Holiday Recipe Heaven: Day 2 - Pear Cranberry Hand Pie

Yesterday, was the first day of the Holiday Recipe Heaven series. Today, I'm back with a fabulous spin on mini pies. Food & Wine's Pear Cranberry Hand Pie is a self-contained, flaky wonder. Isn't this pic by I Want the Pie just gorgeous? As genius as this idea is, it's made even better because the recipe calls for a store-bought crust.

Cozy Pear Crisp

This year, I'm much more interested in experimenting with pear desserts rather than relying on the traditional apple varieties. Fall is the perfect season for pears, so I really like this Cardamom Pear Crisp recipe that I found on Sunday Suppers.

The wonderful thing about a crisp is that you don't have to stress about whether your crust will be perfectly flaky and golden like you do with a pie.

Something about the deconstructed quality of a crisp makes the dessert seem so much more suited to low-key, cozy gatherings.

Be sure to come back tomorrow. I'll be sharing photos and tips from my most recent dessert table design. I designed this one to be so simple and affordable even the a novice baker can replicate it for a fuss-free Halloween bash. I'll also give you some great printables and other goodies to help finish off your own design.

See you then!

The Sweetest Candied Pears

Fall officially starts this week, although weather in Minneapolis has been fall-like for a while already. Autumn usually stirs up images of baked cinnamon apples and pumpkin pies, but pears really come alive this time of year.

Amber of Sprinkled with Flour made these miniature caramel chocolate sugar pears to welcome the season.

These little beauties are easy to find right now. Check bulk retailers like Sam's and Costco to get the most bang for your buck.

Just how small are these mini pears, you wonder? Small enough to put on a stick!

Be sure to check out Sprinkled with Flour for this recipe. My favorite Fall dessert is pumpkin cheesecake. What's your favorite seasonal dessert?