Spiced Pear Crisp dessert (Print Version)
Tender pears baked beneath a crunchy, spiced oat topping for a comforting autumn dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruit Filling
01 - 6 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Crisp Topping
09 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
10 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
15 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the sliced pears with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cornstarch, and salt until evenly coated.
03 - Place the pear mixture into a greased 2-quart baking dish and spread evenly.
04 - Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, nuts if using, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a separate bowl. Add the cold, cubed butter and work it into the dry ingredients with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
05 - Evenly sprinkle the oat mixture over the pears. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the topping is golden and the pears are bubbling.
06 - Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of soft, juicy pears against a crunchy, buttery oat topping is pure comfort on a plate.
- It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight desserts or last-minute dinner party contributions.
- The warm spices create an enveloping cozy feeling that makes everyone ask for seconds.
02 -
- Don't skip the cornstarch in the filling, as it prevents a soggy bottom and keeps your topping crunchy through to the last bite.
- The key to a truly crispy topping is starting with cold butter and working it in quickly so it creates those delicate pockets that crisps up in the oven.
03 -
- Keep your butter in the freezer until you're ready to work it into the topping, this ensures the crispiest possible result.
- The pear juices bubbling around the edges is your signal that the crisp is done, don't rely solely on the topping's color.