September 29, 2024

Pear Crumble Recipe with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar

Pear crumble is a warm and comforting dessert that combines the natural sweetness and softness of baked pears with a gorgeous buttery crumble topping.  The juicy pears are mixed with sugar, lemon juice, and spices which have such a lovely and tender flavour when baked similar to my homemade apple crumble recipe or my more indulgent no-bake apple crumble cheesecake.  You are going to love this dessert!

In this blog post, you will learn how to make pear crumble.

How to Make the Pear Filling?

This pear crumble recipe uses canned pears.  Strain your canned pears through a sieve and put them into a large mixing bowl.  You will not need the pear juice for this recipe.  Add your brown sugar, corn flour, vanilla extract, lemon juice and cinnamon to the pears and give them a good mix until your pears are nicely coated.  I like to let my pears macerate for a little bit, but it is not a rule.  When they are done macerating, pour the pear filling into a greased 9”x9” pan.

If you love warm baked fruit desserts, try my homemade pear pie or peach crumble pie next.

How to Make the Crumble topping?

The crumble topping is made up of flour, sugar, and butter.  Mix the flour and sugar together well.  Then you will want to cut in the butter.  The butter should be removed from the fridge right before you need it because it needs to be very cold.  See my How to Cut in Butter tutorial on the different techniques used to cut in butter.

Can I Use Fresh Pears Instead of Canned Pears?

Yes, you can.  Pear crumble is a great way to use your fresh pears.  You will need the same amount of weight as the canned pears which is about a pound.  See the titles below on how to prepare fresh pears.

How to Prepare Fresh Pears?

To prepare fresh pears for a pear pie, follow the steps below:

  1. Select Ripe Pears:
    • Choose pears that are ripe but still firm, such as Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett varieties, for the best texture in your pie.
  2. Peel the Pears:
    • Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to remove the skin from the pears, as the skin can become tough when baked.
  3. Core the Pears:
    • Slice the pears in half and use a melon baller or a small spoon to remove the core and seeds. Also, cut out the stem.
  4. Slice the Pears:
    • Cut the pears into thin, even slices (about 1/4-inch thick) to ensure they bake evenly and fit well in the pie.
  5. Toss with Lemon Juice:
    • Immediately toss the pear slices with lemon juice to prevent them from browning and to add a bit of acidity to balance the sweetness.

Once prepared, your fresh pears are ready to be used in your pie filling, whether mixed with sugar and spices or placed directly in the crust.

Storage Instructions

Allow the pear crumble to cool completely before covering the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.  You can also transfer individual portions to an airtight container.  Store the pear crumble in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Pear crumble freezes well and is a great make-ahead dessert.  Allow it to cool completely before wrapping the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, or transfer individual portions to freezer-safe containers.  Freeze for up to 3 months.

Transfer the frozen pear crumble to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight before reheating.  For best results, thaw it slowly in the refrigerator so the filling heats more evenly.

Reheat the pear crumble in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 15–20 minutes, or until warmed through. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave for 30–60 seconds. For a crispier topping, the oven is the best option.

Ingredients

Canned Pears:  canned pears are the basis of the crumble.  They become incredibly juicy and tender when baked which makes them ideal for the fruit base.

Brown Sugar:  brown sugar adds a caramel-like sweetness to the filling which enhances the pear filling’s sweetness and is used in my moist apple cinnamon muffins as well.

Lemon Juice:  lemon juice adds a slight tang and if using fresh pears, prevents them from browning once peeled.

Corn Flour:  corn flour thickens the pear filling and absorbs excess liquid from the pears.

Vanilla Extract:  vanilla extract adds a warm and sweet note to the pears.

Granulated Sugar:  granulated sugar adds sweetness to the crumble topping.

All-Purpose/Plain Flour:  all-purpose flour is used to the structure of the crumble topping.

Unsalted Butter:  unsalted butter is cut into the flour and sugar to form the crumble topping which then melts into a gorgeous crust.

Tips

More cozy fruit desserts.

pear crumble recipe

Pear Crumble

This pear crumble recipe is a delicious and easy dessert to make.  Only a few ingredients are needed and by using canned pears, you really cut down on prep time.  This dessert is super satisfying, and pears are such a good fruit to bake with!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

Pear Filling

  • 2 Cans of pears each weighing 8 oz.
  • 1/4 c. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp. corn flour
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 c. sugar granulated
  • 1 c. all-purpose/plain flour
  • 1/2 c. butter unsalted (115g)

Instructions
 

  • Drain the pears from their juice and place them into a large bowl. (The pear juice will not be needed for this recipe.)
  • Add to the pears the brown sugar, lemon juice, corn flour, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Mix together and let macerate.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the granulated sugar and all-purpose/plain flour together. Next, cut in the butter until only small pea sized pieces of butter are left.
  • Preheat oven to 375℉/190℃/Gas Mark 5.
  • Take a 9”x9” dish and grease with either non-stick spray or butter. Pour into the greased dish the pear filling. Sprinkle the crumble topping onto the top of pear filling.
  • Bake for 1 hour until the filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and serve with ice cream!

Notes

Nutritional Information                                                                                           Servings 8
Calories 162                           Carbs 28g                               Protein 2g                  Fat 5g                   
Nutritional Information is automatically calculated and should only be used as a guide.
Keyword Crumble, Pear Crumble

Author:  Sarah Young

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best pears for pear crumble?

Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou, and Conference pears all work well for pear crumble.  Choose pears that are ripe but still slightly firm so they hold their shape while baking.

Can I make pear crumble ahead of time?

Absolutely! Pear crumble can be assembled several hours ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it. You can also bake it ahead and gently reheat it before serving.

How do I keep pear crumble from becoming watery?

Use pears that aren’t overly ripe and drain any excess liquid before baking. Allowing the crumble to cool for several minutes after baking also gives the filling time to thicken.

Can I add apples to pear crumble?

Definitely! Apples and pears make a delicious combination. Use firm apples that hold their shape well during baking, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.

Can I add oats to the crumble topping?

Yes! Rolled oats add a delicious crunchy texture to the topping and pair beautifully with pears, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Why is my crumble topping not crispy?

Make sure the butter is evenly incorporated into the crumble mixture and avoid covering the dish while it bakes. Baking uncovered allows the topping to become golden brown and crisp.

What can I serve with pear crumble?

Pear crumble is delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. The cold ice cream melting over the warm pear filling is especially delicious.

12. Is pear crumble the same as pear crisp?

They’re very similar desserts. Both feature baked fruit with a sweet crumbly topping. A crisp traditionally includes oats in the topping, while a crumble may be made without oats, although the terms are often used interchangeably.

 

In this blog post, you learned how to make a pear crumble.

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