Description
Rustic meets elegant. A cozy pear crisp with a cinnamon-walnut oat crumble and a jammy, maple-kissed filling. Simple swaps make it gluten-free or vegan-friendly.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Crunchy Walnut Topping
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour (or whole wheat/GF blend)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed (or coconut sugar)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (GF if desired)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter)
For the Spiced Pear Filling
- 6 medium Bartlett pears, ripe but firm, sliced 1/4-inch
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot or tapioca starch
Instructions
- Preheat & prep dish: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease an 8×8-inch pan or 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Set the dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips.
- Make walnut crumble: In a bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. Stir in melted butter and mix with a fork or fingertips until the mixture looks like wet sand. Pro tip: Chill topping while you prep the filling for extra crunch.
- Mix pear filling: In another bowl, toss pears with maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and arrowroot/tapioca. Stir in about 1/3 cup of the crumble; this helps thicken the filling as it bakes.
- Assemble & bake: Spread pears evenly in the prepared dish. Scatter remaining crumble over the top. Bake 45–60 minutes, until the topping is deep golden and the edges bubble.
- Cool & serve: Let rest 10 minutes to set. Serve warm (excellent with vanilla ice cream or yogurt).
Notes
Make it your way: Swap walnuts for pecans; use a certified GF flour & oats to keep it gluten-free; choose vegan butter for dairy-free. Firm-ripe Bartletts hold shape best, but Bosc or Anjou also work well.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 4
