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    Home > Recipes > Crisps + Crumbles

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    Published: Sep 29, 2014 | Updated: Jul 20, 2022

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    In this Cardamom Pear Crisp, bartlett pears are seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom and topped with a brown sugar oat crumble topping.

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    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    I have recently decided that there is no better Fall scent than cardamom and cinnamon.

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    Ever since I bought some dried green cardamom pods for a Moroccan roasted lamb shank, I have had more ideas for cardamom scented baked goods than days in Fall. The scent is intoxicating and relaxing all at the same time. I sneak little sniffs from the container in the kitchen all day. I know it’s kinda weird. Don’t tell.

    I opened the container for my husband to take a sniff and he said, “I want to make a pillow out of that.” Indeed. A pillow. Good idea.

    Or a pear crisp...

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    The warm flavors of the cardamom and cinnamon intermingle with the brown sugar crisp and toasted pecans for a flavorful fruit dessert that still highlights the pears!

    And, while this cardamom pear crisp generously serves two, you aren’t going to want to share after your first bite! It is warm and comforting and will make you want to cozy up in a blanket next to the fire with a good book.

    Or at least that’s how it made me feel!

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    I used the crisp topping that I created for these Peach Crisp Cupcakes to see if it would work on a larger scale. And does it! It crisped perfectly on top but was still soft!

    A normal person would probably say there is too much topping but I thought it was perfect and I heard zero complaints from the taste testers (what a tough job!)!

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    The proportions are also very easy to adjust for one, which makes this cardamom pear crisp the perfect anytime treat!

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    Cardamom Pear Crisp

    Chef Lindsey
    In this Cardamom Pear Crisp, Bartlett pears are seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom and topped with a brown sugar oat crumble topping.
    Prevent screen from sleeping
    PRINT Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 people
    Calories 731 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    For the Pear Filling:

    • 2 bartlett pears (ripe but not soft (about 2 cups))
    • ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
    • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
    • pinch kosher salt

    For the Crisp Topping:

    • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
    • ½ cup rolled oats
    • ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • Dash cinnamon
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 350° and ready two small pie dishes or a small baking dish (see note)

    Make your Crisp topping:

    • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until the butter has coated everything. The mixture should be crumbly but not dry. If yours is a touch dry, add a bit more butter. Be careful because too much butter will make the topping greasy. Taste test. Sigh with pleasure. You can keep this covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until needed.

    Prepare your filling:

    • Core and chop pears into a medium dice. I did not peel mine and I loved the added flavor and texture. The most important thing is that the pieces are relatively uniform in size.
    • In a medium bowl mix the chopped pears with all the remaining filling ingredients. Pour into your baking dish.
    • Remove the crisp topping from the fridge and crumble over the top of the entire dish, squeezing the mixture as you go so that it forms some large and small crumbles. If you don’t want to use all the topping, that is fine. It will keep, covered tightly in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for a week.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 25-45 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the topping is crisp!
    • Let cool 10 minutes before digging in! Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

    Notes

    Note: This recipe serves 2 people generously, but if you would like to make it for a group, double the recipe and then bake it in a 9” pyrex baking dish.
    The proportions are also very easy to adjust for one, which is kinda lovely.
    If you are unsure what size to use, cut up your pears first and then dump them into a dish that you think will work best. They should come almost to the top.
    Keyword Autumn, Crisp recipes, Fall, winter
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cheflindseyfarr
    Cardamom Pear Crisp

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    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    1. Rachel @ Bakerita says

      October 02, 2014 at 11:30 am

      Wow, this crisp sounds amazing! Love that you paired the cardamom with the pears. I always forget about pears until I eat them, and then I wonder why I bake with them so infrequently. Pinned!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 02, 2014 at 5:09 pm

        LOL! I do the same thing until I bought a bunch of pears and couldn't eat them fast enough.

        Reply
    2. Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says

      October 02, 2014 at 9:12 am

      This is such a fun and different twist from the usual-apple crisp you see this time of year. I LOVE pears, especially with a ton of homey comforting spices! I could totally go for a ginormous bowlful of this right about now! 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 02, 2014 at 8:31 pm

        A ginormous bowl full is the only way to go!!!

        Reply
    3. Natasha of Natashaskitchen.com says

      October 02, 2014 at 12:15 am

      This looks incredible and I'm so excited because I just plucked 3 organic pears from my Mom's tree 🙂 Pinned!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 02, 2014 at 8:41 pm

        Thanks for the pin, Natasha! Fresh picked pears in this crisp sounds divine!! I need a magic garden like you!

        Reply
    4. Amy (Savory Moments) says

      October 01, 2014 at 6:45 am

      First, I love your little dishes you used for the crisp. Second, I really love that you used green cardamom in your pear crisp - it's one of my most favorite spices and I bet it was so yummy.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 01, 2014 at 12:00 pm

        Those dishes are Emile Henry mini pie dishes! Multi-purpose. Thanks! It was definitely very yummy! It's now one of my favorite spices too!

        Reply
    5. Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says

      September 30, 2014 at 11:50 am

      I've never had cardamom before but just bought some on my last shopping trip. I can't wait to try it in this recipe. I just love fruit crisps! Pinning

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 01, 2014 at 12:03 pm

        Thanks for the pin, Cindy!! You are going to LOVE it! And now that you have cardamom in your cupboard, you are going to want to add it to everything...mark my words!

        Reply
    6. David @ Spiced says

      September 30, 2014 at 8:33 am

      Woah! My wife was literally just telling me I should use cardamom in a recipe. And then I open up my email and see this amazing crisp. I think you are stalking me, Lindsey. Of course, if you were stalking me while carrying this crisp, I don't think I would mind. Can we make that happen?? Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 30, 2014 at 8:59 am

        Haha so now you are asking me to stalk you with this crisp?! Or maybe your wife an I are just in cahoots...you'll never know! I can't wait to see what you use it in!

        Reply
    7. Jess @ Sweet Menu says

      September 30, 2014 at 1:33 am

      Oh i love fruit crumbles and crisps - this looks so lovely! What a great dessert to serve to dinner guests - and with an oversized dollop of ice cream? Now your talking 😉

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 30, 2014 at 9:09 am

        Thanks, Jess! It really is a great dessert to serve guest! The huge scoop of ice cream is absolutely necessary! Who wants a tiny, pathetic one?

        Reply
    8. Kelly says

      September 29, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      This looks incredible Lindsey! I love fruit crisps and this pear one sounds fantastic especially with cardamom 🙂 I'm drooling over the topping too - I don't think there's ever such thing as too much crumb topping 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 30, 2014 at 9:11 am

        There is not. Now it has been decided with your stamp of approval!

        Reply
    9. Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:46 pm

      I agree with you Lindsey --> there is no better Fall scent than cardamom and cinnamon. And I was totally dreaming about curling up in a blanket, next to a fire with a good book. And, no, there can never be to much topping on a crisp like this. Neveh! Girl, you and I are sssooo much alike. 🙂 I like that.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 9:32 pm

        Me too! When you come visit, I'll double the topping 😉

        Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 30, 2014 at 9:15 am

        If only I had a fireplace...and some cold weather. Excuse me while I go to Southwest.com to see what flights are like to Seattle! {HUGS}

        Reply
    10. Valya @ Valya's Taste of Home says says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:25 pm

      This looks absolutely delicious!!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 8:45 pm

        Thanks, Valya!

        Reply
    11. Manali @ CookWithManali says

      September 29, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      Looks lovely and I love your pictures, gorgeous! No Indian dessert is complete without cardamom, I use it all the time and it's one of my favorite spices! 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 3:53 pm

        Thanks, Manali! I bet you have tons of delicious dessert recipes with cardamom! I'll have to check them out.

        Reply
    12. Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says

      September 29, 2014 at 1:54 pm

      This sounds delicious! I've never baked with cardamom before - now I have to try it!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 3:55 pm

        You do!! And we also have to make a date to go to the Dekalb Farmers Market! It'll be fun especially if you've never been. That's where I got the cardamom pods that Randy wants to make into a pillow. 🙂

        Reply
    13. marcie says

      September 29, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      I LOVE crisps, and I just bought some cardamom for a Mystery Dish challenge. I never use the stuff, and I've fallen hard for it (hint...it's great as a rub on pork chops). 🙂 I will be using it in a crisp VERY soon...I'm so drooling over this right now!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 3:56 pm

        A rub on pork chops sounds delicious! I put it in my oatmeal this morning and my yogurt this afternoon but that has been the extent of my savory testing. 🙂 The crisp was delicious!

        Reply
    14. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says

      September 29, 2014 at 11:13 am

      This crisp looks perfect. Love the addition of cardamon, so delicious. Definitely bookmarking this recipe to try out! 😀

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 11:52 am

        Thanks, Jess! I hope you do! It's super easy to pull together!

        Reply
    15. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:21 am

      Can you believe that I've never cooked with cardamom before?! I know, what's wrong with me?! I definitely have to change that, as this crisp looks amazing! I love the crumbly topping and spices in here. Pinned!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 9:30 am

        You must try it soon! Thanks for the pin! mmmm the topping...

        Reply
    16. Shashi @ runninsrilankan says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:17 am

      Cardamom has been one of my all time favorite spices - but, I seem to have had it in more savory than sweet recipes! This crisp sounds heavenly - love the pairing with cinnamon and lemon - I bet the smells were intoxicating! You know, your hubs might be on to something - a cardamom smelling pillow sounds like it could replace those lavender ones...just saying..

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 9:17 am

        The smells were amazing! Does a pillow sound so nice! I like the scent so much better than lavender. Maybe we could start a line of season eye pillows...

        Reply
    17. Lelia Farr says

      September 29, 2014 at 7:34 am

      Running out to find green cardamom beans! Wait! It's only 6:15am in my time zone. This crisp looks and sounds like a marvelous taste sensation!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        September 29, 2014 at 8:53 am

        It's so good, Mom. I know you'll love it...especially the topping. But for this dish you should just buy ground cardamom (I got the brand we usually get...which I can't think of right now.) The plan was to braise some lamb shanks with the pods, but for now I just smell them! 🙂 I haven't tried it yet but I think a tiny sprinkle of ground cardamom would be a yummy addition to your usual oatmeal!

        Reply

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