2009_10_09-pear.jpgRustic yet elegant, these pear dumplings are among the prettiest autumn recipes we've seen. We might have to plan a dinner party just so we can serve these for dessert!

Wrapped inside the beautifully golden pastry are ripe pears, dried apricots or prunes, and freshly ground cardamom. The recipe calls for packaged shortcrust pastry, but we'd probably use Martha Stewart's pâte brisée recipe. And then we'd serve it with ice cream – a rich vanilla or perhaps ginger or cinnamon.

• Get the recipe: Baked Pear Dumplings from Olive

Related: Lunchtime Browsing: Fall Dessert Slideshow at Gourmet

(Images: Olive)