Eric’s favorite uncle always sends us delectable pears in December that we enjoy eating all through the Christmas holiday. Our box arrived early this week! Thank you, Creed & Mickie! That means it is time for some pear inspired dishes.
Earlier this month, I featured a Pear Pizza recipe. A few years back, we were putting pears in a breakfast quiche. This post is a dessert featuring pears. While Christmas cookies are traditional and perfect for this time of year, occasionally, we want something a bit different for a party, a gathering, or on a cold winter’s night! Fruit crisps are a good choice and the perfect winter dessert. Crisps are baked desserts with a seasonal fruit mixture on the bottom and a crumb mixture on top. The crumb topping is a simple fusion of flour, butter, and sugar. These sweet endings are easy to make and rely more on taste than on fancy pastry preparation. This version uses gingered pears to take the crisp from humble to extraordinary!
Gingered Pear Crisp
Gingered Pear Crisp (adapted from cookinglight.com)
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups peeled, chopped Bartlett pears (about 4 pears)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup regular oats
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine the raisins, granulated sugar, orange rind (1/2 teaspoon for a hint of orange, 1 teaspoon for a strong orange flavor), orange juice, ginger, and vanilla with the pears in a large bowl.
Mix the pears with the raisins, sugar, orange, ginger, & vanilla.
Gently stir the mixture to coat the pears. Spoon the mixture into a shallow 2-quart baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray.
Transfer the fruit to the baking dish.
Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Put together the crumb topping.
Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal, then stir in the nuts. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the pear mixture.
Sprinkle the topping over the fruit.
Ready for the oven!
Bake the crisp at 375° F for 35 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving or rewarm the crisp before serving if making it ahead of time. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Wonderful winter flavors!
Gingered pears make a heavenly dessert! ~Linda
Gingered Pear Crisp (adapted from cookinglight.com)
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups peeled, chopped Bartlett pears (about 4 pears)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup regular oats
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine the raisins, granulated sugar, orange rind (1/2 teaspoon for a hint of orange, 1 teaspoon for a strong orange flavor), orange juice, ginger, and vanilla with the pears in a large bowl. Gently stir the mixture to coat the pears. Spoon the mixture into a shallow 2-quart baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray.
Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal, then stir in the nuts. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the pear mixture.
Bake the crisp at 375° F for 35 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving or rewarm the crisp before serving if making it ahead of time. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.