In Season: Pears are available year-round in many markets, though their peak season begins in late summer and lasts through January.

What to Look For: Pears vary in color depending on the variety, from green-yellow Comice to pink-blushed Bartletts to pebbly copper-brown Boscs. Choose pears that are firm with no soft spots or blemishes.

How to Store: Pears are unique in that they are best when picked unripe and then allowed to ripen off the tree. Choose hard pears and leave on a counter to ripen.

This rustic French dessert boasts pears cooked in caramel and partnered with crisp puff pastry. It's baked in a skillet, so it goes from kitchen to table with ease.

The crunchy topping on these wholesome whole-wheat muffins is a perfect foil to the soft and juicy pears inside. Low-fat yogurt replaces much of the usual butter to produce moist muffins with a subtle tang.

Small, ripe pears dipped in dark chocolate make an elegant and simple offering for a party. Serve them as a light dessert or as part of a buffet.

Pears mixed with cranberries and sweetened with brown sugar create a juicy crimson filling that gently bubbles up around the faux lattice, which has been brushed with apricot jam. You will need a 3/4-inch square cutter for the geometric pattern in the top crust of this pie.

A rich chocolate-almond tart supports sliced Bartlett pears, which become golden-brown in the oven. No need to make a crust for this easy dessert.

A classic dessert of poached pears gets rich flavor from apple cider, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, and lemon zest. Tangy lemon sorbet makes the perfect companion to these rich, sweet pears.

Plan ahead to make these festive cocktails. Vodka is infused for two weeks with Seckel pears, then mixed with fragrant rosemary syrup, pear nectar, and sparkling water.

Cinnamon and honey flavor this moist cake topped with caramel-coated pear slices. The cake can be made (without the pears) one day ahead, and stored in plastic wrap at room temperature.

Whipped cream and fresh fruit rest atop a crisp meringue. Pears poached in red wine provide a spicy, fragrant twist to this favorite Australian dessert.

No ice cream maker required for this festive pink sorbet made from red wine-poached pears. You can use 1 cup cranberry-juice cocktail instead of the red wine.

This seasonal twist on traditional cream puffs combines buttery pear puree with pastry cream and whipped cream. Unfilled puffs can be frozen up to one month.

Sugar and spice mingle in this stunning terrine constructed of layers of paper-thin pear slices that are baked until meltingly tender. A dusting of star anise imparts a subtle but memorable zing.

Give your ham sandwich a makeover with Gruyere cheese and sliced pear. Toasting the sandwich until golden-brown makes it irresistible to adults and kids alike.

Pears are poached in green tea accented with ginger, orange peel, and vanilla bean. Garnishes of mascarpone cheese and salted pistachio brittle make this dessert truly memorable.

A clafouti is a classic French dessert with a texture somewhere between that of a baked pudding and a pancake. In this clafouti, creamy, custardlike batter is baked over a layer of fanned pear slices and dried cherries.

In this two-ingredient dessert, sugar transforms Bartlett pears into rich, caramel-coated treats. Serve with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.

Pears, shallots, raisins, and walnuts get zing from cider vinegar and a kiss of sweetness from honey. This chutney is marvelous with roast pork.

Sweet, buttery pears and tart cranberries are perfect partners in this oat-topped crisp. It takes only 20 minutes to put together this easy crowd-pleaser of a dessert.

Oven-crisped prosciutto holds a perfect portion of diced pears. Welcome cocktail-party guests with this easy, impressive three-ingredient appetizer.

Pears and cashews are tossed with peppery watercress and an easy Asian dressing of soy sauce and lime juice. This salad takes only 10 minutes to throw together.

Pears coated in ginger-cinnamon caramel are layered with sliced gingerbread and Cognac custard in this spectacular trifle. This dessert is the perfect finale for a special occasion.

Pears take on an eye-catching crimson cast when poached with vibrant cranberries. Their pleasing tartness can be countered by a sliver of rich goat cheese or a dollop of creme fraiche or yogurt.

In pandowdy, a spiced fruit filling is topped with mounds of biscuit dough and then baked, similar to cobblers. Traditionally made with apples, this version of the dessert features pears; dried cranberries add a tart note.

This flourless, lemony almond cake is incredibly light and moist. If you don't have a corer, use a teaspoon-size measuring spoon to core the pears.

Roasted, brandy-glazed pears pair beautifully with pecorino cheese. This is an easy, sophisticated dessert for dinner parties.

Baked pears and tart dried cherries are drizzled with a simple-to-make chocolate sauce. The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Buttered bread forms a toasty crust surrounding cinnamon-dusted pears in this classic dessert. The charlotte is served with vanilla custard sauce and Chantilly cream.

Soft, sweet pears and crunchy jicama make a pleasing contrast in textures for this lime, olive oil, and cilantro-dressed salad. Serve this salad as a unique accompaniment to Mexican or Asian meals.

Pears and red onions get richer and sweeter when roasted. Toss this combination in a salad or serve with roast chicken or pork.

A brown betty is a spiced fruit dessert with buttered breadcrumb or cake-crumb topping that turns golden brown as it cooks. Our individual bettys have two layers of Bartlett pears alternating with a blend of torn sourdough bread, butter, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a splash of apple cider.

Traditional corn muffins get a twist from candied ginger and pears. Serve these for breakfast or snacks.

Sweet potatoes and pears are spiced up by dry mustard, ginger, and cayenne pepper. This is an easy, impressive side dish.

Caramelized pears and fresh thyme give allure to an all-American staple. And with only five ingredients, this clever dinner keeps your stress level (and grocery bill) low.

For quick preparation, you don't roll out the dough for this pear tart; you simply pat it out with your fingers. The cream cheese crust is so thin, it tastes like a giant sugar cookie.

Start a memorable meal with thin slices of pear and ham -- our take on a classic Italian appetizer. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze adds the perfect note of tangy sweetness.

Saffron adds a golden hue and distinctive flavor to this pear-topped buttermilk cake. This is an upside-down cake like you've never seen before!

Small slices of cinnamon toast are spread with creamy mascarpone cheese and topped with sauteed pears, caramel, and raspberries. Serve these sweet bites for dessert or brunch.

This pear and cranberry sorbet is presented in elegant hollowed-out pears. Serve as a light dessert or as an intermezzo.

Pears are stuffed with sausage and cheddar cheese, then baked inside a pastry crust. This sweet and savory pie makes an impressive presentation.

Pears, fresh pumpkin, and turnips are a winning combination in this creamy soup. Homemade dried pears are a gorgeous garnish.