A rustic Pear Walnut Crisp made in a cast-iron skillet is quite the show stopper. Serve this easy pear crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and prepare to be amazed at the delightful taste.
We can get pears pretty much any time of year, but there is something so comforting about indulging in a warm apple crisp or pear crisp during the colder months. This recipe is so easy and it's the perfect way to spend a chilly evening.
This sweet and crunchy dessert is super easy to whip up. It requires just a handful of simple ingredients and a whole lot of pears.
The cast-iron skillet makes the edges and topping extra crunchy. You know how I feel about that!
Top the crisp with vanilla ice cream and sit next to the fireplace. It's the perfect way to treat yourself after a long week!
Pears are best during the fall season
I'm a total fool for fruity desserts. They are my absolute favorite. While summer fruits are some of the best, I do get a little googly-eyed at over apples and pears. I mean, just imagine a warm comforting dessert with pears, nuts, cinnamon, and a crunchy topping. Doesn't that sound good?
I often use apples and pears interchangeably. Try making my Apple Cobbler or Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake with pears instead of apples.
This dessert is the perfect way to cure that craving I just gave you. This pear walnut crisp has so much flavor and texture. I could barely get it photographed without stealing samples. I was seriously eating it right out of the pan. Who needs a bowl anyways?
This crisp, like all other crisps, is the easiest thing to make. I think the most tedious thing about it is peeling and chopping the pears. But really, this a great dessert for the less experienced cook. You can even get your little helpers to assist you in mixing the topping and sprinkling it over the fruit. You can't mess this up.
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Pear Walnut Crisp
A rustic Pear Walnut Crisp made in a cast-iron skillet is quite the show stopper. Serve this easy pear crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and be prepared to be amazed at the delightful taste. We can get pears pretty much any time of year, but there is something so comforting about indulging in a warm pear crisp during the colder months. This recipe is so easy and it's the perfect way to spend a chilly evening.
Ingredients
For the filling
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 pounds pears, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges, about 5 medium
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups (168 g) chopped walnuts
- ½ cup (105 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the topping
- 1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cups (140 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold & cut into pieces
Instructions
Make the filling
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Generously grease the bottom and sides of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with the butter.
- In a large bowl, toss the pears with lemon juice. Add the walnuts, sugars, salt, and cinnamon. Toss to coat. Transfer to the prepared skillet.
Make the topping
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, and salt together. Use a pastry cutter or the tines of a fork to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the pear mixture.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the juices are thick and bubbly.
- The crisp can be made a day ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Pears: Use any variety of pear you like. I used a combination of Bartlett and Bosc pears.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 334Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 221mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 4gSugar: 35gProtein: 3g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
Adapted from Bon Appetit.
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Wednesday 9th of December 2015
Like you Jen. . .I tend to swoon over summer fruits like cherries and peaches. But when you warm fall fruits up and top them with spices, nuts and a crunchy topping. . .well that can give summer fruits a run for their money any day. This pear crisp is the perfect example of this. I looks absolutely divine and I can practically smell the cinnamon-y goodness just looking at the photos.
Jen
Thursday 10th of December 2015
I'm so glad you can relate. Thank you for the lovely comment, Lynn. Have a wonderful day!
Zainab
Thursday 3rd of December 2015
I need to bake more with pears!! This sweet crisp would be a great place to start.
Jen
Friday 4th of December 2015
Yes! I hope you give it a try!
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
Oh my word Jen this looks amazing! I love any crisp (really) but this takes it up a few notches, and the idea of baking it in a skillet makes it seem much more homey, rustic, and I love that :)
Jen
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
Thanks, Johlene! I love my cast iron!!
Danielle
Tuesday 1st of December 2015
What a perfect crisp for this time of year! I don't tend to bake with pears much, but I definitely should more often because this looks delicious!
Jen
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
Yes, you need to be baking with pears!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Tuesday 1st of December 2015
I love a good pear crisp! Great idea to add walnuts!
Jen
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
Thanks, Jessica!