Spiced Maple Pear Crisp

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This Spiced Maple Pear Crisp is literally overflowing with fresh in-season pears, sweet maple, a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, and twice the amount cinnamon oatmeal streusel. Whether you’re in need of a quick and easy dessert, or simple want to enjoy the best of Fall pears, this easy fruit crisp is just what you need. The pears are tender, sweet, and oh-so juicy with hints of maple and spice in every bite. Then, there’s the topping. It’s almost like a giant oatmeal cookie on top! It’s crunchy, subtly spiced, sweetened with brown sugar, and the perfect compliment to the pears. Serve with a scoop (or two!) of vanilla ice cream to have a Fall dessert the whole family is sure to love!

About The Recipe

Oh, I am SO excited to finally be sharing this recipe with all of you! My mom and I had this idea back in January. Yes. You read that right. January. And, to be honest, we were beyond excited to make it…but, since it was the middle of winter, pears weren’t really anywhere to be found,

So, the idea had to be pushed back until pears came back into season.

Pear season in Texas is usually August-October. So, as soon as pears started hitting the market, we immediately wanted to make this crisp! But, we knew waiting until September would give us the ultimate flavor.

So, we waited…and waited.

Until now! The pears the last week or so have been SO sweet, juicy, and genuinely flavorful. We just knew that now was the perfect time to share this recipe!

Originally, this recipe was going to be a salted caramel pear crisp, but since you all have been loving maple flavored treats lately, we decided to change it up (though, if you like the idea of a salted caramel pear crisp, let us know in the comments below!).

Sweet warming maple, hinted with nutmeg and cinnamon, and bursting with fresh juicy peaches…what could be better?!

Though, I think my absolute favorite thing about this crisp is just how easy it is to make!

No specialty equipment. Just a few bowls, a fork, a spoon, and a casserole. That’s it! It takes no time to mix-up and will be the perfect addition to your Fall dessert table. Seriously, SO. GOOD.

What’s The Difference Between a Crisp, Crumble, and Cobbler?

While all of these desserts are very similar, there are some differences! When it comes to crisps and crumbles they are, essentially, the same thing. Baked fruit with a crunchy topping. A crisp tends to have oats in the topping while a crumble does not.

Then, there’s cobbler! Yet another delicious baked fruit dessert, but totally in a league of its own. Instead of a crunchy topping comprising of butter, brown sugar, oats, etc. It typically has a biscuit-like topping or pie crust!

Reasons You Will Love This Spiced Maple Pear Crisp

• Super simple to make!
• The perfect dessert to enjoy in-season pears.
• A real crowd-pleaser.
• Maple + cinnamon = DELICIOUS!
• Perfect for get-togethers, parties, or Fall holiday celebrations.

Equipment Needed

• Mixing Bowls
• Pastry Blender or Fork
• Rubber Spatula
• 10 Inch Round Casserole

Ingredients

Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For The Filling:

• Bosc Pears – For this recipe, it’s best to use Bosc pears, as they hold up better when baked!
• Powdered Sugar – Adds sweetness.
• Cornstarch – Thickens this filling just enough to keep it from being too liquid-y.
• Ground Cinnamon – Makes each bite taste like Fall!
• Ground Nutmeg – Enhances the flavor of the pears, while also adding an earthy nuttiness that really brings this whole dish together.
• Salt – Cuts some of the sweetness while also bringing out more flavor.
• Salted Butter – Adds a buttery goodness to this filling.
• Vanilla Extract – Gives every bite a sweet undertone.
• Maple Syrup – Adds a deliciously warming flavor to this crisp!

For The Topping:

• Rolled Oats – Also known as steel cut oats. These are a must-have for crisp!
• Brown Sugar – Not only does this add sweetness, but it also adds an incredible depth of flavor to this topping.
• All-Purpose Flour – Allows this topping to keep its structure and from becoming like hard-candy.
• Ground Cinnamon – Adds delicious flavor!
• Salted Butter – By using salted butter for the crisp topping, you won’t need to add any extra salt.

How To Make This Spiced Maple Pear Crisp

Step 1: Mix filling

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix gently.

Pour into prepared casserole.

Step 2: Prepare topping

In a medium bowl, combine oats, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix well.

Add butter. Cut in with a pastry blender, or a fork.

Step 3: Bake

Sprinkle streusel on top of filling. Bake for 80-90 minutes, or until bubbly and set.

FAQ’s and Troubleshooting

What is the best pear to use?

For this recipe, we highly recommend using baking pears. These will hold up/keep their shape even when baked. Our personal favorite is Bosc pears for baking, but you can use Bartlett or Anjou.

How do you know when a crisp is done?

Baked fruit desserts such as crisps can be hard to tell when they’re perfectly baked. Though, luckily, this recipe tends to give us a visual cue! Once the topping is a golden brown and the filling/juices are bubbling up, the crisp is ready to be taken out of the oven. For us, that was at about 1 hour and 30 minutes of bake time.

Can I add other fruit?

If you want to add other fruit to this recipe, go ahead! We love the mix of pears with cranberries or even blackberries.

What To Serve With This Spiced Maple Pear Crisp

One of my favorite things about this crisp is that it pairs with so many different things! Here’s a few of our favorites to share alongside/on top of this delicious dessert.

• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Cinnamon Ice Cream
• Caramel Sauce
• Chantilly Cream

How To Store

You can easily keep this in the fridge. Just cover with plastic wrap or foil and it should keep about 4-7 days

Substitutions

• To make this crisp vegan, use your favorite plant-based butter.
• To make this recipe gluten-free, use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.

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Expert Tips

• Remember to wash, peel, and core your pears.
• Make sure your butter is cold when making the topping! You can also use an electric mixer to make the topping.
• The crisp should be perfectly done after about 1 hour and 30 minutes of baking. To see if it’s done, you can give it a small shake. If it’s mostly set, then it should be ready to take out.
• Make sure the topping coats the entire filling! You don’t want any exposed filling.
• As this cooks, it will rise slightly and then fall back down when you take it out of the oven.

When you make these Spiced Maple Pear Crisp, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

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