This Pear Cranberry Gingersnap Crisp is one of those desserts you will not be able to put down! Sweet bartlett pears are coupled with tart cranberries and seasoned with fresh grated ginger and fall spices. The fall notes are continued in the topping with the use of pecans and crushed gingersnaps. Add a dollop of spiced whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your dessert is complete!
Is It a Crumble Or Is It a Crisp ?
You've probably heard the terms Cobbler, Crumble and Crisp thrown around but what exactly is the difference between the three?
All three are fruit based desserts with a flour or crumb based topping on top. Per the thekitchn.com the difference lies in the type of topping.
A cobbler has a biscuit or cake style topping that's placed on top of the fruit in big dollops.
The crumble has a streusel like topping but without the use of oats. The result is a slightly sandier texture than that of its counterpart.
The crisp has a topping that contains oats and at times nuts. This makes it crispy, hence its name.
The History Of The Crisp
The records of the first ever Apple Crisp seem to date it to around 1924, both in Britain and in the United States. A recipe for the dessert appears in "Everybody's cookbook: A comprehensive manual of home cookery" and once again in an article in the Appleton Post Crescent in 12/9/24.
Based on popular opinion, World War II further led to the popularity of this dessert. SInce ingredients for pies were hard to source, crumbles and crisps became the prefered dessert.
From there on the dessert has evolved and become increasingly popular. It's a perfect way to showcase seasonal fruit and very easy to make, making it a popular choice both summer and winter!
Cranberry Love
I've always loved cranberries! So much so that I make a huge batch of my orange-pomegranate-cranberry-sauce every year and literally eat it with everything! This year I'm taking that love a little further and experimenting with a few other recipes!
Cranberries have so many health benefits and are so low in calories, that even with sugar added, they're a great addition to desserts. The only negative to this delicious berry is that the season is very short lived!
Well, I recently found out how to freeze fresh cranberries and plan on freezing a batch so I can bake away throughout the year!
Freezing Cranberries
- Buy fresh cranberries
- Open the bag and wash them well
- Lay them flat on paper towels for 10-15 minutes to dry them
- Place them on a freezer safe tray with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 2-4 hours
- Remove and place in a ziploc bag
- Date the bag and use with 12 months of the date
The Recipe
I am a big fan of fruit crisps! Lighter than a pie, and much easier to make, they are a perfect way to showcase seasonal fruit! Perfect for a large crowd, did you know that you can make the crisp topping a few weeks ahead of time and freeze it?
This Pear Cranberry Gingerbread Crisp has all the feels of a Christmas Dessert! The red color, spicy smell, gingersnap cookies and pecans all work together to create the perfect taste. Take this to your next potluck and wow your guests!
Fruit To Topping Ratio
In a crisp the fruit is usually the star of the show. But for me I love my topping! I personally add a thick layer and this recipe is based on that ratio. If you prefer less, then make less or better still just freeze the extra to use later!
Thickening Agent
The fruit is marinated in sugar, lime juice and orange juice. Whereas this adds to the flavor and prevents the fruit from browning, it's important not to have too much liquid. To prevent the crispy topping from becoming soggy I add some flour to my fruit mixture.
This thickens the juices and creates a rich and bubbly sauce. An alternate option is cornflour, in fact some people prefer corn flour as it creates a more clear and glossy sauce.
Typically:
- ½ teaspoon of cornstarch per cup of fruit
- 1 ¾ teaspoon of flour per cup of fruit
is the correct measure to thicken a recipe.
However, this also depends on the type of fruit being used. For example, cranberries contain a fair amount of pectin and the liquid thickens quite well.
On the other hand, if you were to work with a fruit like strawberries, you may need to adjust your ratios.
The Butter
Unlike in a pie, in a crisp it's better to melt the butter and add it to the flour. This hydrates the flour and as a result it gets crisper.
The Lemon
Not only does the lemon prevent the fruit from browning, it also helps to balance the sugar in the dessert.
Cooking Temperature and Time
For a Crisp it's best to cook at a slightly lower temperature, 350 degrees, for a longer time. This allows the fruit to cook properly and the topping to crisp up evenly and not burn.
Before I {finally} get to the recipe let me suggest the best way to store and reheat your crisp if you have any leftovers!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Fridge - Cool the crisp completely. Place a paper towel over the top to absorb any moisture. Wrap the crisp in plastic wrap and store in fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer - Cover with plastic and foil and freeze for up to 3 months
- Reheating - Have the crisp thawed and heat, uncovered, in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
There you have it! All the instructions to make the best ever crisp! Don't forget to tag, rate and comment!
Pear Cranberry Gingersnap Crisp
Ingredients
Fruit Filling
- 1 lb pears
- 3 oz cranberries
- ½ lime
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- ¼ tsp ginger root {freshly grated}
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup flour (SEE NOTES)
Crisp Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ sticks butter {¾ cup}
- ½ cup ginger snaps {crushed}
- ½ cup pecans
Spiced Whipped Topping {Optional}
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tbsps confectioners sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Fruit Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Grease your baking dish
- Peel and slice the pears
- Mix in the washed cranberries and add the lime juice and orange juice
- Grate the ginger and mix well, adding all the other spices as well
- Stir in the sugar and flour to coat
- Bake for 15 minutes to slightly soften the fruit
Crisp Topping
- While the fruit is baking, prepare your crisp topping
- Mix the flour, sugar, oats and salt in a bowl
- Melt the butter and pour over this mixture. Blend together to create a crumb like mixture
- Place the gingersnaps in a ziploc bag and gently crush, using a rolling pin
- Add the gingersnaps and the pecans to the crumb topping, evenly mixing in
- Place the topping on top of the par baked fruit and bake at 350° for 50 minutes
Spiced Whipped Topping
- Whip the chilled heavy whipping cream with the confectioners sugar and cinnamon till peaks form and refrigerate to use later.
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