Name: Pear Crumble Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 4 ripe pears, peeled, cored and quartered lengthways; 100g dark brown soft sugar; ½ lemon, juiced; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 250g plain flour; 150g cold butter, cut into chunks; 75g dark brown soft sugar; 50g chopped hazelnuts; Custard

Jump to Recipe

Introduction

This pear crumble is a comforting dessert that combines tender, juicy pears with a crunchy, nutty topping. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for cozy evenings or special occasions. Serve it warm with custard for a truly delightful treat.

The image shows a golden baked crumble dessert in a rectangular pan with a crumbly, rough-textured top layer that is speckled with light brown nuts, possibly hazelnuts. The middle layer is soft, smooth, and yellow-orange, likely cooked fruit, visible where a portion has been scooped out. Below the pan, a small round white bowl holds a crumbly scoop of the dessert with two yellow-orange fruit pieces topped with crunchy crumbs. A metal spoon rests inside the bowl. The setting is on a white marbled surface with a blue cloth napkin near the bowl. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

4 ripe pears, peeled, cored and quartered lengthways
100g dark brown soft sugar
½ lemon, juiced
1 tsp vanilla extract
250g plain flour
150g cold butter, cut into chunks
75g dark brown soft sugar
50g chopped hazelnuts
custard, to serve

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 4. Arrange the pears snugly in a medium ovenproof dish without large gaps.
Step 2: Sprinkle 100g dark brown sugar over the pears, then pour over the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Use your hands to gently mix and coat the fruit evenly.
Step 3: Place the flour in a large bowl. Rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Stir in 75g dark brown sugar and chopped hazelnuts, then evenly scatter this crumble topping over the pears without packing it down tightly.
Step 5: If you have any leftover topping, bake it separately in a small ovenproof dish next to the crumble to enjoy extra crispness.
Step 6: Bake for 40-50 minutes until the topping is golden and the pears are tender.
Step 7: Serve warm with custard for a comforting dessert experience.

Tips & Variations

For added warmth, sprinkle in some cinnamon or nutmeg to the crumble topping before baking.
Substitute hazelnuts with walnuts or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
If pears aren’t in season, try using apples or a mix of fruits like berries and plums.

Storage

Store any leftover crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the oven to maintain crispiness or warm in the microwave if short on time. The topping may lose some crunch when stored but reheating in the oven helps restore it.

How to Serve

A baking tray filled with a golden crumble dessert topped with whole hazelnuts, the crumbly texture is rough and uneven with parts scooped out revealing a soft, yellowish fruit layer underneath. A round white bowl below holds two large pieces of the crumble with visible soft fruit inside, covered by a thick layer of crumb topping, and a spoon resting inside the bowl. The scene is set on a white marbled surface with some scattered crumbs around, capturing the warm, crunchy texture of the dessert. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen pears for this recipe?

Yes, frozen pears can be used but thaw and drain any excess liquid before assembling the crumble to avoid a soggy topping.

How do I make the crumble topping crumbly and not dough-like?

Use cold butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Avoid overworking the dough to keep the topping light and crumbly.