Old-Fashioned Warm Pear Crisp
This warm pear crisp is a classic Southern fall dessert that’s big on fruit and topped with a perfectly crunchy oat and brown sugar crumble. Made with fresh Bartlett pears and simple pantry staples like cinnamon and quick oats, this easy, 20-minute prep recipe delivers a cozy, bubbling dessert that’s even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s the perfect way to use up a harvest of pears for a weeknight treat!
A Cozy Classic for Chilly Afternoons
I’ve always felt that the best recipes are the ones that make the whole house smell like cinnamon, and this pear crisp is exactly that! It takes me right back to those autumn afternoons when the air gets a little crisp, and you just want something warm and sweet to finish off supper.
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?
Recipe Ingredients
- Cinnamon
- Pears
- Butter
- Quick oats
- Brown sugar
- All-purpose flour
- White sugar
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!
How to Make Warm Pear Crisp
1. Prep the Filling
Preheat your oven to 375°F and spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and dice your pears, then toss them directly into the dish.
Sprinkle your white sugar, flour, and cinnamon over the top and give it a good stir until every piece of fruit is well-coated.
2. Mix the Topping
In a medium mixing bowl, combine your oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Use a long-tined fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
3. Bake Until Bubbly
Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the pears. Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. You’re looking for the fruit juices to be bubbling around the edges and the topping to be a beautiful golden brown.
4. Serve it Up
Let it sit for just a few minutes after it comes out of the oven to let the juices set. Serve it warm in a bowl with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce if you’re feeling extra indulgent.
Storage and Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers, they stay great in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. I think it’s best to reheat it in the oven or air fryer to help that topping crisp back up, but a quick zap in the microwave works just fine for a late-night snack. You can even freeze the baked crisp for up to three months, but just make sure it’s completely cooled before you wrap it up tight!
You may also like these recipes for other fabulous fruit crisps:
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 8×8 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.
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.
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.
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*
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?
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!
This is really good with apples too.
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.