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The Best Pear Crisp Recipe

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This is The Best Pear Crisp we’ve ever eaten. Such an easy recipe for using up ripe pears! This recipe takes juicy pears and tops them with a delicious crunchy crisp topping! Enjoy hot fresh out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

 

 

The Best Pear Crisp

Have you ever heard of pear crisp?  I was talking to a friend the other day about how devastated I was that almost the entire pan of this juicy pear crisp had to be tossed because my husband forgot all about it!  

Now let’s back up to the beginning of this story.  This is not the first time I’ve made this crisp.  In fact, it’s a regular treat in our home a few times a year.  I love sweet juicy pears and their subtle delicious flavor.  And a few years ago I decided to use up some old pears to see what would happen if I made a crisp out of them.  

Despite my best intentions, I really wasn’t sure at the time if they’d turn to complete mush or keep their form.  Lucky for me they kept their form and tasted amazing!  Ever since then we were hooked!  Even my kids loved this Pear Crisp Recipe and they are really picky eaters!  

 

The Best Pear Crisp - fresh cut pears covered in corn starch in casserole dish

 

So anyway, I whipped up a batch of this fruit crisp to take with us to dinner at my in-laws one night.  But of course after we arrived, my husband realized that we had left the crisp on the stove! GAH!  Oh well!  

The next day I packed it all up into disposable containers.  One for us to eat and one for my in-laws to enjoy. I told my husband they were in the fridge and promptly packed and headed off on a work trip.  

By the time I got back, my delicious and once fresh pear crisp was shoved in the back of the fridge and forgotten about!  

So as I was telling my friend all about this, she asked – “What’s pear crisp?” and “how do you make it?” {GASP!}

 

The Best Pear Crisp - All topping ingredients placed in bowl before mixing

 

She had never heard of, let alone tried pear crisp!  My heart broke a little!  It was then I knew I needed to post this recipe for The Best Pear Crisp!  I call it the best, because I truly believe it is the tastiest crisp recipe!

A few years ago, my kids wouldn’t even eat a pear.  But now, after trying this pear crisp recipe with oatmeal, they realized that they do like pears.  Ever since that first time I made this easy pear crisp, they’ve been addicted to pears.  

For me I consider that a win.  Yes it was through a dessert I hooked them on a fruit, but that pear fruit is now eaten fresh and raw!  I consider that a parenting win!  And really we need to take every win we can, right?!

 

The Best Pear Crisp - all topping ingredients without butter mixed together.

 

If you want to change things up, you can always make an adaption!  I suggest trying one of these fruit combinations or create your own!

  • Pear Cranberry Crisp
  • Pear Cherry Crisp
  • Apple Pear Crisp
  • Apple Pear Cranberry Crisp
  • Peach and Pear Crisp
  • Apple Pear Blueberry Crisp
  • Apple Pear Ginger Crisp

If you’ve ever searched for a pear crisp recipe you’ve probably also seen pear crumble recipes too!  Do you know what a crumble is?  

 

The Best Pear Crisp - melted butter poured on top of crisp ingredients.

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CRUMBLE AND A CRISP?

I find it interesting that many bloggers around the globe really have no idea what the difference is between a crumble and a crisp.  Until recently, I myself didn’t even know.  I read that one person said the only difference is where you grew up and what you called it.  That’s where you find recipes like Pear Crisp Crumble because they aren’t really sure what the difference is or what to call the dish.  So they use all the words just for Googles sake.

Actually that’s not true.  There really is a difference between a crisp and a crumble.  And is all comes down to one main ingredient. Oats.  

A crumble is essentially the crisp topping, but without the oats.  It comes out softer and not as “crispy” when baked on top of fresh fruit.  It is crumbly still and softer to the bite. So if you were looking for a recipe for a pear crisp without oats, then you’d really be looking for a crumble recipe.

By adding the oats, you’ll get a crispier, crunchier texture when baked, giving you a baked pear crisp!

 

The Best Pear Crisp - crisp topping looking like pea sized pieces

 

WHAT CAN I DO WITH PEARS THAT ARE GOING BAD?

Some of my favorite recipes using pears that are really ripe, aside from this classic pear crisp are:

 

The Best Pear Crisp - crisp topping placed on top of cut pears

 

WHAT CAN I DO WITH PEARS FROM MY TREE?

When you’ve got ripe pears from your tree, you’ll need a few fresh pear recipes on hand.  In addition to the recipes above, I suggest you try a few of these pear dessert recipes from other websites:

SHOULD PEARS BE REFRIGERATED?

Yes and no.  Pears need to be left on the counter until fully ripe.  Once they are ripe, pears can be put in the fridge to lengthen their freshness. However you do not want to put an unripened pear in the fridge.  If you want to ripen pears faster, put them in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana or apple and close.  This will help the pear ripen more quickly than if left on the counter. 

 

The Best Pear Crisp = a large scoop of pear crisp in a bowl

 

WHAT IS HEALTHIER, A PEAR OR AN APPLE?

Depending on the size of your apple, they are very similar in terms of which is healthier.  A standard apple contains approximately 116 calories, while a pear has 131 calories.  However a pear has more fiber than an apple.  Pears and apples are both great options for a healthy snack or dessert!

HOW CAN I MAKE THIS EASY PEAR CRISP GLUTEN FREE?

If you are in need of a gluten free recipe, swap out the flour in the crisp topping with your favorite non-gluten flour.  This can be an all-purpose gluten free flour or an almond flour or any other type.  Just swap one for one in the recipe.

 

The Best Pear Crisp - zoomed out image of crisp in a bowl with casserole dish behind

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PEARS?

  • Fiber – One pear contains approximately 24% of your daily recommended fiber.  The skins contain the most fiber so keep them on if you need a fiber filled diet!
  • Weight Loss – Thanks to being  high fiber, they help you feel fuller longer!  Which helps prevent snacking!
  • Cholesterol – Because of that fiber, studies have shown that a high fiber diet can help lower your cholesterol!
  • Digestion – Need we say it, no one wants to be constipated, so eat that fiber and help your digestion become healthy again!

Who knew that by eating this easy Pear Crisp, all these health benefits could be yours!  Or skip pear desserts altogether and just enjoy a fresh pear!  A fresh juicy pear is the ultimate pear dessert!  If you’ve never had The Best Pear Crisp before, then I hope you’ll try this easy and delicious recipe! 

 

The Best Pear Crisp - crisp in bowl with scoop of vanilla ice cream on top

 

Yield: 6 Servings

Easy Pear Crisp

close up image of pear crisp in bowl with ice cream on top

This is The Best Pear Crisp dessert we've ever eaten. So easy recipe for using up ripe pears! This recipe takes juicy pears and tops them with a delicious crunchy crisp topping! Enjoy hot fresh out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 pears, chopped with cores removed
  • 2 Tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350*F
  2. Coat a 9x9 casserole dish with non-stick spray.
  3. Slice and core pears, then chop into bit sized pieces. You can leave the skins on or off. (My kids wont eat the crisp unless the skins are off the pears)
  4. Toss pears with corn starch and place in casserole dish. Set aside.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, slat and melted butter. Mix well until mixture is crumbly.
  6. Spread crisp topping over pears and bake for 35 minutes or until crisp is bubbly and golden.
  7. Serve hot with a fresh scoop of ice cream.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 464Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 216mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 9gSugar: 44gProtein: 4g

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Ben Heath

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

SOOOOOOO good. Adding ice cream makes it perfect.

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