Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Lisa Keys
roasted pear dessert
The countdown to Christmas is on. How about a make ahead fool dessert to take the pressure off your holiday entertaining? My recipe for roasted pear fool crunch can be made a day in advance. Like my recipe for gingerbread chocolate bark it checks off all the boxes for a festive, easy and delicious dessert.
This amazing roasted pear dessert is my second entry in the USA Pears Blogger Recipe Challenge Baking/Desserts category.
What is a Fool Dessert
A fool is a traditional British dessert. It's typically a mix of sweetened whipped cream and mashed fruits like berries or peaches. It is light and luscious and easy to turn on its head for the holidays. Let's make this festive no-fuss dessert using the fruits of the Christmas season.
Get ready to dip your spoon into this creamy, crunchy, spicy and juicy dessert. The caramelized pears add a fresh intense sweetness that "pears perfectly" with the warm spices of the gingersnaps and slight bitterness of the orange marmalade. Here is some really good news. The addition of the mascarpone cheese helps to stabilize the cream, so the dessert can be made a day in advance. Just cover and store in the refrigerator. Garnish just before serving.
Pear Dessert
Ingredients
- 3 ripe USA pears
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
- ½ cup crumbled ginger snap cookies
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Heat oven 400F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray.
- Core, peel and dice 2 pears. Toss pears with butter and honey, spread over prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until pears are caramelized; cool.
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on low speed, combine heavy cream, mascarpone, powdered sugar and marmalade until blended. Increase mixer speed and beat to just stiff peaks. Fold in cooled pear mixture.
- Layer half the pear fool mixture over the bottom of 4 serving glasses.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons of the crumbled cookies for garnish. Sprinkle the remaining cookies evenly over the pear fool.
- Sprinkle with half the pomegranate seeds.
- Dollop remaining pear fool on top. Sprinkle evenly with remaining cookies and pomegranate seeds.
- Thinly slice the remaining pear. Garnish each serving with a fan of pear slices.
Nutrition
A sparkling citrus water, a light dessert wine or fruit spritzer will pair well with this pear dessert. A lemon or orange tea for those who prefer a warm drink on the side.
Absolutely. Plain or flavored Greek yogurt works well. Or, for a dairy-free option try coconut cream.
Make the recipe in 1 large clear glass bowl (like a trifle). Then, just spoon out portions into serving bowls.
James Matino
Sounds like a winning entry to me.
Lisa
Thanks! I hope you are correct. <3
Louis Matino
Looks Delish!
Lisa
It's a cooking and baking frenzy to get me thru the holidays! What fun TG was!
Carol Walsh
You have morfed into a professional "foodie", complete with beautiful photographs and recipes that are easy to follow and of course delicious! Do I see a cookbook in your future? Good luck with all your contests...each one is a winner! xoxo
Lisa
I've come a loooong way. Thanks for your sweet comments. It's this time of year I immerse myself in the recipes and thankful for a contest challenge. I do have an idea for a cookbook that honors my dad. I jot down notes and ideas in a bedside table notebook. Don't know if I will ever actually turn it into a cookbook.
Ian
I may have missed something. Do the caramelised pears go in as chunks or are they mashed and blended with the cream and cheese mix?
Lisa
Thanks for asking. Per the instructions the pears are cored, peeled and diced prior to roasting, so they are in little bite-size pieces. After they cool down they are folded into the cheese mixture before layering.