The 5-Ingredient Dessert I Make All Winter Long

Pear harvest begins in mid-August in the Pacific Northwest. Living in a small town in Oregon, the second largest pear-producing state, it’s not uncommon for me to drive by orchards full of hardworking people picking beautiful fresh pears. I often end up riding behind a truck hauling bins full of beautiful fruit to a nearby packing house.

Pears are picked before they’re ripe, allowing you better control over when you want to eat one as a snack or use the tasty fruit in cooking or baking. One of my favorite ways to enjoy them? A quick and easy pear crisp that requires just five ingredients.

It’s warm, comforting, and absolutely ideal for a chilly day. Make it as a quick weeknight dessert and enjoy the rest for breakfast the next morning.

The Best Pears for Pear Crisp

There are many varieties of pears ranging in sweetness and texture. For this recipe, it’s important to keep water content in mind. I prefer ripe but still firm Bosc or Anjou pears, which are a bit crisper than Bartletts while still packing flavor.

While in the oven, the pears will release a bit of water, but I look at that as an added bonus. As the liquid marries with prominent flavors of vanilla and brown sugar, the crisp makes its own lovely sauce at the bottom of the baking dish. It’s excellent drizzled over top as you’re dishing up the pear crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

How To Make My 5-Ingredient Pear Crisp

For about 6 servings, you’ll need:

• 4 large firm, ripe Bosc or Anjou pears (about 2 pounds)

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 cups (240g) rolled oats, divided

• 1/2 cup (107g) brown sugar, divided

• 6 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven.

Peel and thinly slice the pears and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add in the vanilla extract, 1/4 cup oats, and 1/4 cup brown sugar and mix to combine. Transfer to an 8x8 baking dish.

In the same bowl, add the remaining oats and brown sugar. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or by smooshing with your hands to form a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the pears.

Bake the pear crisp until the top is lightly golden and the pears are tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the crisp cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven before serving.

Ways To Make It Your Own

• Spice it up: I love the way the vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the pears while brown sugar adds a touch of complex sweetness. However, you can certainly include other spices to enhance the flavor further. Consider adding a sprinkle of cinnamon, cardamom, or allspice to the fruit mixture to spice things up.

• Add flour: This recipe is kept low on ingredients by design. This results in a crisp topping, but it doesn’t have quite as much structure as a typical fruit crisp. If preferred, you can add 2 tablespoons of flour to the mixture or pulse 3/4 cup of the oats in a food processor before adding for a more structured topping.

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