Description
This Pear Crumble features tender, spiced pear slices baked with a luscious maple syrup and brown sugar glaze, topped with a crunchy oat, nut, and brown butter crumble. Warm, cozy, and perfect for autumn or any time you crave a comforting fruit dessert. Serve it with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel for an indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 5 medium pears, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick (can substitute half with apples)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon candied ginger, finely minced or ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1¼ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
For the Crisp/Crumble Topping
- ½ cup old-fashioned/rolled oats
- ½ cup pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch pie dish, skillet, or a 9×9 inch square baking pan and set it aside to prepare for the filling.
- Prepare Pears: Peel and slice your pears about ¼ inch thick. Place the slices evenly in the prepared baking dish, tossing gently with lemon juice to prevent browning and to add brightness.
- Mix Filling: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together maple syrup, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla extract, salt, and cornstarch until combined. Pour this mixture over the pear slices and toss carefully to coat all the fruit evenly with the spiced syrup.
- Prepare Topping: In a medium bowl, combine oats, chopped pecans or walnuts, flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix these dry ingredients together well.
- Brown Butter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring frequently. Continue cooking until the butter foams and turns a golden brown with a nutty aroma and speckled appearance, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat promptly to avoid burning.
- Combine Topping: Pour the browned butter into the dry topping mixture and stir until crumbly clumps form, ensuring even coating with the browned butter for maximum flavor and texture.
- Assemble Crumble: Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the pear filling in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the assembled crumble in the preheated oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the fruit juices are bubbling and the topping is golden brown. If the topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the crumble to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel syrup to enhance the dessert experience.
Notes
- You can substitute half of the pears with apples for a mixed fruit crumble.
- If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the sugars slightly.
- Use candied ginger for a more pronounced spicy-sweet kick; ground ginger is a milder alternative.
- Browned butter adds depth to the topping; watch it carefully to avoid burning.
- Let the crumble sit for at least 10 minutes after baking to set the filling.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days and reheat gently before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
