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pear crumble with ice cream
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Spiced Pear Crumble with Almonds

A sweet and cosy spiced pear crumble with almonds. Have it warm with ice cream or a good dollop of whipped cream.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Baking
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 672kcal
Author Michelle Alston

Ingredients

for the crumble topping

  • 180 g plain flour (all purpose flour)
  • 80 g light Muscovado sugar
  • 80 g cold butter cut into cubes
  • 40 g flaked almonds toasted

for the spiced pear filling

  • 700 g ripe pears (5 medium pears) peeled and core removed
  • 45 g butter
  • 40 g soft light brown sugar
  • ½ level tsp mixed spice
  • ¼ level tsp cinnamon
  • 1 level tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C / 374 F. I use a fan assisted electric oven please adjust the temperature according to your own oven.
    Toast the flaked almonds in a dry frying pan tossing all the time until they are golden. 
  • Add the flour, butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Rub the butter into the flour and sugar mix until you have a rough breadcrumb texture. Stir in the almonds. Then place the bowl in the fridge.
  • Heat 45g of butter in a 25cm / 10 inch cast iron skillet, swirling all the time. Once the butter has melted and is bubbling add the spices, stir well. Now add the pears and the soft light brown sugar. Carefully mix well.
    When the liquid is bubbling around the pears, sprinkle the cornflour over the pears and mix well again.
  • Turn off the heat then take the crumble mixture out of the fridge. Sprinkle all of the crumble over the pears. 
    Place the skillet on the middle shelf in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes turning the skillet around halfway through cooking. The crumble is done when the topping is golden, the juice is bubbling and the pears are tender.
  • Serve warm with ice cream or cream.

Notes

  • Calories are approximate
  • I used a cast iron skillet to make this however if you don't have one any oven-safe pan will do. Alternatively, you can cook the pears in a pan and transfer to a pie dish.
  • If you don't like almonds you could swap them for hazelnuts. If you have a nut allergy then you can omit the almonds altogether, they crumble will still taste great.
  • To make this gluten-free, use gluten-free flour, but please be aware I have not tested this using gluten-free flour.
  • If you want to make this vegan, then you could sub the butter for your favourite vegan butter. Again I have not tested this using vegan butter.
  • Mixed spice is a blend of spices. It usually consists of a mixture of ground allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, ground cloves and ground ginger. You should be able to find it in your supermarket in the spice section. If not you can buy it online. If you want to make your own this is a good recipe to get started with https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/181605/mixed-spice

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 672kcal | Carbohydrates: 92.8g | Protein: 8.2g | Fat: 31.7g | Saturated Fat: 16.6g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 186mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 7.8g | Sugar: 47.3g | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg