January 29, 2009

Pear, Apple and Cranberry Crisp

Uuummm... warm fruit and crunchy topping.... I mean is there really anything better on a snowy (i.e. gray slush) day? Ina has done it again! This crisp is so comforting and absolutely delicious. It has beautiful pieces of apple and pear, and tart little bits of dried cranberry. There is also a good deal of cinnamon, which gives it a real warmth, in addition to it being served piping hot out of the oven. As much as I love chocolate (and I LOVE chocolate), this is exactly the kind of dessert I crave when we are camped inside avoiding the wintery weather at all costs. Really, the only thing that got me out of the house yesterday was a trip to Bergdorf's. We gotta support the economy, right?! Thank goodness the sun has decided to show itself today, but the wind is still brutal. 

This is a very convenient dessert to serve when you are having friends over for dinner. Although there is a good amount of peeling and chopping to do, this whole crisp can be prepared before anyone arrives, then just popped in the oven while you are eating dinner. Or you can make it when no one is coming over and cherish the huge tray of leftovers you will be blissfully eating for the next week. Just buy 2 pints of vanilla ice cream. Wouldn't want you to run out and be forced to go to the local bodega to buy ice cream at 2 am in the snow. :)


Pear, Apple and Cranberry Crisp

4 ripe Bosc pears
6 firm apples (Ina suggests Macoun. I used Gala because that was what I had)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup AP flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:
1 1/2 cups AP flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, diced
  • Preheat oven to 350℉.
  • Peel and core pears and apples and cut into large chunks.
  • In a large bowl, toss fruit with cranberries, lemon and orange zest and juices, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Pour fruit mixture into a 9 x 12 x 2 inch baking dish.
  • Topping: In an electric mixture with a paddle attachment, combine all ingredients and mix on low speed for 1-2 minutes, or until mixture forms large crumbles.
  • Sprinkle topping all over the fruit mixture.
  • Place baking dish on larger baking sheet to catch any overflow, and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the top is browned and the fruit is bubbly.
  • Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

11 comments:

Dewi said...

Same here, I really like dessert with different texture, and involve fruit. Your dessert certainly have all of that component. Crisp from the topping combine with slightly softness from the fruit, ah such a pleasure having a bowl of this dessert.
Cheers,
Elra

grace said...

sure, the whole crisp can be prepared before anyone arrives, but it can also be consumed in that time too. :) i have trouble controlling myself around crunchy toppings. :)

Abbie said...

YES! Thank you!!
I have two bags of cranberries in the fridge that need to be used, and I was just about to do a search for recipes using cranberries. And this is perfect for some of them. We even have pears!
It's meant to be :)

Looks really, really yummy. Can't wait to make it.

Sara said...

This looks so delicious - I've heard such good things about the Barefoot Contessa's fruit crisp recipes, I need to try this!

Aimée said...

Oh yum! I just spent the afternoon with 4 children who are 4, 3, 2 and 1 and I could seriously eat this entire dish.

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

It does look warm and yummy. My husband would love this. Thanks for the post. I'll get to making this TODAY!

Culinary Wannabe said...

Hi Elra - Yes, fruit desserts are great. Especially since you can make an argument that they are healthy for you! :)

Hi Grace - Ha! The good thing was that I hadn't baked it yet - raw cookie dough is gone in a flash, but this topping ain't so hot raw. :)

Hi Abbie - It's like cooking karma! Hope you love it!

Hi Sara - I think Ina is just the queen of this kind of thing. I pretty much always love her recipes *knock on wood.*

Hi Aimée - Honey, you deserve to eat this whole thing!! And cute new pic!

Hi Foodie - I hope you (and your husband) love it!

Maria said...

I love crisps! This one has it all! I love your new photo!

Lori said...

Oh girl. . you're killing me again with these recipes! They look so good. I'm about to slobber all over my screen. I gotta try that Irish Onion Soup too!

Thanks for stopping by. I just love visitors!!

Donna-FFW said...

Pears, apple, cranberries, now you're talking. This looks super fantatic!! And the crisp on top, big YUM!

Culinary Wannabe said...

Hi Maria - Thanks so much!!

Hi Lori - Not doing anything to you that you don't do to me, it's only fair! :)

Hi Donna - Yes, the topping is the best part!