Name: Old-Fashioned Warm Pear Crisp
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 8 cups peeled pears (about 8-10 medium-sized pears); 2 tbsp sugar; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 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)

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 spoonful of pear crisp served with vanilla ice cream.

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?

All ingredients for recipe for pear crisp.

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.

Cinnamon and flour sprinkled over diced pears.

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.

Crisp topping ingredients in mixing bowl.

Mixed crisp topping ingredients in mixing bowl.

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.

Prepared pear crisp before going into oven.

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!