Pear-Filled Calzones

This dessert calzone is a refreshing variation of the standard ricotta cheese calzone you're used to.

Serves 10

  • 1 (¼-ounce) packet dry active yeast

  • ¼ cup warm water (no hotter than 115°F)

  • 1 pound all-purpose flour Pinch iodized salt

  • 2 cups warm milk

  • 5 ripe pears

  • 1 lemon

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

  • ¼ cup honey

  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves Cooking spray

  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar

    • Stir the yeast into the warm water. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes, until foamy. Mix with a few spoonfuls of the flour. Sift together the remaining flour and salt onto a board.

    • Make a “well” in the center of the flour, and pour in the yeast mixture. Gently mix by hand or in a mixer with a dough hook until a soft ball forms. Knead for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 10 small balls, and place on a floured board. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 1 hour.

    • While the dough rests, peel, core, and slice the pears. Zest and juice the lemon. Cut the butter into 10 portions.

    • Mix together the milk, pears, lemon juice, and honey. Sprinkle with the cloves.

    • Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out the dough balls approximately 1 inch thick on a floured surface. Fill each with the pear mixture, and top with a pat of the butter. Fold over the dough and seal firmly. Let rest on the floured board, covered, for about 1 hour.

    • Lightly grease a baking sheet with the cooking spray. Gently place the calzones on the pan, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, place on a plate, and sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar.

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