Goat Cheese & Pear with Hot Honey (Printable)

Crispy base layered with tangy goat cheese, fresh pears, and caramelized onions, topped with warm spicy honey.

# Components:

→ Flatbread Base

01 - 1 large store-bought or homemade flatbread, approximately 10 x 14 inches

→ Cheese & Dairy

02 - 5 ounces goat cheese, softened
03 - 1/4 cup ricotta cheese

→ Fruits

04 - 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Herbs & Garnish

06 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, optional

→ Hot Honey

08 - 3 tablespoons honey
09 - 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot chili flakes or hot sauce, to taste

→ Other

10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add red onion slices and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened and caramelized. Set aside.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine goat cheese and ricotta. Mix until smooth and spreadable.
04 - Place flatbread on the prepared baking sheet. Evenly spread the cheese mixture over the base.
05 - Arrange pear slices over the cheese. Top with caramelized onions and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
06 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the flatbread is crisp and edges are golden brown.
07 - While flatbread bakes, gently heat honey with chili flakes or hot sauce in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl for 1 to 2 minutes until warm and infused.
08 - Remove flatbread from oven. Drizzle hot honey generously over the top. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts if desired. Slice and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can make it on a Tuesday and still feel impressive.
  • The hot honey drizzle creates this sweet-spicy moment that makes people pause mid-bite and ask what just happened.
  • It's vegetarian, looks restaurant-quality, and tastes even better than it photographs.
02 -
  • Don't skip the caramelizing step with the onions—those five extra minutes of letting them soften and brown is the entire flavor backbone of this dish, and rushing it means you lose that sweet, jammy quality.
  • Once you drizzle the hot honey, eat it within a few minutes because the flatbread will start to soften as it cools, and you want that textural contrast between crispy base and creamy, warm toppings.
03 -
  • If your goat cheese is cold and stubborn, soften it by stirring in a tablespoon of ricotta rather than fighting with a hard cheese that will tear your bread.
  • The secret to preventing a soggy bottom is making sure your pear slices aren't weeping juice—pat them dry with paper towels right after slicing.
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