Pear Crumble with Golden Topping (Print Version)

Juicy pears with thick, golden crumble topping. Easy British dessert ready in 55 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

# What You Need:

→ Pear Filling

01 - 6 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

→ Crumble Topping

07 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
09 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced pears with lemon juice, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and flour until evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9-inch baking dish and spread in an even layer.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and rub together with your fingertips or use a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized chunks remaining.
04 - Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the pear filling, pressing down gently to create a thick, unified layer without compacting it completely.
05 - Bake for 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the pear filling is visibly bubbling at the edges.
06 - Allow the crumble to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It uses just a handful of pantry staples and doesn't require any fancy techniques or equipment.
  • The topping bakes up thick and crunchy with pockets of buttery sweetness that contrast beautifully with the soft, spiced pears.
  • It's forgiving enough that even if your pears are a little underripe or your topping isn't perfectly crumbly, it still turns out delicious every time.
02 -
  • Cold butter is non-negotiable—if it's too soft, the topping will turn greasy instead of crumbly and crisp.
  • Don't skip the tablespoon of flour in the filling or you'll end up with a soupy base that seeps into the topping and makes it soggy.
03 -
  • Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the topping for extra crunch and a deeper, toasted flavor.
  • If you want a hint of citrus, toss a teaspoon of lemon zest into the pear filling—it brightens the whole dish without being obvious.
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