Honestly speaking, I'm biased but this cinnamon pear crumble is to die for. It's loaded with pears, a cinnamon crumble topping, baked until bubbly and golden. It's quick, it's easy, and it'll have you going back for "just one more bite" (about five times, no joke this was me).
Whether you're cozying up on a chilly night or need an easy dessert for a dinner party, this 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
- 👩🏼🍳 Bake Level: Easy/Beginnner
- ⏱️ Bake Time: 35-40 minutes, including prep/ baking 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.
Tips, Tricks, and Key Reminders
- Choose the Right Pears: Use ripe but firm pears like Bosc or Anjou. Overripe pears can get too mushy.
- Boost the Flavor: Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger for extra warmth. A splash of vanilla extract also works wonders.
- Make It Ahead: You can prep the crumble topping and pear filling separately and store them in the fridge. Assemble just before baking.
- Add Extra Crunch: Toss in chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) or rolled oats to the crumble for more texture.
- Prevent Sogginess: If your pears are extra juicy, sprinkle a little extra flour or cornstarch to avoid a watery filling.
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, 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.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Swaps, Subs, and Variation Ideas
- 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.
- Use other fruit if you don't prefer pears.
- To make a crisp (which is different than a crumble), add in some old fashioned rolled oats!
How to make this cinnamon 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.
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!
Cinnamon 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.
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!