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This easy pear crisp combines a sweet pear filling with a warmly spiced, ‘buttery’ oat streusel topping for a fantastic fall dessert. I made this vegan pear crumble recipe to be the perfect low-effort mid-week treat that also feels special and delicious enough to shine at the holidays!

Completed Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] in a baking tray alongside a plate of one piece of crisp.

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Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love this Sweet and Spiced Warming Pear Crisp (Pear Crumble) Recipe!

As summer turns to fall, I transition from my easy apricot crumble and plum crisp to my fall fruit favorites like stuffed baked apples, apple crescent rolls, and this super easy and delicious pear crisp with oats (aka pear crumble).

With ingredients like pears, brown sugar, and several warming spices like cinnamon and allspice, this Fall/Thanksgiving pear crisp recipe is a delicious fall treat. Plus, it gives sweet, crisp, juicy, and inexpensive pears the time to shine for a moment.

However, one of my favorite things about this delicious tasting and smelling pear crumble is that it takes just a few minutes to prep and is basically foolproof! It’s cozy, comforting, super easy to make, and a great way to use your pears!

Looking for more pear recipes? You might enjoy this apple pear pie or easy baked pears.

Ingredients for Easy Pear Crisp

Rely on simple and inexpensive pantry staples to prepare this delicious pear crisp with oats. Check out the grocery list in the recipe card for easy shopping!

Ingredients for Pin for Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble. measured out on a white surface.

How to Make an Easy Pear Crisp Vegan

Like most crumbles and crisps, this easy pear crisp recipe is simple enough for even your kids to get involved. Just chop the fruit, mix the crumble topping, assemble, and bake!

Process shot showing sliced pears and brown sugar mixed together in baking dish.
Process shot showing mixture of Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] ingredients in a bowl.

Step 1: First, preheat the oven to 350F/175C and lightly grease an 8-inch pie dish. Then, rinse and thinly slice the pears, transfer them to the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with ¼ of the brown sugar.

Step 2: To prepare the crumb topping, mix the flour, oats, remaining sugar, spices, vanilla, and melted vegan butter in a separate bowl. Then use a fork or your fingers to mix it into a crumb consistency.

I like to slice the pears by cutting each one in half lengthwise and using a small spoon to scoop out the seeds/core. Then, placing the cut-side-down on a chopping board, I use a sharp knife to thinly slice the pear. A mandoline also works.

Process shot showing adding oat filling mixture on top of pear mixture in baking dish.

Step 3: To assemble the pear crisp, sprinkle the streusel topping over the pears and spread it evenly. Next, bake it in the oven for 45 minutes. Finally, remove the baked pear crumble from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Depending on how thickly you sliced the pears, you may need to add up to 10 minutes extra. You can also optionally use a broiler at the end to further caramelize the sugars in the crumble topping.

FAQs for Pear Crumble

Do I need to peel the pears?

If you don’t like the texture of the peels (which can be a little tough) in the crumble, then peel them, though it isn’t 100% necessary.

How can I tell if pears are ripe?

When making this easy pear crisp recipe, you need to use pears that are just reaching ripeness. This means they should have just a tiny amount of give when squeezed near the stem but not be overly soft. Using ripe pears will lead to a mushy filling.

Can I make pear crisp with canned pears?

Yes, but only if you don’t mind a mushy filling. You may also need some cornstarch (or tapioca flour) to help thicken the pear juices into a jammy consistency.

What if it’s browning too quickly in the oven?

Tent some foil over it and continue baking to avoid excess browning/burn.

Can I make a pear crisp without oats?

Absolutely. It won’t be as crisp and toasty, but it still tastes amazing with a regular ‘buttery’ crumble topping.

What is the difference between pear crisp and pear crumble?

Nothing. They’re the same thing! At one point, they were differentiated between a crisp containing oats and a crumble not, but the terms are now used interchangeably!

Toni’s Recipe Tips and Notes

  • Sweeten to taste: Adjust the amount of sugar you use based on how sweet the pears you use are.
  • Adjust the texture: Instead of slicing the pears, you could dice them. This will change the texture slightly.
  • Adding the spices: I love to spice the streusel topping, but feel free to spice the pear filling instead. It’s a personal preference.
  • For a super crunchy topping: I highly recommend adding some chopped nuts into the streusel topping. Chilling the topping for 30 minutes before baking can also help make for a crispier top.
  • Allow it to cool: This will allow time for the filling to thicken before serving.
  • To save time: Use a mandoline or food processor slicing disk to help slice the pears.
Completed Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] in a baking tray.

Serving Suggestions

While you can enjoy this pear dessert cool, at room temperature, or warm, I prefer the latter, preferably with one of the following:

How to Make Ahead and Store?

Prep ahead: You can prep this fruit crisp ahead by preparing the pear filling and crumble topping and storing them separately in the fridge. Remove both from the fridge 20 minutes before baking, assemble, and bake as written.

Fridge: Once baked, leftovers will store, covered, at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Freezer: It is also freezer friendly for up to 3 months (either baked or fully assembled but unbaked). Simply thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating it.

Reheating Recommendations

  • Microwave: This is good for single portions and can be done in 20-second intervals until warm (usually between 60-80 seconds total). Just note the topping will remain soft this way.
  • Oven: For larger portions, or if you want to re-crisp up the toppings, reheat the pear crumble with oats in the oven at 350F until warm (usually around 20-25 minutes).

More Vegan Desserts to Consider

If you tried this easy pear crisp recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!

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Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble]

4.92 from 75 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 – 8 servings
completed Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] in a baking tray alongside a plate of one piece of crisp
This easy pear crisp combines a sweet pear filling with a warmly spiced, 'buttery' oat streusel topping for a fantastic fall dessert. I made this vegan pear crumble recipe to be the perfect low-effort mid-week treat that also feels special and delicious enough to shine at the holidays!
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Ingredients 

  • 3 large ripe pears thinly sliced
  • ¾ cup of brown sugar divided (plus more for sprinkling on top)
  • ½ cup of all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup of quick oats
  • ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon of allspice
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • ½ cup melted vegan butter

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a baking 8×8 dish.
  • Place the sliced pears in the prepared baking dish and mix in ¼ of the brown sugar.
    process shot showing sliced pears and brown sugar mixed together in baking dish
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, salt, allspice, cinnamon, vanilla, and melted vegan butter. Mix until well-combined.
    process shot showing mixture of Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] ingredients in a bowl
  • Spoon the oat mixture onto the pears and spread evenly. Sprinkle with more brown sugar (optional).
    post adding oat filling mixture on top of pear mixture in baking dish
  • Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Check to see if the pears are tender, if they’re not yet, bake for another 10 minutes.
    Completed Easy Pear Crisp [Vegan Pear Crumble] in a baking tray.

Notes

  • Sweeten to taste: Adjust the amount of sugar you use based on how sweet the pears you use are.
  • Adjust the texture: Instead of slicing the pears, you could dice them. This will change the texture slightly.
  • Adding the spices: I love to spice the streusel topping, but feel free to spice the pear filling instead. It’s a personal preference.
  • For a super crunchy topping: I highly recommend adding some chopped nuts into the streusel topping. Chilling the topping for 30 minutes before baking can also help make for a crispier top.
  • Allow it to cool: This will allow time for the filling to thicken before serving.
  • To save time: Use a mandoline or food processor slicing disk to help slice the pears.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 3gSodium: 707mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 5gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg

Additional Info

Author: Toni Okamoto
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto
4.92 from 75 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  2. 4 stars
    I’d suggest to add some cornstarch with the sugar when mixing into the fruit. Followed the recipe and it came out soupier than I would prefer.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for letting us know how it turned out for you! Hope you were still able to enjoy the taste of this crisp 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi! It sure can! For a gluten-free pear crisp, use an all-purpose gluten-free blend like King Arthurs or Bob’s Red Mill OR oat flour.

      Reply

  4. 3 stars
    The recipe has a lot of potential. I wish I would have read the comments before making because it is way salty. Im hoping the icecream will mask the salty taste. I will make again but with less salt. Thank you for the inspiration.

    Reply

  7. 3 stars
    warning to anyone making this: please translate “tablespoons” in this recipe to “teaspoons” LOL I followed it literally and boy was that a mistake!

    I wish I made it with way less salt. couldve been great

    Reply

  8. You forgot to include the part to add brown sugar to the oat mixture. I finished the recipe, realized a had 1/2 cup of brown sugar remaining, so added it to the top!

    Reply

    2. I think there might be a typo in the recipe–½ TBSP of salt? I used maybe a tsp and it still came out reeeally salty. Shame, because otherwise it’s a perfectly good recipe! I’ll just use even less salt next time.

      Reply

  14. 5 stars
    Pears are my favorite Fall fruit and crisp or crumble is my favorite dessert year round. This did not disappoint. So tasty.

    Reply