When I host dinner parties, I love to serve desserts that impress my guests. You know, the ones that get all the “oohs and aahs” when you present them. Then the moment of awe is followed up with silence because everyone has their mouths full. This torte meets both criteria perfectly by being both beautiful and delicious.
This pear Bavarian torte is part shortbread, part cheesecake, part pear pie, and all addicting.
Pear Bavarian Torte Recipe
(About 12 servings)
Ingredients for the Crust:
- 1/2 stick (equivalent to 1 stick) butter
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients for the Pear Layer:
- 6 pears
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Directions For The Crust:
- Cream the butter and white sugar.
- Add the vanilla extract and all-purpose flour and mix until all of the ingredients have combined. The dough will be crumbly.
- Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
- Press the crust mixture down firmly into the bottom of the prepared springform pan.
Directions For The Cream Cheese Filling:
- In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese and white sugar together.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Pour it over the crust.
Directions For The Pear Layer:
- Peel the pears and slice them thinly.
- In a large bowl, mix together the sliced pears, white sugar, and ground cinnamon.
- Lay the pears down on top of the cream cheese layer.
Directions For Baking The Torte:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Place the springform pan on top of a baking sheet. This is important because the fruit juices may leak from the pan and you really don’t want them all over your oven.
- Bake the torte in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake the torte for an additional 25 minutes.
- Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top of the torte and bake it for an additional few minutes, until the almonds are slightly browned.
- Allow the tort to cool before removing from the springform pan.
Store it in the refrigerator.
Even though there are a lot of directions for this recipe, it’s very easy to make. Mix all of the ingredients for the crust and press it down for the base of torte. Look at all of those butter spots! They will turn into flaky layers of buttery goodness.
Mix all of the cream cheese ingredients together and pour it on top of the crust. Are you with me so far?
Peeling and cutting the pears will take a little bit of time, but it’s easy peezy. You can dream about this torte while you’re doing this mundane task. Coat the pears with the rest of the ingredients and lay the slices on top of the cheesecake filling (I laid them down in concentric circles for style points). Mmm, all those specs of cinnamon are going to taste awesoooome! (Picture me singing the word “awesoooome.”)
Note that the almond slices are saved for later, after the torte has baked for some time. Seriously, if you put them on at this point you’ll burn them completely into charcoal way before the torte is done baking.
While I love my sweets, I have to admit that I’m not easily wowed by their presentation. Perhaps it’s because I’ve made so many of them. So when I say that this pear Bavarian torte impresses me visually that’s saying a lot. It’s majestic! 🙂
I originally found this recipe about six years ago and I think I’ve made it for everyone that I know. Yup, it’s that good! There are so many delicious layers in this torte and there’s something about it that makes everyone fall in love with it.
Cheesecake fans love it. Apple pie lovers can’t get enough of it. Shortbread cookies, well, really folks, who doesn’t love those? This beauty delivers all three at once.
You ready for a special secret bonus recipe moment? This torte also works perfectly with apples. So if pears are hard to find, out of season, or too expensive, you can buy apples instead and almost no one will even notice. 🙂
What desserts impress you?
Adapted From: All Recipes
Here are some other mouthwatering desserts.
I always love desserts with fruit, pears especially. This sounds so good!
Me too! Thanks so much. 🙂
Simply gorgeous torte, Tina! I love how prettily the pears are layered and those almonds on top just complete it!
Thanks Sarah! Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Wow, I agree with you. This torte has such beautiful presentation! Love the swirled pattern of the pears. What guest could not help but be impressed when served up with a slice of this…yum. pinned this (again:)lol….have a great weekend.
Thank you so much!! You too have a beautiful weekend. 🙂
I can imagine the pears melting in my mouth and all the flavors coming together. My very pregnant sissy would absolutely love this. Since she is all about dessert, maybe I’ll be a good sister and make this for her soon.
Congrats on being an aunt! I have 3 younger sisters and we are super close. My 2 nephews and niece mean the world to me. My sis is pregnant with her 3rd child and I love to bake for her cravings. 🙂 I hope you make this for your sis.
I’m oohing and ahhing right now for sure! The sliced pears are BEAUTIFUL. And all those layers – yum! Pinning!
Haha…see it works! Thanks so much. 🙂
This looks so gorgeous and elegant!
Thank you!!
This definitely fits the bill as an “ooh” and “ah” dessert! It’s gorgeous and looks equally delicious, Tina!
Thank you, thank you. 🙂
I’m not surprised your guests are impressed by this, Tina! I’m going ‘Oooh’ and ‘Ahhh’ just reading your post! This one is definitely getting pinned!
That’s awesome! Thanks Helen. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
I am surely ohhing and ahhing already and I have not even tasted it yet. Gorgeous tart.
Hehe, thanks Bam! Have a great weekend. 🙂
This is beautiful! I will pin and try~
Thank you! Let me know how you make out if you end up trying it. I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
Each layer of this torte sounds awesome! I don’t use pears enough which is something I really should work on! I always forget about them! And this torte really is a looker! lol
I always forget about pears too so I was happy to bring them back to the spotlight. 🙂
This dessert would definitely impress me Tina!! I appreciate the step by step directions!! 🙂
Sweet! Thanks. 🙂
Such a pretty dessert indeed! I am all over fruity baked goods these days. I think its because I miss summer so much.
Thank you! I’ve been the same way lately and I think you’re right…I’ve been craving fruity desserts because I’ve been missing the good fruit over the winter.
Pretty much any homemade dessert impresses me! I’ve never backed with pears before. This torte looks impressive and delicious Tina!
Thanks so much! 🙂
You’re so right here – it looks such an impressive dessert indeed!
Cheesecake + shortbread + baked fruit all in one dessert??? I need this now 😉
Thanks, my friend! 🙂
This looks like a torte that I may just be able to handle! Yum! Pinned!
Thank you for pinning! I’ve made this torte several times and it’s come out delicious and gorgeous every time. 🙂
Tina, your torte looks amazing! i wish i was invited to your dinner parties! 😉
Thank you! Consider yourself invited…CT isn’t too far from Toronto. 😉
What a beautiful torte!! That filling sounds absolutely decadent.
Thanks Joanne!!
I’m the exact same way when it comes to dinner parties! while I try to keep things healthy most of the time, when guests are over I go big or go home. I’m a total show-off, but hey, self-awareness must count for something right?!
Totally! 😉
This is definitely oooo and ahhhhh worthy! It’s gorgeous and I so wish I was at the dinner party when you served this! It sounds divine!
I’ll invite you over next time! 😉
oooh! All these flavors sound amazing Tina! Definitely a “aaaah” crowd pleaser : )
Hehe, thanks! 🙂
Tina, we are so alike! I love serving dessert to my guests. In fact, it’s the first thing that goes on the list! Loving how gorgeous this torte is… you rock!
That’s awesome! I’ve been known to base the menu around what I want to serve for dessert…hehe.
This torte looks gorgeous Tina! I love the sound of all the layers and can see why it’s such a hit with all your guests – love that you used pear too 🙂
Glad you love! 🙂
This is such a beautiful dessert! It would definitely impress at a dinner party.
That’s awesome! Thanks, love. 🙂