Apple-Pear Crisp

The beauty of a fruit dessert like this apple-pear crisp is its simplicity. Unlike pies and cakes, making a crust or worrying about whipping eggs is unnecessary for a crisp. Instead, it’s as easy as combining apples and pears and then covering them with a topping made with oats, spices and butter. It’s one of the coziest fall desserts, one that beckons for a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

To keep things easy (and for a bit of extra nutrition), leave the peels on the fruit, then enlist friends and family to help you with slicing. Pay them with the promise of warm apple-pear crisp a la mode.

What’s the difference between a crumble and a crisp?

The biggest difference between crumbles, crisps and cobblers comes down to the topping. Crumbles are covered with a streusel topping, typically made with flour, sugar and butter. Crisps also use those ingredients, plus oats and nuts, to create a crunchier topping. A cobbler typically has a biscuit-like topping, which makes it a bit heavier than a light crisp.

Ingredients for Apple-Pear Crisp

• Apples: The best types of apples for baking include tart Granny Smith and pink lady, but feel free to swap in one or two of a sweeter variety for a fun twist.
• Pears: Several pears work in this crisp, but Bosc and Anjou are the best for baking because they soften while holding their shape. Choose pears that are ripe but still a bit firm. The right pear will give with slight pressure, making it easier to peel and slice.
• Lemon juice: You’ll need a little acid to prevent the oxidative browning of the peeled and cut fruit and balance the sweetness in the crisp. We prefer fresh lemon juice (it’s easy to juice lemons by hand), but bottled also works.
• Salt: Salt brings out the flavors of the fruit.
• Vanilla extract: Although only a tiny amount is used in this crisp, vanilla extract adds the perfect mellow warmth to this fall-inspired dessert.
• Oats: Old-fashioned oats are best for their texture and wide surface area. Save your quick-cooking oats for breakfast!
• Flour: You’ll need some all-purpose flour to help build the crisp. For best results, spoon flour into measuring cups rather than scooping and packing it.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar pairs well with the fruit and oats. Light or dark brown sugar both work, but the darker sugar adds more color and a deeper molasses flavor.
• Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon adds the perfect amount of warmth to the topping. We use ground cinnamon, but freshly grated is even better. Ceylon is a milder type of cinnamon, but if you want a bigger, bolder flavor, use Vietnamese or Saigon cinnamon.
• Nutmeg: A classic fall spice, a little bit of nutmeg goes a long way.
• Butter: Cold butter binds the topping ingredients in the most delicious way. Use the best butter you can, and use unsalted, since you use it in the filling and the topping.

Directions

Step 1: Make the filling

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, toss the apples and pears with sugar, lemon juice, salt and vanilla extract. Transfer the mixture to a greased 2-1/2-quart baking dish.

Step 2: Prepare the topping

In another bowl, mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Cut the cubed cold butter into the oat mixture until crumbly.

Editor’s Tip: To cut your butter into the oat mixture, cut your cold butter into small cubes. If the butter warms up while you’re cutting, cover it and refrigerate until it’s cold. Add it to your dry mixture, then use a fork or pastry cutter (an essential tool for baking pies and tarts—and crisps!) to smash and work the butter into the mixture. Keep pressing until the mixture resembles clumps of wet sand.

Step 3: Bake the crisp

Sprinkle the topping over the filling and bake until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

Taste of Home

Recipe Variations

• Add cranberries: Prepare the recipe as written, adding 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries to the fruit mixture, similar to an apple cranberry crisp.
• Add ginger: Ginger adds a warm, peppy flavor to this crisp. Grate 1 tablespoon of peeled fresh ginger into the filling mixture, and add 1 tablespoon of candied ginger to the topping mixture to boost the ginger flavor even more.
• Toss in some nuts: Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans to the topping mixture for a little extra crunch and flavor. Pecans make a great addition, but walnuts and almonds are also tasty.
• Spice it up: To amp up the flavor, use a spice blend like apple pie or homemade pumpkin pie spice. Use 1-1/4 teaspoons instead of the cinnamon and nutmeg.

How To Store Apple-Pear Crisp

You can store the crisp in its baking dish. Let it cool to room temperature before wrapping it up or storing it in an airtight container.

How long does apple-pear crisp last?

An apple-pear crisp lasts up to two days at room temperature and up to one week in the refrigerator. The topping will soften the longer you keep it.

How do you reheat apple-pear crisp?

To reheat apple-pear crisp, cover the dish with foil and bake it in a 300° oven until warm. For smaller portions, transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl, then cover and cook it on medium heat for 30-second intervals until it’s warmed through.

Can you freeze apple-pear crisp?

You can easily freeze apple-pear crisp whole or in individual portions. Make sure the fruit crisp is cool, then cover and store it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to eight months.

Apple-Pear Crisp Tips

Taste of Home

How do you peel and slice the apples and pears?

You can peel an apple with a paring knife, vegetable peeler or apple peeler. Then core it with an apple corer (the quickest way!) or a knife. The most important part about slicing apples and pears for a crisp is cutting the slices so that they’re all about the same size. This ensures the fruit cooks evenly. For this crisp, we like 1/4-inch-thick slices.

Can you make this apple-pear crisp gluten-free?

Luckily, it’s easy to make this crisp gluten-free! Use your favorite gluten-free flour blend instead of the all-purpose flour. When choosing oats, look at the packaging for the certified gluten-free symbol.

What’s the best way to serve apple-pear crisp?

Of course, apple-pear crisp with vanilla ice cream is delicious, but you can also serve it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or vanilla Greek yogurt. You could also simply drizzle heavy cream over the warm crisp just before serving.