Description
This Spiced Pear Crisp combines ripe pears with warm spices and a buttery oat topping, baked to golden perfection. It's a comforting dessert perfect for cozy evenings, balancing sweet and tart flavors with a crunchy, nutty crumble.
Ingredients
Pear Filling
- 8 ripe but firm pears (peeled, cored, and sliced)
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1 - 2 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Crisp Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup salted butter (cold and cut into small cubes)
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly butter a 9x13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make pear filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced pears, lemon zest, lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Stir gently to coat the pears evenly.
- Transfer filling: Pour and spread the pear mixture into the prepared baking dish ensuring an even layer.
- Make crisp topping: In another bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks to blend until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs.
- Add pecans: Stir in the chopped pecans to the topping mixture and sprinkle the topping evenly over the pear filling in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown, the filling bubbles at the edges, and the pears are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool and serve: Allow the crisp to cool for about 10 minutes before serving to avoid burns. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally topped with vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce, or whipped cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Using firm but ripe pears ensures they soften perfectly without becoming mushy.
- Lemon juice helps keep the pears from browning and adds a bright flavor.
- Cold butter in the topping is key to creating a crumbly texture.
- Chopped pecans add a nice crunch but can be omitted for nut-free versions.
- Letting the crisp cool slightly before serving prevents burns and helps set the filling.
- This dessert can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.
