Baked apple and pear crisp is a delicious, comforting dessert that brings together the sweetness of apples and pears with a crunchy, buttery oat topping. This dish is the perfect way to enjoy the cozy flavors of fall, but it’s so easy to make that you can enjoy it any time of year. Whether served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or on its own, this fruit crisp is a treat that everyone will love.
To start, the apples and pears are the stars of this dish. Their natural sweetness and tender texture create the perfect base for the crisp. When baked, the fruit softens and releases its juices, creating a flavorful, syrupy filling that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy topping. You can use any variety of apples and pears, but a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Granny Smith apples and Bartlett pears works wonderfully to give a balance of flavors.
The topping is what really makes this crisp stand out. Made with oats, butter, flour, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, the mixture creates a perfectly crispy, golden crust. The butter brings richness, while the brown sugar adds depth and sweetness. The oats give the topping a hearty, satisfying crunch that complements the soft, baked fruit underneath. If you want to take it a step further, you can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for even more texture and flavor.
Once assembled, the crisp is baked in the oven until the fruit is tender and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown and crispy. The result is a warm, comforting dessert that’s both simple and satisfying. The combination of apples, pears, and oats creates a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors, making it a perfect dessert to serve after a hearty meal or as an afternoon snack.
Baked apple and pear crisp is not only delicious but also incredibly versatile. You can enjoy it with whipped cream, yogurt, or a scoop of ice cream for added indulgence. This simple, wholesome dessert is a must-try for anyone who loves the flavors of autumn or a sweet, comforting treat.
While Baked Apple and Pear Crisp may be a dessert indulgence, it also offers some health benefits. Apples and pears are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, which can support digestion and boost overall health. By using whole ingredients and reducing added sugars, this recipe can be a wholesome treat that satisfies your sweet cravings in a more nutritious way.

Ingredients
- 4 apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 4 pears peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup butter diced, cold, unsalted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sliced pears, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss until the fruit is coated with the sugar and spices.
- Transfer the fruit mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, and diced cold butter. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to mix the ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Spread the oat topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the fruit is tender and the topping is golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
The ingredient list feels very normal, but somehow the result is fancy? Like… it tastes like something from a cafe. I used salted butter by accident and it was still fine. Great fall dessert.
I was skeptical about pears in a crisp, but wow, they really worked well with the apples! Surprised but impressed.
Pretty good, but I added some raisins and walnuts. Gave it an extra crunch! Not too sweet, just right.
I’ve never thought of adding nuts! That sounds interesting. Might try it next time.
35-40 minutes felt short for my oven. I ended up baking closer to 50 and the fruit was softer. Flavor was worth it!
It turned out kinda mushy for me, not sure what went wrong. I think I added too much fruit. 🤷♂️
No joke, this is the best dessert to use up extra fruit. I swapped pears for peaches and it turned out tasty too.
I don’t get why you need both apples and pears—like aren’t they basically the same? But ok, the texture is better I guess.
Honestly I get what you mean—apples and pears are similar, but they bake up different. Pears get a bit softer/juicier, and apples hold their shape more, so the texture doesn’t turn to mush.
I didn’t have nutmeg, so I just skipped it. Still good but what is nutmeg anyway?
This came out so cozy—golden, crispy topping and the apples/pears stayed nice and tender. I added a splash of lemon juice to the fruit and it really brightened the flavor. Will make again!
Yes!! I love when the fruit stays tender but the top gets that proper crunch. Great idea with the lemon juice—next time I’ll try that too.
Hah, I always forget to add anything acidic. Do you think a full tablespoon of lemon juice would be too much or just right? 🍋
This crisp was a total hit at our family dinner! Everyone loved it, even my picky cousin! 😍
It didn’t taste like much, like I had to add more spices or something. Maybe that’s just me.
I totally get you! I always add a bit more cinnamon and maybe some vanilla extract. That really brings out the flavors. 😊
The instructions say 35-40 mins—mine took like 50. Oven runs cold I guess. Still turned out good though, and the topping was crunchy instead of soggy, which is my main goal.
Idk about the nutmeg amount—mine tasted a little strong at first, but after cooling it mellowed. Overall still tasty and the crumble texture was nice.
Woah! This is yummy! But I forgot to put the butter in the topping. Still turned out good!
I mixed everything up and accidentally put in baking soda instead of flour. Now it’s a weird texture, but still edible!
So easy and actually looks fancy. The topping is the best part—crunchy like it should be. I served it with vanilla ice cream and everyone went back for seconds.
This is basically fruit pie without the hassle, and I love that. Next time I’ll add chopped pecans in the topping for extra crunch.
Yes!! Crisp is basically the best kind of “pie” situation—quick, cozy, and way less fuss. Pecans in the topping sounds amazing for crunch and that little nutty vibe. I’m totally stealing that for next time.
Pecans sound good but wouldn’t they burn at 375 for 40 mins? Also I’m not sure if I’d call this fruit pie tho—more like crumble. Either way I’ll try it. My pears were super ripe so mine might get mushy.
Why do people add so much sugar? fruits are sweet already!! Must be healthier without all that sugar nonsense.
Not sure about the flour amount—1/4 cup seemed low? My filling ended up a bit watery until I baked a few extra minutes. Once it thickened it was yummy though.
Totally get that—1/4 cup flour does feel a little light for a lot of juice from apples/pears. I’ve had similar results when the fruit is extra juicy; baking a few extra minutes (or letting it cool longer) usually thickens it right up. Glad it turned out yummy!
Made this tonight—so cozy. The topping got perfectly golden and a little crunchy, and the apples + pears tasted super balanced. I added a pinch more cinnamon because I’m that person, but it was great.
My crumble was a little too dry even though I kept the butter cold. Maybe I packed the brown sugar too hard? Still tasted great, just not as “crisp” as expected.
Baked this for my grandma’s birthday. She loved it! Thanks! 🍏🍐
I don’t know why everyone thinks this is great. Mine turned out mushy and the topping didn’t crisp up at all. Disappointed.
5 stars, easy peasy 😁!
Not bad at all! I used gala apples and bartlett pears. Also I forgot to chill the butter (oops), but it still crumbed up fine.
Hmm I always chill the butter or the topping turns kinda greasy. Still, if yours crisped up, maybe your butter was cold enough from the fridge? Not bad, though—375 for 35-40 min seems about right.
That’s awesome—using gala apples and Bartlett pears sounds like a great combo. And honestly, if it still crumbed up fine even without chilled butter, that’s a win. 😄 Crisp looks like it’ll hold together either way.
Pretty good, though I think 40 min was a bit long for my oven. I’d start checking at 30. Still tasted great with vanilla ice cream.
Good call—my oven runs hot too, and I also start checking around 30. Love that you added vanilla ice cream!
Pretty good! I think next time I’ll toss the fruit a little longer so it coats more evenly. Also mine bubbled up a bit over the edges, but nothing a spatula couldn’t fix.
Nice! I agree—giving the fruit a bit more tossing time really helps that sugar-flour coating cling. Mine usually gets a little “bubble-y” too if it’s too juicy, but yeah, a quick spatula fix works.
Mine always boils over no matter what I do lol. Next time I’m gonna try tossing longer like you said. Also I think my ovens run hot—375 feels like 400 sometimes. 😅
Pretty solid recipe. I used slightly less nutmeg because I’m not a fan, but the flavor balance was still great. Would make again for sure.
Only 375°F? I mean… I guess. I baked it and it smelled amazing, but I think it needed longer. Still ate it anyway, because dessert 😅
I get what you mean—375°F feels “low” for crisp, but 35–40 min is usually enough for sliced fruit. If your apples/pears were extra juicy or cut thicker, longer makes sense. What size were you slicing?
I accidentally used salted butter and it still worked, but I’d probably dial back the salt next time. Pretty forgiving recipe though.
Pretty solid recipe. I’m not usually a nutmeg person, but the combo with cinnamon worked well. Took me closer to 45 minutes though—my oven runs hot/crazy.
Not gonna lie, I always think crisp recipes are gonna be too sweet, but this one sounds balanced. 35-40 min feels short though—if the fruit takes longer, the topping might burn. Did you cover it at all? Also, I subbed nutmeg for cloves once and it tasted weird to me lol.
Thanks for sharing! I’m also not normally a nutmeg fan, but your note on cinnamon pairing makes me want to try it as written. And yeah 45 minutes sounds totally believable if someone’s oven runs hot/crazy—mine does the same. Appreciate the heads-up!
Kinda bland—needs more cinnamon or maybe more sugar. I also baked it longer and it still wasn’t very crispy. Maybe my oats were old?
One word: YUM.
This is the best crisp recipe I’ve ever made! The flavors are just perfect! 🍏❤️
This was so delicious! I made it for my family and they devoured it! Definitely my new go-to recipe.
Made this last night—so cozy. The topping actually turns properly golden and crispy, and the fruit stays tender. I added a pinch more cinnamon and it was perfect.
Too sweet for my taste. I think less sugar would be better. But kids loved it!
Kids like sugar, duh! But ur right, too much can be sickly. I prefer when it’s more tart with apples! 🍏
I totally get what you mean! It is a bit sweet, but maybe adding some lemon juice could balance it out? Also, you could make it less sweet for the grown-ups! 😊
So easy that my brother could make it (he almost burned toast tho lol). Still came out good. Would serve again.
Super easy and smelled amazing while baking. I swapped nutmeg for cardamom (because I had it) and it still worked great. Would make again.
I thought it would be better. The topping was too dry for my taste. 😕
I think the topping needed more butter or something to break it down. Maybe try adding some nuts next time! 🥜
I followed it exactly, but my topping felt kinda dry? Like clumpy dry instead of crumbly. Maybe my butter was too cold or I mixed too much.
This recipe is easy to follow and the results were fantastic. Definitely makin’ it again! 👍
Really good! I used Granny Smith apples and a firmer pear and it held up nicely. Next time I might add a pinch more cinnamon just because I like it strong.
Yesss! I love that combo—Granny Smith + firmer pear makes the texture so much better. Your cinnamon tweak makes sense too. 😋
I’m skeptical of crisps with both apples and pears because they can get mushy. But this one still had structure. I think 40 minutes was key. Solid recipe.
Baked this for my grandma’s birthday. She loved it! So easy to make and smells amazing while baking. Will make again!
Looks good but idk if I would trust a recipe with such many ingredients. Can it really be that easy?
That’s so sweet! I love that you baked it for your grandma. Definitely trying this recipe soon!
Made this last night—so cozy. The cinnamon/nutmeg combo is perfect, and the topping actually gets nice and crisp instead of turning soggy.
Yum! Tasted super delicious with vanilla ice cream on top! Will definitely make again! 😋
I’m skeptical of using both apples and pears (like, what if they fight?) but honestly it works. The fruit stays tender and the oats give it that classic crisp vibe.
Lol “fight” made me laugh 😂 but yeah the combo actually makes sense—the apples keep a little tart bite while pears get that soft sweetness. Also that oat topping sounds spot on.
I don’t know… I’d be worried the pears make it too mushy. Like my last crisp turned out kinda wet. But if it says 35-40 min maybe the oats help. Do you stir the fruit or just toss and bake?
Wow, absolutely delicious! Made it with ice cream and it was a treat! 🍦✨
Crisp is good, but 375°F is kinda low? Mine took longer than 40 minutes to get golden. I ended up broiling for like 2 minutes.
Why do you put nutmeg AND cinnamon? feels like too much spice to me… but I followed it anyway. It’s actually balanced—like warm, not overpowering. I’m surprised.
Made this tonight and it smelled amazing while baking. The topping came out perfectly crunchy and the apple-pear mix was sooo cozy with vanilla ice cream.
Ok I messed up the topping—my butter wasn’t cold enough so it turned more clumpy than crumbly. Still tasted good, just not as crisp. Next time I’ll chill the butter first.
Ahh that makes total sense—cold butter is basically the whole crisp texture deal. Glad it still tasted good though! Chilling first is a great fix for next time.
I’ve done this too 😅 If the butter melts it turns into more of a sticky oat layer than crumbly topping. Try putting the topping in the fridge like 10 minutes before baking—works wonders.
Tried it exactly as written and it came out great, though my apples were a little more tart so I added like 2 tbsp more brown sugar. Otherwise the texture was spot on. Would make again.
Yum! Also super easy. I swapped in rolled oats because that’s what I had, and it still turned out crumbly. Next time I’ll try adding chopped walnuts.
Glad it still worked with rolled oats! Walnuts would add a really nice crunch—I’d toast them for like 5 minutes first if you want extra flavor.
I dunno, oats instead of old-fashioned feels like it would change texture a lot. But crumbly is good? Next time maybe use more flour too so it sets. Walnuts sound risky though 😅
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the flour amount, but it thickened up nicely. My apples were kinda tart, and the brown sugar topping saved the day.
This is the kind of dessert that makes the kitchen smell like fall. Also my kids asked for seconds sooooo… nailed it. 10/10 would bake again!
Yes!! That cinnamon/nutmeg combo is basically fall in dessert form. And seconds is the ultimate review 😂
Mine turned a bit soupy. I think I underbaked, or maybe my pears were extra juicy. Still tasted great, just not as crisp on top as I hoped.
Pretty solid recipe, but mine came out a little too sweet. Next time I’ll reduce the granulated sugar. Still tasted like fall though.
Mine came out a bit runny even after baking 40 minutes. Maybe my pears were extra juicy. Tasted good though—just not as crisp on top as I hoped.
Wish it had more crisp crunch. Mine was golden but more like cake-ish than crunchy crumbs. Could be my oats (quick oats instead of old-fashioned).
I followed it mostly, but I used margarine instead of butter because that’s what I had. Not the same—topping wasn’t as buttery. Would redo with real butter.
Made this tonight—so cozy. The topping actually got crispy instead of soggy, which is rare for me. I used a tiny bit more cinnamon and it was perfect.
I’m skeptical about the flour amount—only 1/4 cup for all that fruit? Mine was a little runny in the middle, but the flavor was solid.
My butter didn’t mix into crumbs at first because I used slightly melted butter (oops). I ended up chilling it and it came together. Still yummy, but baking timing was off for me.
Oh no—melted butter will totally make the crumb part act weird. Chilling is the fix though, glad it came together! For timing: I wonder if your fruit was extra juicy or your topping got thicker—what dish size did you use?
Honestly, it’s alright. Kinda like apple pie’s boring cousin. Needs more seasoning—like cloves or something—because the cinnamon alone doesn’t pop.
Made this tonight—so cozy. The cinnamon + nutmeg combo is perfect, and the topping actually stayed crispy. I added a tiny squeeze of lemon on the fruit and it really brightened everything. Definitely saving this.
I followed it exactly and… it was kind of bland. I used vanilla ice cream and it helped, but the crisp part wasn’t as flavorful as I expected. Maybe my pears weren’t very sweet?
I think 375°F is too low—mine didn’t brown until like, the last 5 minutes. Also I forgot to chill the butter and it melted more than I wanted.
Seems a bit basic—like just fruit + oats—so I was skeptical. But it actually tastes better than it looks. The nutmeg is doing work.
Totally get the “basic” skepticism, but yeah—baked fruit crisps are way better than they look. Nutmeg + cinnamon is the whole magic here.
I tried this and it was just… fine? Maybe my apples were too tart. I also added a little extra cinnamon and it helped. Not bad though!