Pear Squares
Pear Squares are so very delectable. These lovely cake-type bars are made with pears and cinnamon on a nutty crust. They’re actually very moist and better the second day rather than the first! The flavors mingle even more and it’s just a wonderful dessert you can make any time of the year.
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I’ve used this basic recipe a lot over the years. Sometimes I make it with the crust layer and top layer like in this case (which is the way the original recipe had it). I’ve also made it mixing all of the ingredients together without a separate crust layer. That works just as well in my opinion. I’ve also melted the butter for the crust layer rather than working the butter in with a pastry cutter. (My favorite method although I didn’t use that method for this dessert). I’ve made it with apples and I’ve made it with peaches. All versions are mouthwatering and wonderful.
My husband and I went to a Trustee meeting at the end of February where we spent several days with former colleagues and friends. We had a delightful time and I brought goodies with me. I gave the Pear Squares to the event planner/coordinator and to another gal who she works with to help pull these meetings together every year. I made Monster Brownies for some friends who are rotating off the board, Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies for the current President, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Brownies for the COO and his family who was retiring.
Everyone loved and raved over the treats. I made so many goodies for John’s company over the past two and a half decades that everyone loves our cookies and brownies. I would bake cookies almost weekly for John to take on visits when he traveled. Such an easy thing to do, but everyone loved them. To this day, we still hear from people who received a batch of cookies from us and loved them.
Well the Peach Squares were no different. One of the gals texted me back after the meetings telling how much she enjoyed being able to sit down and eat some of them after the meetings were over (and all that hard work of meeting preparation was done).
You don’t find a lot of desserts made with pears and that’s really a shame, because they are really good in pies, cobbler, and breads, as well as stuff like oatmeal, pancakes, soups or salads. If you enjoy pears, you’ll love them in this scrumptious Pear Squares recipe. Enjoy.
Pear Squares are heavenly!
Every bite will have you drooling.
These cake-type bars are moist and nutty!
If you have an abundance of pears, this is a delightful way to use them.
Here’s what I did.
I used these ingredients for the crust layer.
Place unbleached flour, brown sugar and butter in a mixing bowl.
Use a pastry blender to work the butter into the flour mixture. (See my note below for another option).
This mixture will resemble coarse crumbs.
Add nuts and stir to combine.
Press 2 3/4 cups of the crust mixture into a greased 9×13″ glass baking dish; set aside.
I used these ingredients for the pear layer, plus the remaining amount of flour/nut mixture not used in the crust layer.
Place remaining flour/nut mixture in mixing bowl. Add egg, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, sour cream and vanilla.
Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add pears.
Stir to combine.
Spread pear layer over top of crust layer in baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool completely before sprinkling with powdered sugar.
Pear Squares are great treats to make up for company.
Take them to potlucks, backyard barbecues or Family Reunions.
These are also good for holiday dinners like Easter, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
If you enjoy pears, give this recipe a try!
Here’s the recipe.
PEAR SQUARES
(Recipe inspired from Pillsbury’s 1975 Contest Winning Sour Cream Apple Squares–a recipe I found on the Internet back in the very early 1990s.)
Pear Squares
Equipment
- 1 9×13" glass baking dish
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
- 1 sharp knife to peel, pare and dice pears
- 1 pastry blender (see note below)
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (Bleached flour toughens baked goods)
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup salted butter cold (1 stick) (see note below)
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (measure after chopping)
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Icelandic yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups pears peeled and diced (about 2 medium to large pears)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar for topping after squares have cooled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and butter.
- Work a pastry blender into the mixture until it forms fine crumbs. (See my note below).
- Stir in walnuts.
- Place 2 ¾ cups of the crumb mixture into a greased 9×13” baking pan.
- Press down firmly.
- Add the remaining ingredients (except for the pears) to the remaining crumb mixture.
- Blend well with an electric mixer.
- Stir the pears into the batter.
- Spoon the batter evenly over the crumb base in the pan.
- Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool before cutting.
- Best if you let wait 24 hours before cutting.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar before cutting.
- Store loosely covered.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Pillsbury’s 1975 contest winner, Sour Cream Apple Squares.
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
I have tried this fantastic contest winning recipe with apples, peaches and pears and all work marvelously.
Pear Squares really are delightful. On top of that they will quickly cure any sweet tooth cravings you have.
Your family and company will demolish these jewels in no time.
These squares are cake-like in texture, rather than having a consistency like brownies or cookies. They are still fantastic to the taste buds! Plan on having this dessert devoured in no time!
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