How to serve

This great dessert can be served with custard, a scoop of ice cream (I love vanilla bean ice cream with pear crumble) or a drizzle of double/heavy cream. My preference is Custard!

Tips for making Pear Crumble

• Use cold butter for the crumble This will make for a crunchier topping.
• Make the topping in advance - You can make just the crumble in advance and keep it in the fridge for a really crunchy topping. Or make the Crumble just before the Pears and store it in the fridge whilst the Pears are cooking.

Substitutions and Variations 

Crumble Toppings Add texture  to the crumble topping via finely chopped Nuts or Seeds, Granola, Desiccated Coconut, flaked Almonds for a crisp topping. 
Use some Almond Flour in the topping for a nutty flavour. Make it Gluten Free You can use Gluten Free Plain Flour in the crumble topping and in the dish for the fruit. Or Corn Flour works well too. 
Spices Add different Spices. Caramel Serve with a drizzle of Caramel Sauce. It goes really well with Apple Crumble. Use other Fruit The filling ingredients can include any fresh fruit that isn't too watery. In fact it is a great way to use up  juicy fruit. Use your favourite fruits such as Pear and Blueberry or Apples and Blackberries. Or use seasonal fruit for the best flavour. Make it Vegan Swap the butter for a plant based alternative. Add Lemon You can add a little lemon juice or orange juice to the pears to just pep them up a bit and stop them colouring as fast.

Storage

Fridge If you have any leftover pear crumble, it should be kept in the fridge it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
Alternatively leave it in the tin/dish, and once it has completely cooled cover it with cling film or plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freezer It can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. It can be frozen baked or unbaked. The crumble topping does soften as it will absorb some of the pear juices but this is easily rectifiable. See instructions below. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Once thawed, it cannot be refrozen and should be consumed within 24 hours. Reheating instructions Oven If you want to make the topping crispy again, the best way to do this is in the oven. Preheat the oven to  350f/180C/GM 4 and place in an oven safe tin/dish. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until piping hot all the way through. Microwave You can also reheat this in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. The topping will not be as crunchy though. Again, it has to be piping hot all the way through before serving. Room Temperature This crumble is also lovely at room temperature when it is cold. Once the crumble has been reheated, any leftovers will need to be discarded.

How to make ahead

Crumbles are best eaten fresh. If you would like to prep ahead, prep the day ahead of time and bake as per the recipe with an additional 5 minutes added to the baking time. To make it a few hours ahead, make and assemble the entire dessert,  then cover with cling film and place into the fridge until it is ready to bake.

Tips and FAQs

Can i use another variety of Pears?

I use conference pears for this recipe. They are sweet and readily available. You can also use Bosc Pears. 
I would not recommend Comice Pears as they are already very sweet and fleshy. If that is all you have, I would recommend cutting the sugar quantity by a third.

Can i use another type of sugar?

You can use Dark Brown Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Coconut Sugar, Demerara Sugar (Turbinado), Granulated Sugar, Caster Sugar or any other sugar of your choice. I haven't tried this with liquid sweetener so I can’t comment on that unfortunately! 
Brown sugars have the best flavour in this recipe. They add a caramel toffee tone that works brilliantly in crumbles.

Can i make individual portions?

Yes you can. This recipe will make 4 servings depending on the size of your ramekins. Place them on a tray so it is easier to get them out of the oven. They will cook quicker. I would check after the 20 minute mark.

Can i use a stand mixer or food processor?

You can use a food processor to make the crumble. The butter is quite cold so it is easier to make it in a food processor using the pulse option. This option means the crumble is being mixed together in short bursts and won’t get too hot and lose all that lovely texture. I would not recommend using a stand mixer though.

Can i double the recipe?

Absolutely! Use a larger/deeper baking dish if doubling the recipe. If using a deeper baking dish, you will need to bake it for longer.