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Home » Recipes » Appetizers and Snack Recipes

Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites

Published: Oct 10, 2017 · Modified: Nov 11, 2020 by Colleen 29 Comments

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Pears and Gorgonzola are classic flavour pairings. These Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites are not your classic way to use them, however. Often they are baked together in a flatbread. Or tossed in a salad. These incredibly tasty little morsels are a different way to enjoy that delicious and classic combination.

Mini muffin pan of pear gorgonzola appetizer bites with two pears and a sprig of rosemary

Why Your Pears are Hard When You Buy Them

I was given a huge bag of pears, and it's been a challenge figuring out what to do with them. Did you know that pears are one of the few fruits that get harvested unripe? If left on the tree to ripen, they ripen from the inside first, so by the time the outside is soft, the pear is overripe. That's why they are always hard when you buy them in the store, and it's a good idea to plan ahead when you need pears for a recipe.

Wooden plate of pear & gorgonzola mini muffins beside two pears and sprigs of rosemary

Here's a Secret to Speed Up Ripening Your Pears

My pears are still unripe a week after harvest. So to speed it up a bit, I put some in a brown paper bag. Then popped a ripe apple in there with them. Another, "did you know": apples release a ripening hormone, called ethylene, which helps to ripen other fruits around them. Nature is amazing. Viola, two days later I had pears that were the exact ripeness. I wanted them sweet, but still fairly firm for baking. For eating fresh, I would have left them in the bag for another day.

A plate of mini muffins on a table

Nutritious Pears

Pears, like all raw fruits, are a great addition to any healthy diet. They're high in fiber and packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Check out the health benefits of pears on Pears: Health Benefits and Nutritional Information

Mini muffins in a pan on a rack, with a pear

These Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites

I was making these Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites for a gathering this Thanksgiving weekend. I was unsure of how they would turn out, so I did them a couple of days ahead of time. They turned out much better than I expected. Along with toasted walnuts, fresh rosemary, and black pepper, these little pear and Gorgonzola bites are a treat for the taste buds. In fact, we just couldn't stop eating them. So I had to make another batch.

Mini muffins cooling on a wire rack on a counter

I baked these in mini muffin tins. They are crisp and golden on the outside with a tender interior. Adding a few grinds of black pepper balanced the saltiness of the cheese. The only sweetness comes from the pears, which keep their flavour even after baking. They are delicious warm from the oven, but just as good cold. And a perfect fall-inspired appetizer. Serve them alongside fresh grapes and a selection of more cheeses.

If like me, you still have a lot of pears after making these, you can try making some delicious Pear Jelly.

Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites

 

Recipe

A bowl of mini muffins

Pear Gorgonzola Bites

Delicious Pear Gorgonzola Bites with Walnuts and Rosemary are savoury mini muffins that make perfect appetizers. Your guests will gobble these up.
5 from 16 votes
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 48
Calories: 50kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup toasted walnuts chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cup 2% milk or non-dairy milk, such as rice or almond milk
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 3 medium pears peeled cored and chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Unless using non-stick, lightly coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray
  • In a large bowl, combine flour, cheese, baking powder, walnuts, rosemary, pepper, & salt
  • In another bowl combine milk, butter, egg, lemon juice, and pears
  • Add the milk/egg mixture to the dry ingredients, combining quickly with a few swift strokes so as not to overmix.
  • Use a tablespoon or a melon baller to fill muffin cups with batter
  • Bake in center of oven 15-20 minutes until golden
  • Cool slightly on a rack and serve warm, or allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge until serving

Notes

To reheat, wrap these in foil and put in a 200° oven until warmed through. Pear Gorgonzola Bites can be frozen in a sealed, airtight plastic bag or container for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 62mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites

 

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  1. Amanda

    November 09, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    Just made these to test for a Thanksgiving appetizer and they are AWESOME!! I will probably do more Gorgonzola next time but that’s just my preference. Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      November 10, 2022 at 8:28 am

      Hi Amanda. I'm so happy to hear this! These appetizers are always a hit. Thanks so much for commenting!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca Turner

    September 28, 2021 at 9:45 am

    hello,
    I was wondering if I wanted to make these gluten free would I just switch out the flour for 1:1 ratio for GF flour?

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 28, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      Hi Rebecca, thanks for this question. Yes, just switch out the flour for a 1:1 GF flour. Just one note, check if your flour blend contains xanthan gum. If it doesn't, you may want to add 1/2 teaspoon into the dry ingredients. If it does, you are good to go. Thanks again, I will add this to the recipe notes. Enjoy! These are delicious.

      Reply
  3. Brenda

    November 11, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Just a minor issue - I cannot find any mention of the addition of the walnuts in the actual recipe. I did a word search to confirm I had not lost my mind. It's just not there.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      November 11, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Hi Brenda, Thanks so much for pointing out this error. I appreciate it and have corrected it. (Walnuts are combined with the dry ingredients). These are delicious, enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Ashima

    September 26, 2018 at 11:54 pm

    These are such perfect party pick-me-ups... I am saving these for the Finger-food-friday event we are going to have soon. I am thinking making assorted fruit flavours... Do you think apples and maybe pumpkin (its the season) would go well with the cheese pairing?

    Reply
  5. Brian Jones

    September 26, 2018 at 11:21 pm

    They look so very good, I love the idea of pairing pears (see what I did there) and blue cheese like this, such a great little nibble!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 27, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      Haha, very good Brian! It really is a good pearing 🙂 and a delicious little nibble.

      Reply
  6. Valentina

    September 26, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    oh yum. these sound so delicious. I didn't know that about pears always being picked unripe. interesting!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 27, 2018 at 5:53 am

      Valentina, these really are so delicious!

      Reply
    • Colleen

      September 27, 2018 at 6:14 pm

      Hi Valentina! It's helpful to know that when the pears are so hard when you buy them!

      Reply
  7. Danielle

    September 26, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    Oh yum..My favorite flavors - Pear and cheese.
    Such a great combo and they look like a great size to snack on

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 26, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      Hi Danielle! These are so tasty and we actually snacked on them too much because they were meant for party appetizers, 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jillian

    September 26, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    These look delicious & thank you for the ripening tip - very helpful!

    Reply
  9. Agness of Run Agness Run

    October 19, 2017 at 2:37 am

    These bits are a perfect combination of ingredients, Colleen! Your pictures and recipe are making my mouth watery right now. 😉

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 20, 2017 at 5:42 pm

      Thanks Agness! These are mouth watering, for sure. ?

      Reply
  10. Dina

    October 14, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Hey Colleen, came to check what you have been up to. Always inspiring to visit your blog. This recipe is a must try, love pear and Gorgonzola and it is so seasonal now. Also love your blog format, very nice.
    We are leaving for the winter soon. How did we miss getting together? Next summer for sure.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 14, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      Thanks for those kind words, Dina! So nice to have you pop in. Summer really seemed to fly by, didn't it? Enjoy your winter; I'll keep up with you through your blog! Yes, next summer for sure.

      Reply
  11. Jenny | The Baking Skillet

    October 13, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Thanks for the pear tip! Didn't know that. These bites are so great for fall and winter entertaining.. Love the pear and cheese combo!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 13, 2017 at 2:11 pm

      You're very welcome Jenny! I'll be making these again for sure 🙂

      Reply
  12. Suki Hari

    October 13, 2017 at 10:39 am

    Wow good combo on the recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 13, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Thanks Suki, they are really delicious!

      Reply
  13. Diane

    October 13, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Hi Colleen, great reminder about the benefits of pears. I love blue cheese - sometimes going for the slightly milder Cambozola - and then there's Quebec's Bleu d'Elizabeth. Pressing print in a minute and hoping to make these in the weeks ahead. Thx for your creativity! Diane @kitchenblissca / FBC

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 13, 2017 at 10:37 am

      Thanks Diane! Not everyone appreciates blue cheese, but I love it, too.

      Reply
  14. Elaine

    October 13, 2017 at 7:56 am

    Pairing pears with a sharp cheese is one of my favourite flavour combinations! These will be ideal party food! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 13, 2017 at 8:09 am

      Thanks Elaine, these are seriously good!

      Reply
  15. Bethany

    October 11, 2017 at 9:31 am

    I love little foods like these! They look yummy!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 11, 2017 at 10:07 am

      Hi Bethany! Thank you, they are definitely delicious 🙂

      Reply

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