Spiced Pear Cranberry Crisp (Printable Version)
Juicy pears and tart cranberries baked with a buttery, spiced oat topping for cozy nights.
# What You Need:
→ Fruit Filling
01 - 4 large ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
03 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Crisp Topping
11 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
12 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
14 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
18 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch square or similarly sized baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, toss sliced pears and cranberries with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until evenly coated.
03 - Spread the fruit mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
05 - Add cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients and use a pastry cutter or fingers to work it in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts if using.
06 - Evenly sprinkle the topping over the fruit layer. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling.
07 - Allow the crisp to cool for 10 minutes before serving warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It feels like sharing a treasured family secret each time you serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- The blend of spices and textures makes every bite a delightful surprise that quickly became a favorite
02 -
- Cold butter is the secret to that perfect crumbly topping texture—don't skip chilling it before mixing
- Using fresh pears that are ripe but still firm prevents the filling from turning mushy while baking
03 -
- Measure your spices carefully; too much nutmeg or cloves can overpower the dish
- Let your crisp rest briefly after baking to allow flavors and textures to settle perfectly