Normally at this time of year, spring is well underway. Temperatures are getting warmer, the tulips are starting to bloom and I come down with a serious case of spring dessert fever. But it snowed here this week and right now it’s a balmy 40 degrees. So you can understand my seasonal confusion and totally get the fact that I’m still rocking Ugg boots and craving warm, comforting desserts like Apple Pear Crisp.
Brian and his friend Corey had been planning “Kobe Beef Night” for weeks, but much their dismay, the Kobe Beef they’ve been dreaming about wasn’t available on the day they wanted to get their barbeque on.
Needless to say, they were bummed when their Wagyu cattle fantasy was replaced with Giant Eagle ribeyes. I thought I’d try to sweeten the situation and address my craving for a warm, hearty dessert with Apple-Pear Crisp.
I grabbed some apples and pears out of the fruit basket, sliced them up, added some sweetness, finished the fruit with a crumbly topping for texture, and I was in business. This crisp definitely hit the spot and, yes, it was good enough to make me forget about the miserable weather we have been having. Unfortunately, Brian and Corey continued to lament about “Kobe Beef Day”.
What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods? (I totally just channeled Al Roker!)
Apple Pear Crisp
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
For the fruit base
6 cups Granny Smith apples (about 6 large), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
4 cups pears (about 5 large), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamonFor the topping
1 ¼ cup old fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractDirections:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Prepare the fruit base: In a large mixing bowl, combine apple, pears and lemon juice; toss to coat. In a medium bowl mix granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples and pears tossing to coat. Pour apple pear mixture into prepared pan, spread into an even layer.
3. Prepare the topping: In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Mix butter and vanilla together and pour over oat mixture; stir to combine. Crumble mixture evenly over the apples and pears.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the crumble topping it golden brown.
Serve warm. If desired, top with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, or whipped cream.
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Where I am, it is in the high eighties, and not exactly enjoyable. But, no matter how hot it is outside, I still crave cold weather desserts like this one. It looks absolutely wonderful.
Crisps are my favorite type of dessert!! Weather here is rainy. And tornadoey.
We’re just now starting to warm up, after weeks of freezing rain and snow. Thank goodness. But I think I could eat this crisp in the dead of summer and be happy!
GREAT recipe… perfect time… beautiful shot!
This looks so delicious and the ice cream on top is so perfect!
Good to know I’m not alone in this pesky long winter thing. I’ve lived in New England my whole life, but I’m in Montana now and my family keeps bragging about their sunny mid-50′s weather. Here it’s hanging around 35, and was 20 when I left the house this morning. It snows almost every day. Maybe this crisp will make me feel better!
40 degrees?!? Gross. It was about 80 here today
. I could eat this crisp no matter the weather though 
.
That dessert look delicious! Nice and comforting, and I love pears with apple. Would be nice with some mixed berries instead of pear as well~
It is Autumn here at the moment, and it’s about 66.2F, ridiculously pretty weather outside, all sunny but cold, and I’m stuck inside doing ironing! Haha~
Omaha, NE…..well about a week and a half ago it was BEAUTIFUL….70 to 80 degree weather….then it got cold….freezing rain…wind….cold….Hopefully those 70 degree days return!!
Hmm seems like the grass is always greener on the other side. We are already seeing low to mid 90s and it’s not even August yet. I can’t wait. But crisp is always delicious, no matter the temp.
Ridiculously hot! It was in the high 80′s today which meant taking the dog for a walk miserable. I love apple crisp – anything crisp really. Hot or cold weather. Looks delicious!
It was chilly this morning, maybe 60′s and then muggy this afternoon. Best of both worlds, i suppose. The crisp looks perfect, regardless of the weather though.
Oooh this would hit the spot right now…and warm me right up. It is also all of 40 degrees in my neck of the woods.
I think you can bake this crisp any time of the year… I’d definitely eat it year round!
Spring has been late to arrive around here, too… Just last week, I baked some pumpkin bread on a chilly, rainy night!
We had hail today. Vicious and nasty. Then it rained ALL day and is now presently snowing! And I’ve got 5 families coming for a picnic Friday!
I think you crisp is in order.
The weather is terrible here too – rainy, cold, and complete with crazy wind. I am definitely craving luscious comfort food like this!
Cold, rainy, windy, miserable – and I’ve got the 5 pounds of baking comfort to prove it!
Kobe beef? Have they ever looked into what these poor animals have to endure? Makes me sick just thinking about it.
Glad to here you decided on this yummy crisp.
Kobe beef? Have they ever looked into what these poor animals have to endure? Makes me sick just thinking about it.
Glad to see you decided on this yummy crisp.
Well, despite the fact that it was 103 degrees here a couple of days ago (amazingly enough, I still live in the US…just in Texas…), I could totally get into this crisp. The problem now is that it’s Passover. That’s the only thing between me and this dessert, it looks delicious! Also…ice cream and caramel sauce should never be optional
Right now we’re in Cambodia. It’s so hot that I feel like I’m going to spontaneously burst into flames if I’m outside for more than 3 minutes.
It’s actually been unseasonably hot over by me, I kind of miss the milder spring weather and hope it comes back soon.
Great post Jamie! This is one of my favorite cool-weather desserts. I love how apples and pears take on such syrupy sweetness when they are baked. Here’s hoping Spring arrives your way soon. Here in Texas where I live, Spring came and went within weeks and we are well into Summer temperatures. Let me know if you want to trade places (I’m not a fan of heat or humidity!).
Anytime is good for apples, and the pears seem to make it lighter! lol We used to have a pear tree in the back yard that for years looked like it was on its last legs but we would still get some fruit. Mom would always make at least one large pear crisp from what we could put together, so good! Weather, finally see the sun today, temps. not too bad. I’m happy with turning the heat off in the house and not having to put the air on yet. So nice that it stays light out now in the evening till after seven, lifts the spirit. Can summer be too far away???
You’re not alone with wanting warm comforting apple type dishes lately! Those shots are beautiful! Makes me want some right now and it’s not even lunch.
The weather is all anybody in Utah is talking about these days. Rain again! Maybe a dusting of snow on the benches tomorrow morning and 45 degrees. This is nuts. Getting sooo sick of it. All you want to do is eat. Where is spring? Will have to feed my sorrows in this fabulous Apple-Pear Crisp today. Thanks for sharing. Love your website.
Love a crisp anytime of year!
Typical VA “spring” here…one day is 85 the next is 55…the flowers and the people are always confused!
Apple crisp is probably my favorite dessert in the world. It even trumps apple pie and that’s saying alot. I was thinking about baking something this weekend and this just may be it. Thanks
the weather here sucks. totally.
Yum! I love apple crisp and the crisp part is the best part!
I could eat that any old time of year! YUM!
Yummy and tempting photos and recipe…
Great idea to add pear to this traditional beauty. Love it!
UUUggghhhhh… the weather here is DISGUSTING. We’re talking 90 degrees with humidity to match. I’d do anything for a 40 degree spring, but you can keep the snow.
Oooh, Jamie . . . that looks wonderful.
It’s yo-yoing between low 60′s and low 80′s here. So while it’s a little warmer in Los Angeles your apple crisp sounds perfect. And that vanilla ice cream on top won’t hurt either.
I’m sorry your weather hasn’t been spring-like yet! This crisp looks beautiful and so comforting. Yum!
Oh. My. Goodness! Yummy – Thanks for sharing
I have been craving baked sweets with apples – this looks perfect. I love crisps!
We are having perfect weather for crisp and your apple pear is a wonderful combination. Nothing like warm crisp with ice cream to chase away the wet and rainy day blues.
I did this last week and was amazing!!!! Everybody love it!!
Check my blog: momysbabys.wordpress.com
I see fall on that dessert plate and I LOVE it!
Looks wonderfully delicious.
4 cups pears (about 5 large), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
4 cups of what???
sorry!!! i didnt notice the pears lol!!
can i make it only with apples??
This was fantastic! Probably one of the best crisps I’ve ever made. My guests were raving about it all night!