Spiced Pear Christmas Crisp with Oat Topping
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 to 7 large ripe pears (such as Anjou or Bosc), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish or a similarly sized oval gratin dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray to prevent the fruit juices from sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced pears with the lemon juice to prevent browning. Add the granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom. Stir gently until every slice of pear is evenly coated in the spice mixture. Transfer the fruit into the prepared baking dish.
- In another bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, salt, and chopped nuts if you are using them. Add the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your clean fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the spiced pears. Do not press the topping down; keeping it loose allows for a crispier texture once baked. Ensure the fruit is completely covered from edge to edge.
- Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The dessert is ready when the fruit juices are bubbling around the edges and the oat topping has turned a beautiful golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, cover it loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Remove the crisp from the oven and let it stand for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This cooling period allows the pear juices to thicken slightly, creating a delicious sauce for the fruit.