Rich and Buttery Fresh Pear Crisp

This fresh pear crisp is buttery, cinnamon-spiced warm and comforting no matter when you have it. We used our pears from our tree outside in our yard, so late summer was when they were picked and ready for cooking, but it is perfect for fall and winter as well. In, fact it’s something your family would love when winter chill takes over.

The filling ingredients are simple and much what you’d make a cobbler with. The rich buttery crisp topping is absolutely scrumptious and is what makes this desert so decadent.

This little beauty is filled with tender slices of ripe pear and crowned with a generous, buttery oat topping. Cinnamon and nutmeg season both the fruit and the crisp, creating a fragrant dessert with a golden top, bubbling edges, and just the right balance of sweetness and spice. Our friends and family can never to wait, the pan cooking in the oven permeates the inside of the house, and outside porches!

Our family has enjoyed this recipe for years; it has become one of those treasured desserts that feels familiar the moment it begins baking. The scent of pears, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg drifting from the oven brings back memories of family meals, happy conversations, and everyone lingering near the kitchen while waiting for it to get ready!

Pear crisp ready for the oven

We especially love making this crisp when fresh pears are plentiful and perfectly ripe. It is simple enough for an ordinary supper, yet both generous and beautiful enough for a sit-down dinner, a church lunch, Thanksgiving, or any family celebration. Served warm from the baking dish, it has a homemade goodness that always draws people back for another spoonful, and another.

This sweet baked dish prepared from our own fruit has a special way of carrying family traditions from one generation to the next, and this lovely pear crisp is part of that story for us. Whether it is served beneath the breezeway at a long family table or enjoyed indoors on a cool evening, it makes us all slow down, share memories, and be thankful for the people in our lives.

We serve the pear crisp warm with vanilla ice cream, or freshly whipped cream. It is excellent with hot tea, apple cider, coffee, milk, or Prosecco, my fav. For a family meal, it is especially good after roasted pork, baked ham, chicken and dressing, or a simple autumn supper. Can’t wait, come on fall!

https://youtu.be/QsU-lVN7p2M?si=hjDYPmCJKzavUe66

Watch me make this rich and buttery pear crisp!

Rich and Buttery Fresh Pear Crisp

Description: This absolutely rich and buttery fresh pear crisp is as good as it gets. Packed with fresh pears and cinnamon goodness, old-fashioned rolled oats, melted butter, brown sugar and pecans are enough to send you over the edge. But be alert, pear crisp is so delectable every bite will be gobbled up before you can even get your apron off!

Ingredients:

Fresh Pear Filling

• 10 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced fresh pears (about 8 to 10 medium pears)

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces, for dotting over the pears

Rich Buttery Crisp Topping

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks), melted and slightly cooled

• 1 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

2. Place the sliced pears in a large bowl and toss them with the lemon juice. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Toss gently until the pears are evenly coated.

3. Spread the pear mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Dot the top of the pears with the 2 tablespoons of butter.

4. In a separate bowl, stir together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pecans, if using.

5. Pour the melted butter over the oat mixture and stir until every crumb is richly moistened. The topping should form buttery clumps when gently pressed together.

6. Scatter the topping evenly over the pears, leaving some larger clumps for a rustic, crisp texture.

7. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the topping is deep golden brown and the pear filling is bubbling around the edges. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil during the final 10 to 15 minutes.

8. Let the crisp rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving so the pear juices can thicken.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 to 55 minutes

Resting Time: 15 to 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes

Serving Size: 10 to 12 servings