Caramel Pear Crisp
The caramel in this comforting seasonal dessert is made with butter and sugar and is a bit easier to make than a water and sugar caramel. That said, it is important to use ripe fruit that will let off juice so that the caramel isn’t too stiff. The cream cheese adds body and tang, and highlights the delicate flavor of the pears, but in a pinch, you could swap the cream cheese for ¼ cup of heavy cream. Either way, a drizzle of cold heavy cream for serving would offset the sweetness nicely.
- Total:
- Serves: 8 persons
Ingredients
- 4tablespoons/58 grams unsalted butter
- ¾cups/175 grams granulated sugar
- 4ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 2 ½to 2 3/4 pounds ripe pears (such as Bartlett or D’Anjou), each cored and cut into eighths
- 2tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger (1 ounce), optional
- 1tablespoon lemon juice
- 2teaspoons cornstarch
- 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 1 ¼cups/100 grams old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1cup/136 grams all-purpose flour
- 1cup/95 grams sliced almonds
- ¾cup/165 grams packed dark brown sugar, divided
- ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 8tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
Step 1
Heat the oven to 375 degrees.Step 2
Prepare the caramel: Add 2 tablespoons water and the butter to a 12-inch oven-safe skillet with high sides. Sprinkle the sugar in an even layer over the bottom of the pan (try to avoid getting any sugar on the sides of the pan). Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the sugar without stirring until bubbles start to appear. At this point you can swirl the pan carefully to help the sugar brown evenly. Once the caramel is deep amber, 6 to 8 minutes, remove the skillet from the heat.Step 3
Let the mixture cool for 1 minute and then stir in the cream cheese until fully combined (the mixture will bubble rapidly). Stir in the vanilla and the salt.Step 4
Prepare the fruit: In a large bowl, toss together the pears, ginger, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt.Step 5
Make the topping: In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, almonds, brown sugar and salt. Add the butter and toss together until all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened.Step 6
Add the pears to the caramel in the skillet and toss to combine. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top.Step 7
Bake until the caramel is bubbling in the center, the fruit is tender and the topping is browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.