a very dark, heavy cinnamon flavor in the photos
- pinch of salt
- 4 pears ripe but not mushy (peeled, cored, and sliced)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- Make sure pears are peeled, cored and sliced. To give you an idea of the size of the slices: I cut the 4 sides off of each pear, and then sliced each side in half again. Meaning, I cut 8 slices for each pear.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Once butter has melted, add in sugar and cinnamon, for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- Add in sliced pears and a pinch of salt if using, and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until pears have reached the desired tenderness.
- If desired, add in vanilla extract, and stir.
- Serve warm.
Notes
You can use salted or unsalted butter. If using salted, be cautious of adding the additional pinch of salt. Taste test after adding vanilla to see if you prefer the extra salt.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 762IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Jessica says
I thought fried apples were my favorite but now, fried pears are my favorite!