Recipe for Pear Crisp

This recipe for pear crisp is big on fruit filling and perfectly complemented by the crunchy oat and brown sugar topping. It’s the perfect crisp recipe to devour anytime.

pear crisp recipe

Pear crisps are such a popular fall dessert and they’re perfect for beginner bakers. In fact, this easy crisp recipe only takes 20 minutes to prep. This particular recipe for pear crisp is all about the fruit filling, with just the right touch of crumbly brown sugar oat topping to set it off. Thanks to the warm and cinnamon-spiced pears, this crisp isn’t overly sweet, but just right. I highly recommend serving your classic pear crisp with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to ultimately make the perfect dessert.

Now, you can easily swap the pears for apples in this recipe for pear crisp. But another option is to combine the two to make an apple pear crisp. How good does that sound?

All ingredients for recipe for pear crisp.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Cinnamon
  • Pears
  • Butter
  • Quick oats
  • Brown sugar
  • All-purpose flour
  • White sugar

This recipe calls for a lot of pears, about 8 cups peeled and chopped. So just get however many you have and plan on having enough to fill up the dish once you’re done prepping them. When I say prepping, I mean peeling and dicing. When you’re doing this, make sure your sliced pears aren’t too thin.

Spraying oil on baking dish

Spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray.

Peeled and diced pears in baking dish.

Peel and dice all of your pears and place them in your 8×8 dish.

Cinnamon and flour sprinkled over diced pears.

Sprinkle your flour, sugar, and cinnamon over the pears in your baking dish.

Stirring diced pears in baking dish.

Stir them up until well coated.

Now, as our pears release their juices while they bake, those juices will be automatically thickened, lightly sweetened, and perfectly spiced.

Crisp topping ingredients in mixing bowl.

In a medium mixing bowl, place your oats, brown sugar (light or dark, whatever you have), cinnamon, and butter. 

Mixed crisp topping ingredients in mixing bowl.

Cut that together with a long tined fork until it looks something like this.

Prepared pear crisp before going into oven.

Sprinkle that over your pears and bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes.

Pear crisp in baking dish

This recipe for pear crisp can be served warm on its own, drizzled with caramel sauce, or topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I’ll leave that delicious choice to you!

Spoonful of pear crisp.

Recipe Notes

  • I recommend using fresh and firm Bartlett pears in this recipe for pear crisp. Just make sure they’re not too ripe or too sweet. I wouldn’t recommend using canned pears as they’re too mushy for this particular pear crisp recipe.
  • If you want, you can make this dessert up to 48 hours in advance. Once the crisp has baked and then completely cooled, place it into an airtight container in the fridge.
  • If you want a topping with extra crunch, sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top.
  • For something different, use crystallized ginger instead of cinnamon in the pear filling. Alternatively, opt for ground cinnamon and nutmeg – the ultimate fall spice combo!

Storage

  • Store your pear crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It’s best to reheat in the oven.
  • You can store the pear crisp before and after baking. If you choose to freeze slices after baking, make sure they’re completely cooled before wrapping them in a double foil layer and freezing for up to three months.

Recipe FAQs

What is a pear crisp?

A crisp is an American dessert, similar to a crumble, that includes a fruit filling topped with a crumbly mixture. The topping often includes brown sugar, butter, flour, oats, and cinnamon. This dessert screams fall, right?

What’s the difference between a crumble and crisp?

The main difference between these two desserts is that a crisp’s topping usually includes oats, while a crumble’s topping does not. But in the end, both dessert toppings are crumbly and deliciously complemented by the fruity filling.

Pear crisp in bowl with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Pear Crisp

This pear crisp is REALLY BIG on fruit and has just the right touch of crumbly brown sugar topping. When drizzled with caramel, it's guaranteed to make your mouth water.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pear
Servings: 4
Calories: 449kcal

Ingredients

Filling

  • 8 cups peeled pears about 8-10 medium-sized pears
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping

  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar dark or light, I prefer dark
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • caramel, drizzled over top optional
  • vanilla ice cream or whipped cream topping optional

Instructions

  • Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and dice pears and place them in the dish. Place white sugar, flour, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon on top of pears and stir until well coated.
  • In medium bowl place oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Cut together with a long tined fork until well blended and crumbly. Sprinkle over top of pears.
  • Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes. Serve hot on its own, drizzled with caramel, or topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 449kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

You may also like these recipes for other fabulous fruit crisps:

Berry Crisp Lower Carb & Delicious

Cherry Crisp Recipe: An Easy One From Mama

Peach Crisp 

 

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~Unknown

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53 Comments

  1. OH, CHRISTY! SOCK SKATING BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. MY CHILDHOOD HOME HAD HARDWOOD FLOORS AND AFTER MY MOM GAVE THEM A COAT OF PASTE WAX MY BROTHER AND I WOULD “SKATE” THEM TO A HIGH GLOSS. A FEW FALLS ON OUR BACKSIDES, BUT FORTUNATELY NOTHING BROKE.

  2. As a young girl, many years ago, my Dad had lots of pear trees. My Mom was a great cook and she fixed pears many ways, but the best was her pear preserves. I still make those when and if I find some pears. The good ones in the stores just don’t work for preserves. And I thoroughly do remember how hard they are to peel. Know you’ll enjoy your new floors. My son keeps telling me I need to redo my floors, but guess I’m just too old to go through the hassle. Keep up the good work you’re doing.

  3. All I can say is mmmmmm….you’re Momma sure is a smart one! Can’t wait to try it, but will have to do apples since I’m not much of a cooked pear kind of person. Dunno why – I LOVE fresh pears and even canned ones, but I’ve never liked them cooked. I’m thinking apple-blueberry? I have to finish off the banana bread you made me make first tho…hahahaha. Thanks for all you do for us – you SURE are deserving of new flooring and I can feel your excitement thru the computer screen! YAY for the Jordans! Now git to work cleanin, girl! *smiles*

  4. This looks good. Pears always intimidate me so I usually only buy the crazy pricey Harry & David’s kind around Christmas as a gift to myself. (Thank you, Self, you are so generous!) But I might try this. Do the pears need to be soft or can they be hard like an apple?

  5. It is funny. I think of you as being a ” celebrity” with your blog, cookbooks, and your magazine and tv contributions, but you are such a normal down-to-earth person. You are excited about flooring! I love that! I don’t know if I am conveying my thoughts well, but you are a true and real person. It is nice to be a part of your world!

  6. Careful with the sock skating, Katy Rose. That landed my little girl in the ER way back when she was four! Then again, you can’t live in fear! Lol. Oh yeah, and “izod?” Thats too funny.

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