Pear & Prosciutto Skewers with Blue Cheese

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Fall is just around the corner, and the thought of cooking with all the Autumn fruits and vegetables is so exciting! Besides apples, pears are super abundant right now and make really interesting and delicious appetizers.

I had some pears left over from my Pear & Bourbon Fizz, so I put them to very good use with these Pear & Prosciutto Skewers.

You’re going to adore these flavors—the sweet pear, salty prosciutto, savory Blue Cheese, walnuts, honey, and Balsamic Glaze are over-the-top delicious together.

This is one of those appetizers that will take you from early Fall evenings right through the holidays!

Why You’ll Love These Pear & Prosciutto Skewers

Grilled pears are not only delicious, but they make such a beautiful presentation. These skewers look like you worked much harder on them than you actually did!

They only take minutes to assemble and about 10 minutes on the grill. The prosciutto gets a little crispy around the edges, the Blue Cheese becomes soft and melty, and the pears warm just enough without losing their texture.

Then comes my favorite part—the honey and Balsamic Glaze drizzled over the top.

The salty prosciutto and walnuts with the pear, then the sweetness from the honey and the intensity from the Balsamic Glaze is SO good!

They’re perfect for a dinner party with a cool, crisp glass of vino, or you could make them the focal point of a Fall charcuterie tray. So pretty!

Ingredients You’ll Need

There aren’t many ingredients here, which is one of the reasons this appetizer works so well.

• Pears: I used Bosc pears because they are longer and thinner, which makes them great for slicing and threading onto the skewers.
• Prosciutto: Cut each slice in half before assembling.
• Blue Cheese: I used a brick of Blue Cheese rather than crumbles. Not only did it have better taste, but it was softer and melted better.
• Walnuts: Chop them fairly small so they stay on top of the skewers.
• Honey: For that sweet finish.
• Balsamic Vinegar Glaze: The rich balsamic flavor is wonderful with the pear and Blue Cheese.

How to Make Pear & Prosciutto Skewers

So let’s get out those skewers!

If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water first so they don’t burn on the grill. I used metal skewers, which work beautifully, but remember that they get VERY hot.

The best way to slice the pears is with a mandolin. It’s hard to make the slices uniform and thin enough with a knife, although it certainly can be done—just take your time.

I used the #2 setting on my mandolin and sliced the pears lengthwise. You’ll need about 10–12 slices.

You don’t want the pear slices too thick because you won’t be able to create that ribbon effect on the skewers.

But don’t make them paper thin either or they won’t hold up to all those yummy toppings.

To assemble, place half a slice of prosciutto on top of each pear slice. It’s perfectly fine if some prosciutto hangs over the sides because those edges will get crispy and delicious on the grill.

Thread the pear and prosciutto onto your skewer in an in-and-out ribbon effect. This creates little “moats” where you can tuck in pieces of Blue Cheese.

Add about three small chunks of Blue Cheese into the first, largest fold. Sprinkle generously with chopped walnuts, then add another pear and prosciutto section to the skewer.

Push everything together a little to help that ribbon shape stay in place.

Time to Grill

Heat your grill to about 375°F and lightly oil or spray the grates with olive oil.

I’m still trying to use my grill as much as the weather allows. I love the grill because there’s no clean up!!

Place the skewers directly on the grill and cook for about 10 minutes. You’re looking for the edges of the prosciutto to start getting crispy and the Blue Cheese to be fully melted.

Don’t overcook them because you don’t want all that beautiful Blue Cheese oozing out onto the grill.

Once they’re ready, use an oven mitt and tongs to remove the skewers. This is especially important if you’re using metal skewers because they get extremely hot.

The Honey and Balsamic Finish

Put the warm skewers directly onto your serving platter.

Now drizzle the honey in one direction, then drizzle the Balsamic Vinegar Glaze in the opposite direction. Not only is this super pretty, but these flavors are incredible together.

That little bit of sweet honey balances the salty prosciutto and funky Blue Cheese, while the Balsamic Glaze gives everything a deep, tangy sweetness. Add the juicy pear and crunchy walnuts and you pretty much have everything going on in one bite.

Tips for the Best Results

The biggest trick with these skewers is getting the pear slices just right.

A mandolin really does make this easier. Actually, buying a mandolin just for these might be worth it! LOL. You want thin, even slices that are flexible enough to bend without falling apart.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Use pears that are ripe but still fairly firm so they hold their shape.
• A brick or wedge of Blue Cheese works better here than dry crumbles because it melts beautifully.
• Don’t worry about perfectly tucking in the prosciutto. Those exposed edges are what get crispy on the grill.
• Keep an eye on the cheese during the last few minutes so it melts without completely running out.
• Be generous with the walnuts. That crunch is so good with the soft pear and cheese.

I made these on the grill, but you could easily make them in the oven as well. I’ll keep grilling mine as long as the weather lets me!

When to Serve Them

These have Fall appetizer written all over them, but they can carry you right through the holiday season.

Serve them for an early Fall dinner outside, add them to a Thanksgiving appetizer spread, or make them for Christmas and holiday entertaining.

They would also be beautiful as the centerpiece of a Fall charcuterie board surrounded by cheeses, nuts, crackers, and more fresh pears.

And definitely pour that cool, crisp glass of vino alongside them!

More Fall Appetizers to Try

Love the sweet and savory combination of pears, prosciutto, blue cheese, and walnuts? Browse my complete collection of fall appetizers or try one of these seasonal favorites next:

• Baked Pears With Blue Cheese and Walnuts
• Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates
• Fall Charcuterie Board With Mini Pumpkins
• Apple and Maple Butternut Squash Crostini

Final Thoughts

I would stand out in the pouring rain over my grill to make these! LOL. And trust me, even when the snow is coming down, I’ll be standing in my boots in front of my grill making these for my friends.

If you can score some beautiful fresh pears from the Farmers Market—or maybe you’re lucky enough to have a pear tree out back—definitely give these Pear & Prosciutto Skewers a try.

Sweet pears, salty prosciutto, creamy Blue Cheese, crunchy walnuts, honey, and Balsamic Glaze…there’s really nothing not to love.

Happy Grilling!