Sometimes the most basic recipes are the best. They allow natural flavor to shine. That is the case with this simply wonderful pear crisp. Juicy ripe pears give us such a burst of bright flavor, accompanied by a lightly sweet crisp topping and a spoonful of fluffy whipped cream.
January is a time when good fruit can be hard to come by. But pears are perfect for this time of year. They are bountiful at the grocery store right now, and when baked, they deliver such a fresh, sweetness, especially when baked with cinnamon and brown sugar.
I have made countless apple crisps in my time, but pear crisp is somewhat new to me. And really, I don’t know why I have not made it sooner. It is my new favorite way to eat pears. I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, called Savor, by Ilona Oppeheim. I omitted the walnuts for my recipe, mainly so my sweet son would enjoy this crisp, though I think they would be great in it myself. But it is great without the nuts too, especially with a dollop of homemade whipped cream!
Sunny days are hard to come by in a Michigan January as well, and it looks like the sun has just come out here for awhile. We will take what we can get, and I will be getting outside here as soon as I can! We had a sunny day last Sunday, and were able to get out on the lake near our house before the weather warmed up just enough to thaw the ice. My husband and his friend ice fished while my daughter and I had a few minutes before sunset to walk down to the lake and say hello. It was so peaceful to be out on the ice at sunset.
Food can be a great comfort at all times of the year. In the middle of the winter, when it is often cold and gray outside, and dark in the mornings and evenings, warm food can definitely lift the spirits. This pear crisp puts a smile on my face, and my family loves it as well. And it is so very easy to make, which is an added bonus! Be well and stay warm! I will be sharing this recipe over at Angie’s weekly link party, Fiesta Friday!
Simply Wonderful Pear Crisp
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of all purpose flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)
- 1/4 cup of old fashioned rolled oats
- 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup or one half stick) of unsalted butter, plus a bit more for greasing the baking pan
- 4 ripe pears (or 6 pears if they are small), peeled, cored, and diced
- whipped cream (optional)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9 x 9 inch baking dish. (You can also use four 4-inch ramekins if you wish.)
In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. With a pastry cutter, cut in the butter until the mixture forms large crumbs.
Place the diced pears in the baking pan in a single layer. Sprinkle the flour mixture evenly over the pears.
Bake in your 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and fruit is soft. Serve warm with a spoonful of whipped cream on top, if desired. Enjoy!
