• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • Bye Bye Bloat Course

Loveleaf Co.

Digestion and Gut Health, Made Simple

Appetizers, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Vegetarian · December 20, 2019

Pear (or Quince!) + Goat Cheese Crostini

Pear and goat cheese crostini on a white platter with a small bowl of honey. this …

There are some classic flavor combinations you just don’t mess with. Pear + cheese + honey is one of them. But for a unique spin on this classic appetizer, use quince instead of pear! Read on to learn more about how to make this easy, crowd-pleasing dish with pear or quince (aka my new favorite fruit). Perfect for the holiday season.

A few weeks ago, I collaborated with an awesome New York City-based farm-share company, Local Roots NYC, to create a few recipes using the fruit quince. Though I’m a serious produce lover, I had never tried quince before! But now that I have… obsessed is an understatement.

What Is Quince?

Quince is a fruit in the same family as apples and pears, but is pretty unique. The fruit itself resembles a pear, but the taste and smell are intense (in a good way) and almost tropical. Most quince varieties are a bit too hard and tart to be eaten raw, so recipes will usually call for them to be baked, poached, or sautéed before eating.

Sliced quince on a cutting board with a knife.

What If I Can’t Find Quince?

Quince season varies by location, but on the East Coast, you can often find quince October-December in gourmet or specialty grocery stores, like Whole Foods Market, or at farmers’ markets.

If you can’t find quince, no worries! This recipe is really good with pears too. I like Bosc or Comice pears because they’re flavorful and keep their shape when cooked instead of turning mushy.

Is This Crostini Gluten-Free?

To make this crostini gluten-free, simply use gluten-free bread in place of the baguette. If you can’t find a gluten-free baguette, sliced gluten-free dinner rolls work well. Alternatively, you could use your favorite gluten-free cracker in place of the bread.

Pear and goat cheese crostini on a white platter with a small bowl of honey.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Pear and goat cheese crostini on a white platter with a small bowl of honey.

Pear (or Quince!) + Goat Cheese Crostini

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Ally Milligan
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 Minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 20 Crostini 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Pear and goat cheese crostini! A classic appetizer with the option for a unique twist: use quince instead of pear. A crowd-pleasing, festive dish, full of flavor, and easily made gluten-free.


Ingredients

Scale

Cinnamon Sautéed Pear (or Quince)

  • 1 Bosc or Comice pear (or 1 quince)
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Crostini

  • 1 baguette, thinly sliced into 1/2-inch slices on a diagonal (about 20 slices, see notes for gluten-free)
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 oz goat cheese, at room temperature
  • honey, for drizzling
  • fresh thyme and coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts for garnish, optional

Instructions

Cinnamon Sautéed Pear (or Quince)

  1. Wash, core, and thinly slice the pear or quince.

  2. Melt 2 teaspoons coconut oil in a large cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the quince slices and vanilla extract and sauté, gently stirring, until they just begin to soften.

  3. Lower the heat, add a pinch of sea salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of water (more if needed so that the slices don’t stick to the bottom of the pan). Continue stirring until softened and beginning to caramelize. 

  4. Add 2 teaspoons runny honey (or pure maple syrup), gently stir until all the quince slices are coated, and immediately remove from heat.

Crostini & Assembly

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Lightly brush both sides of the baguette slices with extra virgin olive oil and arrange evenly on a baking sheet.

  3. Bake 5-7 minutes, flip, and bake 5 minutes more or until just toasted.

  4. Evenly spread goat cheese on each baguette round and top with a slice of cinnamon sautéed pear or quince.

  5. Drizzle each crostini with a bit of honey and garnish with fresh thyme leaves and/or chopped hazelnuts, if desired.


Notes

To make this crostini gluten-free, simply use gluten-free bread in place of the baguette. If you can’t find a gluten-free baguette, sliced gluten-free dinner rolls work well. Alternatively, you could use your favorite gluten-free cracker in place of the bread.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram!
Tag @loveleafco and hashtag it #loveleafco

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. There is no additional cost to you. I only link to products I truly recommend and trust.

Previous Post: « 7 Healthy Breakfasts to Make This Fall
Next Post: 10 Kitchen Items You Don’t Actually Need »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Primary Sidebar

About

Hi and welcome! I’m a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner on a mission to help you optimize digestion – simply – so you can feel your best, most energized self.

LEARN MORE HERE

  • About
  • Bye Bye Bloat Course
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Footer

  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Blog

© 2025 Loveleaf Co. | Privacy Policy | Terms

Pear and goat cheese crostini on a white platter with a small bowl of honey.