Pear Crumble with Golden Topping (Printable Version)

Juicy spiced pears beneath a golden, buttery oat crumble topping. Simple comfort food at its finest.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pear Filling

01 - 6 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

→ Crumble Topping

07 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
09 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss sliced pears with lemon juice, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and all-purpose flour. Spread evenly in a greased 9-inch baking dish.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, rolled oats, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and rub with fingertips or use a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger chunks.
04 - Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over pears, pressing down gently to create a thick, crunchy layer.
05 - Bake for 35 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and pears are bubbling at the edges.
06 - Cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The topping gets genuinely crunchy, not soggy, with big buttery clusters that crackle when you scoop through them.
  • Pears turn sweet and tender without falling apart, and the cinnamon warmth makes every bite feel like a hug.
  • It comes together fast with no fancy technique, just your hands and a bowl.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day with coffee.
02 -
  • Cold butter is non-negotiable, if it's too soft, the topping will melt into a greasy layer instead of forming those crunchy clusters.
  • Don't skip the tablespoon of flour in the filling, without it, the pear juices will pool and soak the bottom of your topping.
  • Press the crumble down gently in a few spots before baking, this helps it stay put and crisp up instead of scattering.
03 -
  • Use your hands to rub in the butter, the warmth helps you feel when it's just right, and you'll get better texture control than with a fork.
  • Let the crumble cool for at least 10 minutes before serving, the filling thickens as it cools and won't run all over the plate.
  • If the topping browns too fast, tent the dish loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
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