Autumn Apple Pear Crumble

  As the icy winds of winter rage on, my yearly temptation to curl up and hibernate becomes more and more compelling. I am a ‘cozy sweater and wool socks by the fire’ sort of girl, and always have been. Even in the (now long-departed) professional ballet days, you could always find me double-layered in fleecy warm sweats with a soft scarf wrapped around my neck. I would even bring my own cozy blanket to the theater to fight off drafts while waiting between rehearsals.

To sum up – I take being comfortable very seriously!   Even now I still layer up in my favorite cashmere sweater and find the perfect spot in front of the fireplace; somewhere between ‘really warm’ and ‘almost too hot’! I know that I am not alone in my quest for coziness: The Danish have a wonderful term for everything pleasant and snug – “Hygge”, which roughly translates to “wellbeing”. Think warm socks, good food & drink, and plush surroundings by a cozy fire. Smart people, those Danes.  

This dish is all of that “Hygge” wrapped up in a crunchy, sweet, warm apple & pear hug. Even before you taste the first spoonful, the air is perfumed with cinnamon, and the smell of fruit melting into a buttered pan. This Apple Pear Crumble is how I keep the snow and cold away!

Apple Pear Crumble

serves 6-8 

4 large honey crisp apples, peeled & cored

2 large Bartlett pears, washed

1 teaspoon of fine vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

½ cup salted butter, still slightly chilled

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon  

vanilla ice cream for serving (optional, but delicious)  

  Preheat your oven to 350F.   Butter a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.   Peel and core your apples. Cut into quarters and then slice thinly (1/8 inch). Then, add them to a large bowl.  

  Next, cut the pear from the core, in quarters, leaving the skin on. Slice into a variety of 1/8 inch slices or, into ½ inch cubes (if you want a different texture). Add to the bowl of apples.  

  Sprinkle the apples & pears with ¼ teaspoon of salt, vanilla, and cornstarch. Gently mix and set aside.  

  In another large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, & cinnamon and mix quickly with a fork. Add the stick of butter, then – using your hands – incorporate the butter into the dry mix. You’re going to ‘squish’ the butter in, using the heat from your hands to melt it slightly. Mix until the butter starts to clump with the flour, and then begin to crumble up the clumps, while also stirring it around. You want the end result to look like a mix of sandy dough with a few larger chunks in there. DON’T OVERMIX!  

  Once the dough is ready, take the apples & pears and tip them into the prepared baking dish. Spread the fruit out evenly. Next, spread the “sandy” butter & flour mixture over the fruit, in an even layer.  

  Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake 40-50 minutes, or, until golden and slightly bubbly.

  Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. I like mine to rest for about 40 minutes, so the cobbler is still warm, but not too warm to totally melt the vanilla ice cream I use for topping.  

Print Recipe

Apple Pear Crumble

Course: Dessert

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 large honey crisp apples peeled & cored
• 2 large Bartlett pears washed
• 1 teaspoon of fine vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup salted butter still slightly chilled
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• vanilla ice cream for serving optional, but delicious

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350F.
• Butter a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
• Peel and core your apples. Cut into quarters and then slice thinly (1/8 inch). Add them to a large bowl.
• Next, cut the pear from the core, in quarters, leaving the skin on. Slice into a variety of 1/8 inch slices or, into ½ inch cubes (if you want a different texture). Add to the bowl of apples.
• Sprinkle the apples & pears with ¼ teaspoon of salt, vanilla, and cornstarch. Gently mix and set aside.
• In another large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, & cinnamon and mix quickly with a fork. Add the stick of butter, then – using your hands – incorporate the butter into the dry mix. You’re going to ‘squish’ the butter in, using the heat from your hands to melt it slightly. Mix until the butter starts to clump with the flour, and then begin to crumble up the clumps, while also stirring it around. You want the end result to look like a mix of sandy dough with a few larger chunks.
• Once the dough is ready, take the apples & pears and tip them into the prepared baking dish. Spread the fruit out evenly. Evenly spread the “sandy” butter & flour mixture over the fruit, in one layer.
• Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake 40-50 minutes, or, until golden and slightly bubbly.
• Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. I like mine to rest for about 40 minutes, so the cobbler is still warm, but not too warm to totally melt the vanilla ice cream I use for topping.