Our Browned Butter Pear Crisp is the ultimate fall comfort treat, with cinnamon-spiced pears and a warm, buttery topping, everyone will love it.
This Browned Butter Pear Crisp is a cozy, elevated dessert that pairs tender, juicy pears with a rich, nutty brown butter crumble. As the pears bake, they soften into a lightly spiced, caramel-like filling, while the oat topping turns golden and crisp with deep, toasty flavor from the browned butter. It’s a delicious twist on the classic apple crisp and tastes great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
For more pear recipes you will love you have to check out my Rustic Pear and Walnut Crostata, Pear Salad, and Poached Pear and Almond Tart.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Pear Crisp
- Browned Butter Pear Crisp fills the home with a heavenly aroma that’s hard to resist.
- This Browned Butter Pear Crisp recipe is simple and straightforward, perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
- Pear Crisp can be enjoyed warm or cold, and pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bartlett Pears: Sweet and juicy, these pears become beautifully tender when baked.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the topping.
- Ground Cinnamon: Provides a warm, spicy note.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Topping Options: The classic topping includes oats, brown sugar, butter, flour, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. For a nutty crunch, add chopped pecans or walnuts. Enhance the flavor with shredded coconut or ginger. Lighten it up by substituting some butter with applesauce.
- Pear Variation: Fresh Bartlett pears are ideal due to their sweet flavor and perfect texture when baked. Other good options include Bosc and Anjou pears, which offer slightly different textures and flavors.
How to Make Browned Butter Pear Crisp
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Set aside an 8×8 square baking pan or a medium-sized gratin dish.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, toss the pears in the lemon juice. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and cardamom. Sprinkle over the pears and toss to coat. Pour into the baking dish.
Step 3: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside.
Step 4: In a small saucepan set over medium heat, add the 4 tablespoons of butter. Heat until the butter foams, then begins to brown and become speckled (about 3-5 minutes), whisking every so often. Pour into the bowl with the topping ingredients and mix until crumbles form. Sprinkle over the filling.
Step 5: Place in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the pears are tender and the topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
FAQs
Old-fashioned rolled oats are best for this recipe. They provide a hearty texture and hold up well during baking, unlike quick oats which can become mushy.
Browned Butter Pear Crisp is best served warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. For extra indulgence, drizzle caramel sauce or maple syrup over the top.
Storage Info
To STORE Browned Butter Pear Crisp, cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. You can FREEZE it for up to 2 months by wrapping it well in plastic wrap and foil.
REHEAT the crisp in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes until warmed through, or microwave individual servings for 1-2 minutes. For best results, enjoy it fresh from the oven or reheated, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
More Favorite Fruit Crisps to Try
Browned Butter Pear Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Bartlett pears - cored and cut into 1/4" slices
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cardamom - optional
For the Topping
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar - packed
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tbsp butter*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Set aside an 8×8 square baking pan or a medium-sized gratin dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the pears in the lemon juice. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and cardamom. Sprinkle over the pears and toss to coat. Pour into the baking dish.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside.
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, add the 4 tablespoons of butter. Heat until the butter foams, then begins to brown and become speckled (about 3-5 minutes), whisking every so often. Pour into the bowl with the topping ingredients and mix until crumbles form. Sprinkle over the filling.
- Place in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until pears are tender and topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
This pear crisp is delicious. I believe the browned butter gives it a unique flavor. I didn’t have any cardamom so I substituted 1/4 tsp of ginger to give it a fall taste. Turned out great!
Tasted really delicious and super easy to make! Loved it! Will surely have this again, thanks a bunch for sharing! Highly recommended!
This is the most amazing crisp I have ever had. I love browned butter desserts!
This recipe is great. I don’t change or add anything. I get the butter to almost look like bacon grease for the topping.
Easy to make and a family favorite!
Happy to hear that! Thank you for saying that!
wow, that is very delicoius