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Caramel Apple Pear Crisp-- Made with a medley of fresh seasonal apples, pears, warming spices + a luscious homemade caramel sauce. Crowned with a crumbly, sweet oat topping, is the epitome of a comforting fall dessert.
Meet the drool-worthy homemade Caramel Apple Pear Crisp – A dessert that's a hit with the entire family and ideal for any time of the year--especially during the holiday season. Loaded with a delectable mix of apples, pears, a velvety homemade caramel sauce, and cozy fall spices. And the best part--This crisp recipe features a delightfully sweet sugar-oat topping that's bound to become a beloved classic in your home this season. Gluten-free option!
What Makes This Caramel Apple Pear Crisp The Perfect Cozy Weather Dessert?
No autumn weather slowdown here in my baking game. When those chilly days bring out the best in fall fruits, you can bet I'm all about making the most of fruity, delicious crumbles, pies, and crisps. From my Salted Caramel Apple Crisp to the Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Crisp and Pan Maple Roasted Pear Crisp, I've covered a lot. But I figured, why not create one with the best of everything? This dessert has both juicy pears and apples, beautifully mixed with a homemade caramel sauce.
Let me tell you, this is your go-to fall + winter dessert! Plus, it pairs perfectly with some homemade ice cream – because, of course, it does. Get ready for the comforting aroma of gooey cinnamon pears and apples filling your home! This classic treat, ready in just an hour-- well worth the wait. Loved by both kids and adults, it's the ideal dessert for little hands to dive into the sugary, spiced oat crumble. Just a heads up, you might discover a few missing spoonfuls along the way.
In this crisp recipe, we have three key components: the luscious caramel sauce, the flavorful filling of apples and pears, and the delectable crumbly topping.
CARAMEL SAUCE:
Organic brown sugar: Provides the rich sweetness for the homemade caramel sauce.
Unsalted butter: Adds a buttery richness to the caramel.
Organic heavy cream: Creates a smooth and creamy texture for the caramel.
FILLING:
Apples + Pears: Offers a sweet and crisp texture to the fruit filling.
Organic brown sugar: Sweetens and enhances the fruity filling.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg + ground allspice. Adds warm and aromatic fall flavor to the filling.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall depth and aroma of the filling. I find the brand Nielsen-Massey to be amazing and of such good quality!
Caramel sauce: homemade or store-bought--Infuses the filling with a luscious caramel flavor.
CRUMBLY TOPPING:
Organic all-purpose flour: Combines with other ingredients to form a crisp topping.
Organic rolled oats: Adds a lovely texture and nutty flavor to the topping.
Organic brown sugar: Sweetens and caramelizes the topping.
Ground cinnamon: Infuses the topping with a warm and aromatic touch.
Unsalted butter, partially melted: Binds the topping ingredients, creating a crispy, buttery layer.
How To Make Caramel Apple Pear Crisp
This delightful crisp involves a straightforward process, and it's simpler than you might think. First, we'll dive into creating our homemade caramel sauce (we'll delve into the details later). Then, we move on to crafting the luscious fruity filling, followed by the creation of the delightful crumbly topping. The final step is baking it all to perfection, resulting in a warm and comforting dessert.
SHOP MY FAVORITE BAKEWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES!
Here, I’ve curated a list of bakeware essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baking treats, especially with this Salted Caramel Apple Crisp. Everything from my fave baking sheets, parchment paper, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Best Types of Apples + Pears for this Crisp
Even though this salted caramel apple crisp is based on using Gala apples + Bartlett pears, you can also switch things up and add a slightly new flare to their flavor profile by adding any of the following for a bit more sweetness or tartness:
Apples
Granny Smith
Honeycrisp
Fuji
Pink Lady
Golden Delicious
Braeburn
and more!
Pears
Anjou
Bosc
Forelle
Concorde
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Pear Crisp
It's very easy to whip together and uses minimal staple ingredients.
Ready in a little over 1 hour and WORTH THE WAIT.
Warm and comforting apple + pear sweetness & spices with every bite.
Comes with a gluten-free option for those with gluten sensitivity.
Nice crunchy topping made from brown sugar + cinnamon that adds a beautiful touch!
Makes for the perfect sweet treat for the entire family.
Tips for Making The BEST Caramel Apple Pear Crisp
Here are my best tips for making sure this homemade apple + pear crisp comes out perfectly:
Cut the apples + pears into similar-sized chunks so they cook evenly. If they’re cut too small, the filling may turn to mush. And be sure to peel your apples first to avoid any odd texture----if you're sensitive to textures!
I recommend greasing the baking dish or skillet (unless it's a high-quality non-stick) so your crisp is easy to scoop out and clean up is no big deal.
You can make the oatmeal crumble for the top of your crisp with a pastry blender or with a big fork or a food processor. The key is to make a 'crumbly' mixture. You want some larger pieces and some smaller ones.
Be sure to let the crisp cool for five to ten minutes at a minimum before serving. This helps the crisp cool and absorb some of the excess liquid in the baking dish.
To Peel or To Not Peel Apples + Pears?
It is entirely up to you! I've made this recipe both ways and enjoy them both. I usually make this Caramel Apple Pear Crisp for my family, and my kids sometimes won't eat it with the skins on, so I peel them most of the time. I'm sure it goes without saying, but if you choose to leave the skins on, make sure to wash the apples thoroughly!
How To Serve Caramel Apple Pear Crisp
While the best pear + apple crisp recipe stands tall and proud all on its own, it would almost be a bit rude not to enjoy it with a generous scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, a fluffy dollop of Cool Whip, or your favorite creamy topping.
For an extra touch of sweetness, don't forget to drizzle some of that homemade caramel sauce on top. And to make it a truly heartwarming fall dessert, cozy up with a cup of homemade hot apple cider or caramel hot chocolate!
Benefits of Oats!?
If you aren’t familiar, oats are super nutritious! They include a great source of carbs, fiber (the soluble kind!), protein, and fat. In addition, they are loaded with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Other great benefits:
They can help to lower cholesterol.
Improves Blood Sugar levels.
May help with losing weight.
Great alternative for skincare.
Helps to relieve constipation.
Caramel Apple Pear CrispRecipeQ + A's
How do you store leftovers? How to reheat homemade crisp?
Best if served on the same day of making crisp. If made ahead of time (a few hours before serving), simply re-warm in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Leftovers should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
How to make this apple crisp gluten-free?
To make this crisp GF, simply substitute the flour with GF All-Purpose flour or 1-to-1 GF Baking Flour, which Bob's Red Mill has a great one! Ensure that other ingredients are GF-friendly (i.e. heavy cream, etc.). Also, ensure that the rolled oats are certified-GF.
How many servings does this homemade crisp recipe make? Can I make more?
Honestly, it's really up to you. This standard recipe can be up to 4 servings, depending on how many scoops you choose to indulge in (I'm guilty of eating this stuff massively. Haha). However, to increase the servings, simply make twice as much or triple the amount of the ingredients.
Can I remix this homemade crisp recipe with other flavors?
Definitely! I'm a huge believer in making tweaks based on your tastebuds, and this recipe is no different. Simply, add blueberries, apricots, or cranberries for a little pizzazz. Try my Vegan + Gluten-Free Apple Plum Crisp recipe!
How do you prevent pear crisp from getting soggy?
Once stored for later, it'll get soggy in the refrigerated, however, the trick is to re-heat it in the oven for it to crisp up nicely again.
How to store homemade caramel?
Leftover caramel sauce can be stored in a tightly sealed mason jar for up to two weeks. When ready to use, simply reheat sauce in the microwave at 15-second intervals until softened and at room temp.
More Fall-Inspired Homemade Desserts
Love all things sweet? Try these delicious dessert recipes next!
If you tried my homemade Caramel Apple Pear Crisp recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
Meet the drool-worthy Caramel Apple Pear Crisp – A dessert that's a hit with the entire family and ideal for any time of the year--especially during the holiday season. Loaded with a delectable mix of apples, pears, a velvety homemade caramel sauce, and cozy fall spices. And the best part--This crisp recipe features a delightfully sweet sugar-oat topping that's bound to become a beloved classic in your home this season. Gluten-free option!
Drizzle of caramel sauce, homemade or store-bought
Instructions
TO MAKE THE CARAMEL SAUCE:
In a medium (10-inch) skillet over medium-high heat, heat the brown sugar and stir constantly using a rubber spatula until clumps are formed. Add the butter and continue to stir until everything has melted and become a dark 'amber-like' color. Continue to stir consistently until fully melted and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.
Now, slowly whisk in the heavy cream and continue to whisk until combined and the sauce has fully thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before using.
TO MAKE THE FILLING:
In a large bowl, add the sliced apples, sliced pears, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, and caramel sauce, stirring everything together until combined and the apples + pears are completely coated.
TO MAKE THE TOPPING:
In a bowl, add the flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon, stirring until combined. Add the partially melted butter and using a spatula, mix until combined and 'crumbly-like'.
ASSEMBLE + BAKE:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare an oven-safe medium 10-inch deep skillet by greasing it lightly with butter.
Spoon the coated apples + pears into the bottom of your prepared skillet and top with topping mixture. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until apple-pear filling becomes bubbly and topping is golden brown.
Once fully baked, remove from oven and let it cool for 5 minutes or so. Serve warm and enjoy with a scoop of your favorite ice cream or Coolwhip! and drizzle with remaining caramel sauce.
Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
STORAGE: Best if served on the same day of making crisp. If made ahead of time (a few hours before serving), simply re-warm in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Leftovers should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
STORAGE (CARAMEL SAUCE): Leftover caramel sauce can be stored in a tightly sealed mason jar for up to two weeks. When ready to use, simply reheat sauce in the microwave at 15 second intervals until softened and at room temp.
APPLES: Best apples to use for this crisp are: Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, etc.
GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this crisp GF, simply substitute the flour with GF All-Purpose flour or 1-to-1 GF Baking Flour, which Bob's Red Mill has a great one! Ensure that other ingredients are GF-friendly (i.e. heavy cream, etc.). Also, ensure that the rolled oats are certified-GF.
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