Warm & Bubbly Pear Crisp For Two: Your Perfect Fall Dessert Recipe

Welcome the cozy embrace of autumn into your kitchen with this delightful, warm, and bubbly Pear Crisp For Two. Each individual ramekin is generously topped with creamy vanilla ice cream and finished with a vibrant, tart blood orange sauce. While perfect for two, this recipe can be easily doubled to fill an 8×8 pan, making it versatile for any occasion.

When the leaves begin to turn golden, and a crisp coolness fills the air, what culinary delights come to mind? Often, our thoughts drift to classic fall desserts like apple crumble or small pumpkin pie. However, one often-overlooked autumn fruit, the humble pear, deserves its moment in the spotlight. In this recipe, we bring the pear front and center, transforming it into a warm and inviting Pear Crisp, elevated with luscious vanilla ice cream and a bright, zesty blood orange sauce.

Much like my beloved cranberry apple crisp, this is the quintessential fall fruit dessert you’ll crave as sweater weather truly sets in. This Pear Crisp with oats marries the natural, subtle sweetness of Bartlett pears with the satisfying crunch of walnuts, all enveloped under a golden, buttery streusel topping. It’s a comforting treat that’s ideal for a cozy evening, a special dessert for two, or even as a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving For Two celebration.

Embracing the charm of small batch baking, this recipe is designed specifically as a pear crisp for two. This allows you to effortlessly whip up a fresh, warm dessert to share with a loved one, or simply enjoy one portion now and freeze the other for a delightful treat later. It’s about enjoying freshly baked goodness without the overwhelming leftovers of a large-batch dessert.

Understanding the Crisp: A Classic Fall Dessert

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s clarify what exactly a “crisp” is. A crisp is a baked fruit dessert featuring a tender, cooked fruit filling generously topped with a streusel mixture. The defining characteristic that sets a crisp apart from its cousin, the crumble, is the inclusion of oats in the streusel topping. These oats not only add a distinct nutty flavor but also contribute to the irresistible, well-defined crisp texture that gives this dessert its name.

If you prefer a softer, more crumbly topping, you can easily omit the oats, effectively transforming this into a pear crumble recipe. Fruit crisps are celebrated for being among the simplest and quickest desserts to prepare. There’s no need for elaborate crusts or separate filling preparations; you simply toss the fruit with a few ingredients, top it with the streusel, and bake. This ease makes them a perfect last-minute dessert or a go-to for busy weeknights when you crave something sweet and homemade.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect Pear Crisp

Crafting your delightful pear walnut crisp requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect balance of flavor and texture:

• Pear: The star of our show! I highly recommend using Bartlett pears for this recipe. Their sweet, juicy flesh and classic pear flavor hold up beautifully during baking, resulting in a wonderfully tender filling. While Bosc pears are also popular, they tend to be firmer and less flavorful when cooked in a crisp.
• Walnuts: These add a lovely textural contrast and a rich, earthy flavor to the fruit filling. If walnuts aren’t your preference, pecans make an excellent substitute, offering a similar crunch and complementary taste. For a nut-free dessert, feel free to omit them entirely.
• Sugar (Granulated & Brown): Granulated sugar sweetens the fruit filling, enhancing the pears’ natural sweetness without overpowering it. Brown sugar in the streusel provides a deeper, more caramel-like flavor and contributes to the crisp’s golden-brown finish.
• Cornstarch: This essential ingredient acts as a thickening agent, ensuring the pear juices become a luscious, spoonable sauce rather than a watery liquid as the fruit cooks down.
• Lemon Juice: A splash of fresh lemon juice is vital. It brightens the flavors, prevents the pears from oxidizing (browning), and adds a subtle acidity that perfectly balances the sweetness of the fruit and sugar.
• Vanilla Extract: Much like salt in savory cooking, vanilla extract is a flavor enhancer in baking. It adds warmth and depth, making all the other flavors in the crisp sing. Always opt for pure vanilla extract for the best results.
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These classic warm spices are the perfect companions to pear. They infuse the crisp with an inviting aroma and a comforting, autumnal taste that truly defines fall baking.
• Salt: A tiny pinch of salt in both the filling and the streusel doesn’t make the dessert salty. Instead, it’s a culinary secret that amplifies the sweet flavors, making them more pronounced and well-rounded.
• All-Purpose Flour: In the streusel topping, flour provides structure and helps bind the butter and sugars together, creating those wonderfully coarse, crumbly bits.
• Unsalted Butter: The foundation of our irresistible streusel. Cold, unsalted butter is cut into the dry ingredients, then bakes to create a rich, buttery, and incredibly crunchy topping that is the hallmark of any great crisp.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pear Crisp

Creating your pear crisp recipe is wonderfully straightforward, promising a warm, inviting dessert with minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result:

1. Prepare the Pear Filling: In a medium bowl, combine your peeled and chopped pear pieces, chopped walnuts (if using), granulated sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Toss everything gently until the pears are evenly coated. This ensures every bite is bursting with flavor. Divide this fragrant mixture equally between your two prepared 6-ounce ramekins.
2. Craft the Streusel Topping: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, rolled or quick oats (avoid steel-cut oats for this recipe), a quarter teaspoon of ground cinnamon, an eighth teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Now, add the cold, cubed unsalted butter. Using a pastry blender, two forks, or even your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This uneven texture is key to a wonderfully crispy topping. Sprinkle this streusel mixture evenly over the pear filling in both ramekins.
3. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your ramekins on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips and make transfer easier) and bake in your preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 25-30 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the topping is gorgeously golden brown and bubbly, and the pears beneath are tender when poked with a fork.

Serving Suggestions for Your Pear Crisp Sundae

While delicious on its own, the best way to serve your warm pear crisp recipe is with a generous scoop of cold vanilla bean ice cream. The contrast between the warm fruit and cold, melting ice cream is simply heavenly. If ice cream isn’t available or preferred, a dollop of freshly made homemade whipped cream also makes for a delightful topping.

To truly elevate this dessert into a gourmet experience, I transformed my pear crisp into a sundae by drizzling a vibrant blood orange sauce over the top. I originally chose blood oranges because I had an abundance of them, and their tart, slightly bitter notes paired exquisitely with the sweet pears. The stunning crimson color also adds a beautiful visual appeal. If blood oranges are out of season or not to your taste, a classic homemade caramel sauce is an equally fantastic alternative, offering a rich, buttery sweetness that complements the pears beautifully. Serve immediately while the crisp is still warm for the ultimate comfort dessert.

Planning Ahead: Making Pear Crisp in Advance

One of the beauties of this pear dessert is its flexibility. You can easily prepare it up to two days ahead of time, making it perfect for entertaining or enjoying a spontaneous treat. Here are two convenient methods for making your pear crisp ahead:

1. Assemble and Refrigerate Unbaked: You can fully assemble your crisps, including the fruit filling and streusel topping, and then cover them tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate them for up to two days before baking. When you’re ready to bake, simply remove them from the fridge and add an extra 5-10 minutes to the usual bake time to account for their chilled temperature.
2. Bake, Cool, and Refrigerate: Alternatively, you can fully bake your crisps, allow them to cool completely to room temperature, and then cover them tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, simply place them in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes, or until they are warm and bubbly again.

Proper Storage for Leftover Pear Crisp

If you plan on devouring your crisp on the same day it’s baked, you can comfortably leave it at room temperature for a few hours. However, for longer storage, refrigeration is necessary to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage. Once cooled, wrap your individual ramekins tightly in plastic wrap or transfer the crisp to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. While the streusel topping may lose some of its initial crispness after refrigeration, a quick reheat will bring back its comforting warmth and flavor.

More Delicious Fruit Dessert Recipes For Two

If you’ve fallen in love with this pear crisp, you’re in for a treat! Whether you’re craving the crunch of a crisp, the soft cake-like topping of a cobbler, or the buttery crumbs of a crumble, here are more delightful small-batch fruit dessert recipes perfect for sharing:

• Raspberry Almond Crisp For Two: A vibrant and nutty twist on the classic crisp.
• Blueberry Cobbler For Two: Sweet, juicy blueberries under a tender biscuit-like topping.
• Peach Cobbler For Two: The taste of summer in a small, comforting portion.
• Strawberry S’mores Cobbler: An inventive and decadent combination of fruity sweetness and campfire flavors.

First published March 5, 2013, this timeless recipe continues to bring cozy, autumnal joy to kitchens everywhere.