Chewy Pear Bars

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

These sweet yet perfectly spiced chewy pear bars are densely loaded with brown sugar, juicy fresh pear pieces, and graham cracker crumbs. Trust me, they’ll disappear from the kitchen counter in seconds!

chewy pear bars

Now, I’m no stranger to cooking with apples. There are many, many apple recipes across Southern Plate. But today I’m turning my attention towards pear, which isn’t baked quite so often (although I do have a pear crisp recipe here). But really, that’s a crime, because there’s something about juicy and ripe pears that just transform this bar recipe.

These chewy yet wonderful pear pie bars taste of butter, brown sugar, and graham cracker crumbs studded with bits of ripe and juicy pear. Oh my word, are they ever good! Has that description alone piqued your interest? If not, let me tell you that you probably have the remaining ingredients at home already: baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, eggs, salt, flour, and sugar.

These pear bars are so dense and scrumptious, your family will love them! You really should make them today because even if you don’t have pears handy, you only have to buy two of them.

Check out some of my other yummy bar recipes like Pecan BarsTropical Dream BarsTurtle BarsPeach Bars, and Tiger Butter.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Chewy Pear Bars:

ingredients for pear bars

  • Baking powder
  • Graham cracker crumbs
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • Flour
  • Ground ginger
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Sugar
  • Pears 

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make Chewy Pear Bars:

add ingredients together in a bowl

For Pear Bar Crust

Place sugar, graham crumbs, and butter in a medium bowl and cut together with a pastry cutter or long-tined fork until well blended.

*Here’s a link to the Glass Mixing Bowl Set we love. Easy to store and easy to use!

mixed ingredients

It should look like this.

crumb mixture in a 9x13

Dump the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.

press down on crumb mixture

Press down into the pan with your hands.

Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

While that is baking, we need to make our filling.

mix filling ingredients for chewy pear bars

Place your flour, brown sugar, and graham cracker crumbs for the filling in the medium bowl.

mix together

Cut together with a fork until it is well combined.

Add in baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger and stir again.

add eggs and vanilla

Add eggs and vanilla.

stir until it becomes a batter. Then add pears

Stir that up until it becomes a batter.

*It is going to be awfully thick but as the brown sugar starts to break down it will become much more liquified.

Peel and dice your pears and fold those in gently.

*Note: The pear juice adds a lot of liquid as well.

pour pear mixture over baked crust

Pour pear mixture over your baked crust.

Spread to the edges.

Bake this at 350 for about 25 to 30 minutes or until set in the center. 

completed chewy pear bars

Voila, chewy pear bars!

enjoy pear bars

Enjoy these chewy, buttery, brown sugary bars of goodness!

chewy pear bars

How to Store Pear Bars:

Store leftover bars in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze bars for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Recipe Notes:

For added texture, fold 1/2 cup of nuts into the pear filling mixture, like sliced almonds or chopped pecans.

Recipe FAQs:

How do you serve pear bars?

They’re delicious on their own, but for an unforgettable fall dessert, serve your pear bar slice with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

What are the best pears to use for baking?

You can use any kind of pears, you just want to make sure they’re ripe (not over-ripe).

Check out these other delicious bar recipes:

Cherry Bars

Easy Lemon Bar Recipe (With Video Tutorial)

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Butter Bars From Scratch: Gooey Goodness Awaits!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

chewy pear bars

Chewy Pear Bars

These sweet yet perfectly spiced chewy pear bars are densely loaded with brown sugar, fresh pear pieces, and graham cracker crumbs.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bars, pear
Servings: 12
Calories: 225kcal

Ingredients

Crust

  • 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Filling

  • 2.5 cups dark brown sugar or light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup peeled and diced pears about 2 pears
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, place the crust ingredients. Using a long-tined fork or pastry cutter, cut and stir ingredients together until crumbly. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
    3 cups graham cracker crumbs, 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup sugar
  • While the crust is baking, use the same bowl to combine brown sugar, graham crumbs for the filling, and flour. Stir well until flour is well incorporated. Stir in cinnamon, ginger, salt, and baking powder. Add eggs and vanilla and stir until batter forms. Fold in chopped pear pieces.
    2.5 cups dark brown sugar, 3 eggs, 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup peeled and diced pears
  • Pour the pear filling onto the baked crust and spread it to the edges. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture is set in the center. Allow them to cool completely before cutting.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

 

“I am seeking, I am striving,

I am in it with all my heart.”

~Vincent van Gogh

Similar Posts

72 Comments

  1. Hello! I just made these bars for my office mates-I work for a family business and my dad ate two (he never has two desserts)! I write an enewsletter and would like to include the recipe-which I also include on our website (www.pedroncelli.com). I also would include the name of your website so let me know if it is okay! Please let me know. I look forward to your reply.

  2. I made these last night to take to a family reunion. Oh my, they are so good not sure if they will make it there. Thank you, Christy love everything you post.

  3. As usual, you gave me wet eyes along with a great family story. I consider your recipes to be bonuses (in addition to your stories) and this one sounds great too! I will try pears, but my main goal is to try fresh cherries or drained canned peaches (they seem to be firmer than fresh.) Thanks for all you do for us Christy!

  4. Another wonderful story from your past. What a loving family you came from and it shines through you.
    We don’t get graham crackers or crumbs here so I use Digestive Biscuits crumbed. Shall be making this delicious sounding treat for the family. Many thanks for the recipie.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe or Post Rating