Warm apple and pear crumble, all caramelized and rich fruit, with a hint of the best spices, buried in that buttery soft and crisp crumble, topped with vanilla bean ice cream = basically the best dessert ever. š
There are few desserts I love quite as much as a freshly baked apple crumble or apple crisp. A crumble can work in every season and filled with a variety of different fruit options, this gooey baked treat is always topping my list.
The Most Incredible Apple Pear Crumble
I kicked this crumble up for the cold weather with the addition of pears and a few warming winter spices, making it extra perfect served fresh out of the oven (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, naturally.)
Perfect Apple and Pear Crumble, Every Time
Apple crumble happens to be a surprisingly simple dessert to throw together (since it’s basically the quick alternative to a classic apple pie.) Also, I love making apple crumble for simple holiday desserts and on random weekdays when I’m craving something sweet. So, basically any time I have apples (or berries) to use up. It’s a great dessert for using up leftover fruit, is customizable by swapping out different types of fruit, adding nuts, etc., is so simple to make, and comes out great each and every time.
And really, what’s not to love about this classic dessert? Gooey and warm spiced, caramelized apples and pears bubbling through a decadent, chewy, doughy, subtly crispy-along-the-edges crust; the dessert practically begs for that big ‘ol scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.
Fruit Options in Crumble
Just as I did here, you can also easily swap out the apples in any great crumble recipe for a combination of apples and pears or any variation of berries. We’re big fans of using up older berries from the refrigerator (or even frozen berries we have on hand), like in this classic berry crisp.
The Difference Between Apple Crumble and Apple Crisp
Both simple desserts are made with similar fruit bases and streusel-style toppings made from flour, butter, and sugar. The difference is that an apple crisp typically contains oats, while a crumble is just flour. Variations can be made in each, i.e., adding chopped nuts to the crumble or crisp topping before baking for extra crunch.
Apple and Pear Selection
Whenever I make an apple crisp or apple crumble, I like to mix up the apple selection. Some of my favorite apples – Honeycrisp apples – always work well in apple desserts, but I’m also a big fan of mixing up flavors. So, for instance, pairing Granny Smith apples with Honeycrisp apples, Fuji, McIntosh, Braeburn, or Golden Delicious will give you the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
Hint: you can also use a combination of apples and pears to make this knockout dessert, especially in winter, when some of the best pears are perfectly in season. I always like to mix apples and pears, rather than just using pears, since pears can be a really delicate fruit, especially when baked on their own.
If you’re adding pears to the mix and you are baking in the winter time, I really love baking with D’anjou pears, though the beauty of a fruit crumble, is just about any will work well in this recipe.
Apple Pear Crumble
INGREDIENTS
Crumble
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- One half teaspoon salt
- Ā½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Apple Filling
- 2 Ā½ pounds apples (or combination of apples and pears), peeled, cored, and sliced or diced (about 6 cups or 4 to 5 large apples)
- Ā½ cup granulated sugar or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons corn starch or all purpose flour
- Ā½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- One half teaspoon nutmeg
- Ā¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
DIRECTIONS
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Preheat your oven to 375Ā°F. Set aside an 8 or 9-inch baking dish.
Crumble Topping
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In a bowl, combine AP flour, brown sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.
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Add the melted butter and stir until crumbly.
Prepare Filling
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In another bowl, combine apples, pears, sugar, cornstarch (or flour), and spices.
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Transfer apple mixture to the baking dish and spread into an even layer.
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Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the top of the apple filling.
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Bake for 35 to 45 minutes (it will be bubbling and golden brown on top).
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Allow your crumble to cool for 15 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Scroll down for the full, printable, customizable and totally incredible apple and pear crumble recipe.
Warm apple and pear crumble, full of caramelized and rich fruit, with a hint of the best spices, buried in that buttery soft and crisp crumble, topped with vanilla bean ice cream = the most incredible dessert ever.
The Most Incredible Apple Pear Crumble
Ingredients
Instructions