Caramelized Pear and Gruyère Torta

This Caramelized Pear and Gruyère Torta is sweet, creamy, crunchy, and oh-so-delicious. It is the perfect appetizer for holiday entertaining!

Whether you are hosting a Christmas party for your family or having a Holiday Open House, this is a perfect dish to serve. It can be made in advance, served at room temperature, and your guests can serve themselves, allowing you to mingle and enjoy your company.

I found this recipe in the Entertaining Guide to Victoria Magazine this past summer. Thinking ahead, I knew it would be wonderful for the Holidays. Caramelized pears, cream cheese, Gruyère, and roasted pistachio nuts–it is an all-in-one fruit, cheese, and nut plate that pairs perfectly with a crisp white wine.

The original recipe called for Neufchâtel cheese. I don’t care for the taste of Neufchâtel cheese, so I opt for the full-fat version. Hey, it’s the Holidays! It also called for just four pears, but after making it for Thanksgiving, I thought it needed more. A pinch of extra salt, and this torta is mouthwatering! It’s a wonderful play on taste and texture. The pears are tender and caramelized, the cream cheese is so spreadable and creamy, the pistachios are salty and crunchy, and the Gruyère just adds that–je ne sais quoi.

You can serve this with your favorite cracker or crostini, but I highly recommend Carr’s Rosemary Crackers. The Rosemary really brings it all together, making this the perfect sweet-and-savory dish. It looks elegant and tastes divine. I do hope you’ll give it a try.

Caramelized Pear and Gruyère Torta

By Nicole Prep: 25 minsCook: 15 minsTotal: 40 mins Servings: 20 An all-in-one fruit, cheese, and nut dish that will be the star of the party!

Equipment

• 8-inch round cake pans
• Hand mixer with flex beaters

Ingredients 

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 6 large D’Anjou pears, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 4 (8 ounce) packages of regular cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup chopped pistachio nuts, roasted and salted

Instructions 

1. In a large non-stick sauté pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add pears and sugar and stir until combined. Cook for 12-15 minutes until liquid thickens and pears begin to caramelize, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Transfer pears to a bowl and cool completely.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, Gruyère, and salt using a hand held mixer. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
3. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap. Spread half the cheese mixture on the bottom of the pan. Spread half of the cooled pear mixture over the cheese. Spread the remaining cheese mixture over the pears. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
4. Invert the torta onto a serving dish. Carefully remove the pan and the plastic wrap. Cover the sides of the torta with the chopped pistachio nuts and top with the remaining pears. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove the torta from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Serve with plain or rosemary crackers. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 368mg, Potassium: 259mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 205IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 267mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.