This buttery pear crumble smells like autumn in a baking dish. Tender cinnamon-spiced pears bubble beneath a golden, crumbly topping that turns crisp and sweet in the oven. I first made this dessert the year my neighbor Sofia brought over a basket of ripe pears from her tree, and I've been hooked ever since. It comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients, and the whole house fills with the most comforting smell while it bakes.
If you love cozy fall desserts, you'll also want to try this Spiced Gingerbread Loaf Recipe or this Peach Cake for another easy, fruit-filled treat.
What You'll Love About This Easy Pear Crumble Recipe
Simple ingredients. You probably have most of what you need already. Just pears, butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and a little vanilla.
No rolling, no fuss. Unlike pie, there's no dough to chill or roll. You literally just toss and sprinkle.
Warm, cozy flavor. The cinnamon-spiced pears taste like autumn. It's the kind of baked pear dessert that makes your kitchen smell amazing.
Perfect for sharing. This Pear Crumble makes 12 servings, so it's great for family dinners, potlucks, or holiday gatherings.
Tastes incredible with ice cream. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream melting into the filling, and you've got dessert magic.
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Pear Crumble Ingredients
Here's a short, simple intro: Just a handful of pantry staples and fresh pears make this fall dessert crumble come together beautifully.
See Recipe Card Below This Post For Ingredient Quantities
Pear Filling
- Pears: The sweet, tender base of this dessert. Use ripe but firm pears for the best texture. Bartlett, Bosc, or Anjou pears all work well.
- Pure vanilla extract: Adds a warm, sweet depth to the filling that complements the cinnamon perfectly.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the pears and helps create a syrupy, bubbly filling as it bakes.
- All-purpose flour: Thickens the juices released by the pears so the filling doesn't turn watery.
- Ground cinnamon: Brings warmth and spice to every bite. It's the flavor that makes this dessert taste like fall.
- Fine sea salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Crumble Topping
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the crumble and helps it turn crisp and golden in the oven.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the topping and helps it caramelize slightly as it bakes.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds another layer of cozy spice to the buttery crumble.
- Fine sea salt: A small pinch balances the richness of the butter and sugar.
- Salted butter (softened): Creates the rich, crumbly texture. Softened butter is easier to work into the dry ingredients with your hands or a fork.
How to Make Pear Crumble
Here's how it all comes together: Mix the filling, crumble the topping, and bake until golden and bubbly.
Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch round deep dish pie dish or a 9×9-inch baking dish so the crumble doesn't stick.
Peel and slice the pears: Peel, core, and slice your pears into even pieces. You'll need about 8 cups of sliced pears, which is roughly 8 medium pears.
Mix the filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced pears with vanilla extract, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Stir everything together until the pears are evenly coated. The flour will help thicken the juices as the pears bake.
Transfer to the dish: Pour the pear mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Make the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the softened butter and use a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands to work it into the dry ingredients. Keep mixing until the mixture looks crumbly and clumps together when you squeeze it.
Top the filling: Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the pears. Don't press it down, just let it sit on top in a loose, uneven layer.
Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 50 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling around the edges. You'll know it's ready when you can see the juices bubbling up through the crumble.
Cool: Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. This gives the filling time to thicken up a bit.
Serve: Serve the pear crumble warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a dollop of whipped cream.
Smart Substitutions and Swaps
Pears: If you don't have enough pears, you can use a mix of pears and apples. The flavor will shift slightly, but it'll still be delicious. This makes a great apple pear crumble.
Butter: If you only have unsalted butter, that's fine. Just add a pinch more salt to the topping.
Cinnamon: Swap in apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice if you want a more complex flavor.
Sugar: You can use brown sugar in the topping for a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness.
Gluten-free option: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in both the filling and the topping.
Equipment For Pear Crumble
You don't need anything fancy for this easy crumble dessert Pear Crumble. Here's what to grab:
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Spatula
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Peeler
- 9-inch round deep dish pie dish or 9×9-inch baking dish
- Medium and large mixing bowls
- Wire cooling rack
How to Store Pear Crumble
At room temperature: Let the crumble cool completely, then cover it with foil or plastic wrap. It'll keep for up to 2 days on the counter.
In the fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly. It'll stay fresh for up to 5 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, or warm the whole dish in a 300°F oven for 15 minutes.
In the freezer: You can freeze baked pear crumble for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
Serving Ideas That Feel Special
With vanilla ice cream: This is the classic pairing. The cold, creamy ice cream melts into the warm filling and makes every bite incredible.
Drizzled with caramel sauce: A little caramel adds extra sweetness and richness. It's especially good if you love that sweet, buttery flavor.
Topped with whipped cream: Light, fluffy whipped cream is perfect if you want something a little less rich than ice cream.
Alongside coffee or tea: Serve this cinnamon pear dessert crumble for breakfast or brunch with a hot cup of coffee. It's cozy and comforting, and feels like a treat without being too heavy.
If you're looking for more desserts to pair with this one, try this Caramel Turtle Cheesecake or these Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars.
Expert Tips
Use ripe but firm pears. Pear Crumble that are too soft will turn mushy as they bake. You want them ripe enough to be sweet, but firm enough to hold their shape.
Don't skip the cooling time. Letting the crumble rest for 30 minutes after baking helps the filling thicken. If you dig in too soon, it'll be runny.
Make the crumble topping chunky. Don't over-mix the butter into the dry ingredients. You want some big, irregular clumps that'll turn golden and crispy in the oven.
Add a little lemon juice. If your Pear Crumble are very sweet, toss them with a teaspoon of lemon juice to balance the flavor.
Try a mix of pears. Combining Bartlett and Bosc pears gives you a nice mix of sweetness and texture.
FAQ
What are the best pears for crumble?
Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears are all great choices. Bartlett pears are sweet and juicy, Bosc pears hold their shape well, and Anjou pears have a mild, balanced flavor. Use what you can find, and make sure they're ripe but still firm. Overly soft pears will turn to mush as they bake. If you're not sure, gently press the pear near the stem, it should give just a little.
Can I make pear crumble with frozen pears?
Yes, you can. Just thaw the pears completely and drain off any excess liquid before tossing them with the filling ingredients. Frozen pears release more juice than fresh ones, so you might want to add an extra tablespoon of flour to the filling to help it thicken. The texture won't be quite as firm as fresh pears, but the flavor will still be delicious.
How do I know when pear crumble is done?
The crumble is ready when the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges. You should see the juices coming up through the crumble in spots. If the top is browning too quickly but the filling isn't bubbling yet, cover the dish loosely with foil and keep baking. The total time is usually around 50 minutes, but ovens vary.
How do I store leftover pear crumble?
Let it cool completely, then cover the dish tightly with foil or transfer the crumble to an airtight container. It'll keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, or warm the whole dish in a 300°F oven for about 15 minutes. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, just thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Pear Crumble
Pear Crumble
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Lightly grease a 9-inch round deep dish pie dish or a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Make the Pear Filling: Peel and slice the pears into even pieces and place them in a large bowl.
- Add the vanilla, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and sea salt to the pears and stir until evenly mixed.
- Transfer the pear mixture into the prepared dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Make the Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Cut the softened butter into the dry ingredients using a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
- Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the pear filling in the dish.
- Bake the crumble in the preheated oven for 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the pear filling is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.
- Serve slightly warm, topped with vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or as desired.
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