Last week I made a trip to Hood River, in the heart of one of USA Pears’ four growing regions, for the Hood River County Fruit Loop Pear Celebration. Although it was overcast, which prevented the spectacular views that you’ll see on a clear day, the orchards were loaded with the new season crop of USA Pears in every variety. Harvest is a few weeks late this year, but lucky for me, I was still able to pick up fresh Bartlett and Starkrimson pears at the many fruit stands on the loop.
With my bounty, I decided to make a pear crisp, one of my favorite ways to kick off autumn. I combined several different recipes to come up with a crisp that’s just how I like it – feel free to experiment and make your own adjustments!
A Simple Pear Crisp
Ingredients
4 USA Pears, peeled and sliced thinly (Bartlett works great)
1/6 cup water
Juice from 2/3 of a lemon
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
Place sliced pears in pan (I used a 9 x 9 inch square pan) with water and lemon juice. In a bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon for topping. Pour in melted butter, mixing well. Spread topping evenly over pears and bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes. I like to serve mine à la mode!
Difficulty: Easy
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings