This no bake pear cheesecake is made with a gingersnap crust and topped with cinnamon sugar pears. It’s perfect for sharing during the holidays!
No Bake Pear Cheesecake
Pear season is here! Thanks to the abundance and variety of pears available during this time of year, December is National Pear Month. I am working with USA Pears to showcase this delicious and versatile fruit.
Cheesecake is a family favorite during the holidays. However, cheesecake is often time consuming and a bit labor intensive when you bake it the traditional way in a water bath.
This no-bake pear cheesecake takes out much of the hassle, leaving you more time to enjoy the holidays with loved ones.
Starkrimson Pears
For this cheesecake, I’m using Starkrimson pears. Starkrimson are known for their distinct red color, their namesake. These pears are very juicy and delicately sweet.
Unlike many other fruits, pears do not ripen on the tree. They’re harvested when mature and likely to ripen by the time you purchase them at the store.
How do you know when a pear is ripe?
Check the neck. Gently press the stem end part of the fruit. If it yields to gentle pressure, you’ve got yourself a winner.
I used gingersnap cookies to create the crust. It’s a nice flavorful crunch that works perfectly with the creamy cheesecake and the sweet pear.
The cheesecake batter is simply a mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, and a touch of heavy cream. It’s a decadent treat that pairs lovely with the mildly sweet Starkrimson.
I left the beautiful red skin of the pear intact. The pears are gently cooked in a brown sugar syrup infused with cinnamon. It adds a nice warm, aromatic touch to the delicate fruit.
Interested in more pear recipes? Try these favorites:
No Bake Pear Cheesecake
Ingredients
Cheesecake:
- 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, slightly cooled
- 12 oz cream cheese, room temp
- 1/3 cup sour cream, or creme fraiche
- 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Topping:
- 1 large USA Pears Starkrimson variety, medium chop
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 cinnamon stick, optional
Instructions
- Pulse gingersnap cookies in a food processor until ground. Combine with melted butter until moistened. Divide among four serving containers* and press cookie crumbs to the bottom to form the crust. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sour cream and mix until incorporated. Scrape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing. Add confectioners's sugar and heavy cream. Mix on low speed until mixture is smooth.
- Divide cheesecake batter among prepared serving containers. Use a mini offset spatula, or the back of a spoon, to level cheesecake batter. Cover and store in fridge for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
- Meanwhile, place chopped pears in a heavy bottomed sauce pot. Add water, brown sugar, and optional cinnamon stick. Set over medium heat and cook until sugar has melted. Stir often to ensure sugar does not burn at the bottom of the pot. Once sugar has melted, remove from heat. Set aside until cheesecake is chilled.
- Spoon pears and syrup over chilled cheesecakes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Find more pear inspiration on Twitter and Instagram searching the hashtag #SnackOnPears and #PEARfectpairings
Disclosure: Special thanks to USA Pears for sponsoring this post!
MUST-TRY! I am huge fan of raw/no bake desserts! I think the last couple of months I like them more than traditional baked sweets. <3
Happy Holidays!
I love no bake desserts, it looks great, I can’t wait to try this.
This is perfection. Those red pears are gorgeous!
Just gorgeous Maryanne! I LOVE pears, so I’ll definitely be giving these a go!
thanks for the tip about checking ripe pears! i usually just haphazardly press wherever to see if it gives, hah. and i love the color on these! i’ve never seen such a deeply and evenly colored pear before.
I love this winter take on a cheesecake and no-bake makes it even better! Beautiful dessert!
This looks super delightful and simple! Thanks for sharing!
These little cheesesteak cakes are seriously STUNNING!
These look so perfect! I love that caramel-pear topping – gorgeous pics!
I had no idea it was National Pear Month! Totally celebrating with these gorgeous cheesecakes!
My oh my, this is heaven! I love pears, but never know what dessert to make with them, and now I’ve got the perfect inspiration. This cheesecake looks incredible, and easy recipes always win my heart :)
I love a good no-bake dessert!!
This looks amazing! I am not a huge lover of pears, but I want to dive into this so fast! That gingersnap crust sounds like the perfect pair.
These flavors sound amazing, and I’m loving those gorgeous pears! What a perfectly delicious winter dessert!