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Pinch Me Good! » Healthy Desserts » Cinnamon Apple Pear Crisp – Gluten-Free

Cinnamon Apple Pear Crisp – Gluten-Free

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This gluten-free apple pear crisp combines cinnamon-spiced sweet apples and pears into an incredibly delicious apple crisp with a warm, golden brown sugar oat topping that is gluten-free!

Bowl of apple pear crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it with a spoon in the bowl with another bowl in front of it and another bowl behind it.

If I could eat any dessert for the rest of my life it would definitely be apple crisp! It is just the best dessert with warm, crisp cinnamon-flavored apples baked until soft and delicious with a sweet buttery crumble topping.  It can easily feed a crowd and it is healthy-ish because it is made with fruit!

The Best Apple Pear Crisp

Any type of crisp is delicious but in this version I used a combination of sweet apples and pears that really elevates the flavors but also helps balance the sweetness in this recipe.

We mixed the fruit with only a little bit of sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to allow the natural flavors to come out. Then we topped it with an incredible gluten-free oat crumble that bakes up until golden and bubbly and AMAZING!

Gluten free apple pear crisp in a bowl topped with ice cream.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Apple and pear crisp is an easy dessert that is great any time of year, especially in the fall!
  • You can make it ahead and then bake it when you are ready to serve it!
  • It is fairly budget friendly especially when apples and pears are in season and are less expensive.  I love that!
  • This is a healthy-ish spin on traditional apple crisp since it is made gluten-free and uses a little less sugar and butter. 

What are the best apples to use for apple crisp?

Considering we are using both apples and pears in this recipe, it is important to use the best types of apples as if you were whipping up an apple crisp. 

In fact, it might be one of the most important things to consider so you choose apples that will pair well with sweet and delicious pears. 

I like to use apples that are a good combination of sweet, tart, and crisp like Honeycrisp apples, granny smith, or golden delicious apples. All of which will work wonderfully in recipes. You can even use a combination of different apples for an even more diverse flavor. 

Ingredients and substitutions

Apple pear crisp ingredients - with labels for each ingredient.
  • Apples – I used Honeycrisp apples but you could use granny smith as well. 
  • Pears – fresh bartlett pears or bosc pears that are ripe but not too soft work best in this crisp recipe.
  • Brown sugar – I used dark brown sugar but you can also use light brown sugar or coconut sugar. 
  • Butter – to help the crumble topping get nice and golden and bubbly.
  • Oats – I like to use gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats for amazing texture.  You can also use quick oats but do not use steel-cut oats in this recipe. 
  • Gluten-free all-purpose flour – just a little bit to round out the crumble. You can also use regular all-purpose flour. 
  • Cinnamon – to bring out the warm flavors of the apples and pears
  • Pecans – for the nutty flavor and texture. You can also substitute with walnuts. 
  • Vanilla – for that nice warm flavor
  • Salt – just a pinch to balance all of the sweetness and help enhance all of the flavors. 

How to make Apple Pear Crisp

  1. Peel and slice the apples and pears. Toss them with sugar, cinnamon, butter, and salt. 
  2. Mix the crumble ingredients and cut in the butter. 
  3. Lay the apples and pears into the baking dish and top with the crumble mixture. 
  4. Bake for 40-45 minutes, per the recipe card below.
  5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of maple syrup or caramel sauce.  
Sliced apples and pears mixed with cinnamon sugar in a glass bowl.
Oar crumble topping in a glass mixing bowl.
Square white baking dish filled with seasoned, sliced apples and pears.
Square white baking dish filled with an unbaked apple pear crumble.
Square dish with apple crisp in it with a spoon scooping some out with a bowl of the crisp in front of it and a glass jar of oats behind it.

Expert tip: Thinly slice the apples and pears so they cook down while baking and get perfectly soft.

Recipe Tips for making the best apple and pear crisp!

  1. Use apples and pears that are ripe but not too soft so they can mix well with the other ingredients but still become perfectly soft and flavorful while baking. 
  2. Make sure the butter is nice and cold before you add it to the crumb mixture.  Then mix in using a pastry cutter, forks, or even your fingers until it is crumb size. 
  3. Let the crisp cool for a few minutes before serving. 

Make it ahead of time

Making this ahead of time is great, especially if you are entertaining and you want to serve this nice and warm right out of the oven.

Prepare the apple and pear filling (make sure to add the lemon juice so the fruit doesn’t get brown) and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Then mix up the crumble topping and store that in the refrigerator in a separate airtight container. When you are ready just assemble and bake as directed in the recipe.

Storing and reheating

To store: Once the crisp has been cooked and cooled, then cover it with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat: Easily reheat portions in the microwave for about 90 seconds.

FAQ’s

How do you cut apples for apple crisp?

You can cut the fruit in any shape you like. Just make sure to peel it first.

Can you make this recipe dairy-free?

To make this recipe dairy-free, swap the butter with vegan butter or coconut oil.

Can you freeze apple crisp?

Most apple crisps can be frozen but I do not recommend freezing this version. Because it is gluten-free, it is best if eaten right away or stored in the refrigerator and reheated.

Do I need to peel the apples?

You don’t have to peel the apples for an apple crisp but peeling the apples will help them get nice and gooey and caramelized when you bake the crisp.

More delicious apple recipes

Did you make this apple pear crisp recipe?  If you did then please leave a rating and comment below! I would love to hear how it turned out!

Update: This recipe and post have been updated with step-by-step photos and an improved recipe card. 

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Gluten free apple pear crisp in a bowl topped with ice cream.

Cinnamon Apple Pear Crisp – Gluten Free

★★★★★

5 from 46 reviews
  • Author: Amy Estes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8 people 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

Gluten-Free Apple Pear Crisp is made with sweet cinnamon spiced apples and pears topped with this incredible gluten-free oat topping.  

Ingredients

Scale

For the apple pear filling

  • 4 medium size apples
  • 4 medium size ripe pears
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon  ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

For the oat crumble topping

  • 1 3/4 cup gluten-free oats
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 cup maple syrup
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×9 baking pan with cooking spray or grease it with a little butter. 
  2. Peel, core, and slice the apples and pears, place them into a large mixing bowl, sprinkle them with the lemon juice and toss. This will prevent the apples from browning.
  3. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, and a pinch of salt to the apples and pears and lightly toss them to coat them all. Pour the mixture into the baking dish in an even layer. 
  4. To make the crumble: Add all of the crumble ingredients except the butter to a mixing bowl and toss. Add in the butter, pinching it with your fingers to break it down into small pieces, and mix it in with the rest of the crumble ingredients. You can also use a pastry cutter to do this. 
  5. Top the apple and pear mixture with the crumble and spread it out evenly to cover all of the apples and pears.
  6. Bake in the oven, uncovered for 40-45 minutes until the top is nice and golden brown and the edges are slightly bubbly.
  7. Once done, remove and let cool for a few minutes. Serve warm topped with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Equipment

Notes

  • Choose high-quality fruit.  When choosing both apples and pears follow these guidelines:  Choose fruit that is free of blemishes and has smooth skin without any dents.  Look for the brightest colored fruits since they will have the most flavor and nutrition. Make sure the fruit is not too soft but still ripe. 
  • Slice the fruit into thin slices so it cooks up nicely when it bakes. 
  • Bake the crisp uncovered.  This is very important to allow the topping to get nice and golden brown with slightly bubbly edges while it bakes. 
  • You can store this apple pear crisp in the refrigerator for up to 4 days after it has been cooked and cooled. 
  • Reheat portions in the microwave for about 90 seconds. 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple pear crisp, apple and pear crisp, apple crisp, crisp

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