This cinnamon pear crumble is one of those desserts that makes it really hard to stop at one serving. Juicy pears, a buttery cinnamon crumble topping, and a golden, bubbly finish will make this an easy favorite. It comes together with minimal effort, and you'll definitely find yourself going back for "just one more bite" about five times. No judgment, because same.
Whether you're cozying up on a chilly night or need an easy dessert for a dinner party, this pear crumble delivers every time. It's just such an approachable recipe that I've made over and over again, even my kids devour it.
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TL; DR Recipe Summary - Pear Crumble
- 👩🏼🍳 Bake Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Bake Time: 25-30 minutes, including prep/ baking time.
- 🗝️ Key Ingredients: Pears, butter, sugar, cinnamon
- 📖 Dietary Info: Dairy, gluten
- 😋 Taste: Warm, cinnamon, sweet, buttery
- 💖 Why you'll Love: This pear crumble has NO oats which makes this an easier crumble to prep, comes together in a short amount of time, and can be prepped ahead of time.
- 🍽️ Pairing Ideas: You can serve this crumble as a sweet breakfast along with fluffy cinnamon waffles with a pear compote, delicious almond butter and jelly pancakes. Or, if you like this for dessert, add a dollop of vanilla ice cream and serve this alongside my homemade 4-ingredient fruit trifle.
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Tips, Tricks, and Key Reminders
- Choose the Right Pears: Use ripe but also relatively firm pears. I prefer to use Bartlett pears because of their flavor and texture, but any type of pear really does well in this recipe. I'd choose D'Anjou or Bartlett, but regardless of the pear, look for soft brown spots and do your best to avoid those as they become mealy and soggy quickly as they bake.
- Boost the Flavor: Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger for extra warmth. A splash of vanilla extract also enhances the flavor of the pears as they bake.
- Meal Prep: You can prep the crumble topping and pear filling separately and store them in the fridge. Assemble just before baking, but also remember to cover the tops of each of these as the crumble will dry out if left uncovered in the fridge.
- Prevent Sogginess: If your pears are extra juicy, sprinkle a little cornstarch to avoid a watery filling and a soggy bottom, as this is what happened to me when I tested it a second time. Cornstarch helps to bind the water from the pears and keeps it from falling apart.
What is a crumble?
A crumble is the cousin of a crisp, minus the oats.
It's a baked sweet treat with a crumbly topping made from flour, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. You add the crumble topping on top of fruit and bake.
The Main ingredients
- Pears: the reason I developed this recipe, it's all about the pears. They bring natural sweetness and a tender texture when baked.
- Cornstarch or arrowroot: both of these are equally available at grocery stores, and they are used thicken the pear filling so it's luscious, not runny.
To make the crumble topping, you'll need:
- Flour - I actually used gluten free flour from Primal Palate for this because I ran out of regular all-purpose, but regular all purpose flour works well too.
- Sugar - the sugar combines with the melted butter and the flour to make a "crumble"
- Cinnamon - a little warmth and flavor added to the top.
- Butter - the melted butter is what brings all of the dry ingredients together. Don't worry about using unsalted or salted, I prefer to always use salted butter.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Pear Crumble Swaps and Substitutions
- Use gluten free 1:1 flour to make the crumble, swap out the pears for apples or other types of fruit, and use coconut sugar instead of the brown sugar.
- You can also add in other fruits to this to make it a mixed fruit crumble such as apples (honeycrisp or gala are my fav) or even some mixed berries.
- To make a crisp (which is different than a crumble), add in some old fashioned rolled oats!
How to make this pear crumble
Step 1: In a small separate bowl, melt the butter, then pour into the flour and sugar mixture. Mix together using a spatula until the flour and sugar are fully incorporated with the butter. The crumble should look like large pieces and stick together.
Step 2: Slice three pears into ¼" pieces and add to an oven-safe baking dish. Sprinkle a dusting of cinnamon and arrowroot or cornstarch onto the pears and toss to combine.
Step 3: Sprinkle a generous helping of the crumble on top of the pears, spreading evenly to coat.
Step 4: Bake the crumble at a 350º oven for 20 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Mistakes I've Made (so YOU don't have to!)
- Don't use overripe pears as they will fall apart when they bake. I've done this because it was all I had, it was mealy and mushy and very inedible.
- Do not forget to chill the crumble before adding to the pears in the baking dish. The reason you want the crumble to set and chill is to allow the butter to harden and form that "crumble" texture. If not, it will melt and not form those crispy crumble pieces on top.
Pear Crumble FAQs
Absolutely! Prep the filling and crumble separately, store them in the fridge, and assemble just before baking. Or, bake it fully and reheat before serving.
Store leftover crumble in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to maintain the crispy topping.
Yes! Freeze it unbaked, then bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Baked crumble can also be frozen; just reheat in the oven.
Check out these other yummy dessert recipes!
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Pear Crumble Recipe
Equipment
- oven safe baking dish
- mixing bowl for crumble
- cutting board
- knife
Ingredients
For the Crumb Topping
- 80 grams all-purpose or gluten free flour ⅔ cup
- 50 grams cane sugar ¼ cup
- 50 grams light brown sugar ¼ cup
- 4 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For the Pears
- 3 large pears sliced thin
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot or cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
For the crumble
- Combine the flour, sugars, and cinnamon in a bowl, then set aside.
- In a small separate bowl, melt the butter, then pour into the flour and sugar mixture. Mix together using a spatula until the flour and sugar are fully incorporated with the butter. The crumble should look like large pieces and stick together.
For the Pears
- Slice three pears into ¼" pieces and add to an oven-safe baking dish. Sprinkle a dusting of cinnamon and arrowroot or cornstarch onto the pears and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle a generous helping of the crumble on top of the pears, spreading evenly to coat.
- Bake the crumble at a 350º oven for 20 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Brianna Criscitelli says
My sister and I made this this weekend and it was awesome! Delicious, easy and so cozy. Perfect for the fall!
Kathy L says
This recipe is to DIE for, and ridiculously easy to make. Made it with the kids and they were able to help out. Will 100% be making this again!
Noreen says
I cannot tell you how yummy this was also just so easy to make. I made this for a Christmas gathering this weekend and we all just devoured it. We had a brunch, and this was awesome!! Thanks!