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Half pie and half crumble, this simple, home-baked dessert uses pears instead of apples for a fragrant twist on an old family favourite. With a shop-bought pastry base and quick crumble topping, it couldn’t be easier to make, and tastes delicious served hot or cold with whipped cream, custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Prep time: 20 mins
Cooking time: 45 mins
Total: 1 hour 05 mins
Serves: 6 to 8
Ingredients
Pastry shell,
1
Lemon juice,
2 tbsp
Granulated sugar,
⅔ cup
Ground ginger,
½ tsp
All-purpose flour,
1 cup + 2 tbsp
Pears,
6 cups, freshly sliced
Butter,
½ cup, cubed
Light brown sugar,
½ cup
Preparation
Step 01
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 02
Line a pie plate with the pastry shell.
Step 03
Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, ginger, and 2 tablespoons of the flour to a medium-sized bowl and stir briefly to combine.
Step 04
Add the pear slices to the sugar mixture and stir well until each piece is fully coated.
Step 05
Pour the pear mixture onto the pastry-lined pie plate you prepared earlier and set aside.
Step 06
Add the flour and cubes of butter to a large mixing bowl and rub together until you have a texture like breadcrumbs, then stir in the brown sugar.
Step 07
Spread the crumble topping in a generous layer over the pears, taking care to leave no gaps.
Step 08
Transfer the pie tin to the oven and bake until the topping is golden brown and the pears are tender, approximately 45 minutes.
Step 09
Serve immediately, or chill in the fridge for later.
Fragrant, juicy pears make a great alternative to apples for a satisfying and tasty family dessert, while their sophisticated mellow sweetness means they work equally well as the elegant conclusion to the perfect dinner party. They can shine by themselves, enhanced by complementary spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla, and can also be used to balance stronger flavours like raspberry or chocolate. Indulge your sweet tooth with these delicious pear dessert ideas.
Even when they’re slightly overripe, there are still plenty of exciting ways you can use pears. Try blitzing them in a blender to make jellies, preserves or smoothies, or cooking them down to make pie and crumble fillings. You can even add diced pear to cake batter for a deliciously moist and fragrant sponge. Discover more with our guide to overripe pear recipe ideas.
