Imagine a dessert that transforms ordinary pears into a symphony of warmth, sweetness, and pure comfort. This Pear Crisp isn't just a recipe—it's a culinary journey that will transport you to a cozy autumn evening with just one heavenly bite. With its golden, crispy topping and tender, spice-infused pears, topped with creamy hand-churned vanilla ice cream, this dessert is about to become your new obsession. Get ready to impress your family and friends with a treat that's both rustic and elegant!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 1 hrs
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 6 ripe pears, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the pear crisp will bake evenly and develop a lovely golden-brown crust.
- Prepare the pears by peeling and slicing them into thin pieces. Aim for uniform slices to ensure even cooking. Place the sliced pears in a large mixing bowl.
- Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to the sliced pears. Toss the mixture gently to coat the pears evenly with the sugar and spices.
- Transfer the coated pears into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, spreading them out evenly to create a uniform layer.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of rolled oats, and 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour. Mix these dry ingredients well.
- Add the softened butter to the dry mixture. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Evenly sprinkle the oat and flour mixture over the sliced pears in the baking dish. Ensure that the topping covers the pears completely for an even crisp.
- Bake the pear crisp in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the pears are tender. You may want to check it halfway through to ensure it’s not browning too quickly.
- While the pear crisp is baking, prepare the hand-churned vanilla ice cream. In a large mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and pure vanilla extract. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can pour the mixture into a shallow dish and place it in the freezer, stirring every 30 minutes until it reaches a creamy consistency.
- Once the pear crisp is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Serve warm with a generous scoop of hand-churned vanilla ice cream on top.
- Enjoy your delicious pear crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream, savoring the warm, spiced pears paired with the creamy cold ice cream!
Tips
- Choose the Right Pears: Select ripe but firm pears like Bosc or Anjou for the best texture and flavor.
- Uniform Slicing: Cut pear slices to similar thicknesses to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use softened butter for the crumble topping to help it blend seamlessly with dry ingredients.
- Don't Overmix the Topping: Stop mixing when the butter creates coarse crumbs—this ensures a perfectly crispy top.
- Ice Cream Pro Tip: For extra-rich hand-churned ice cream, use high-fat cream and chill all ingredients before churning.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve the crisp warm with a cold scoop of ice cream for the ultimate temperature contrast.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the crisp earlier in the day and reheat before serving to save time.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 420kcal
Carbohydrates: 65g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Cholesterol: 50mg