This tender Pear Cobbler has a sweet, delicately spiced filling and a cake-like topping that’s crisp on the exterior but soft underneath. Juicy pears are the star of the show in this seasonal dessert, which is an excellent choice for holiday parties. Try serving this pear cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra decadence!
The first few weeks after adjusting the clocks for daylights savings are always so jarring to me. Seeing pitch black skies in the early evening makes it feel like the days are over too quickly, like I should be getting into bed when it’s barely time for dinner. The coldness doesn’t help things.
Desserts like this pear cobbler are helping me avoid the blues. It’s hard not to feel soothed when enjoying a fruity fall dessert, especially paired with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. While you can’t go wrong with a classic apple cobbler, I actually think this pear cobbler is better because it’s more unique. There are so many apple desserts during the holiday season. Pears shine when given the starring role.
Pear Cobbler Notes:
- Judge doneness by the look of the topping. It should be golden brown around the edges with juices bubbling out from underneath. The center of the filling can be more pale as long as it’s solid.
- Good baking pears include Bartlett, Anjou or Bosc. You can use one type or a mix. Avoid Comice pears; they can be a bit too juicy, making them better for snacking. In a pinch, you can use a couple of them.
- You want to use pears that are ripe but not mushy. To test for ripeness: press gently against the neck of the fruit. The pear should give slightly but still hold its shape without denting or bruising.
How to Measure Flour
For baked goods (as well as desserts like custard and ice cream), I always recommend using a kitchen scale to measure flour by weight instead of volume. Weight (ounces, grams, etc) will always give an accurate measurement of dry goods; volume (cups) can create varied results.
A cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 3 1/2 to 5 ounces. That could make a big difference in your recipe! If you still want to use cups, there’s a proper technique to make sure you get the best results possible.
My post How to Measure Flour explains all of this in more detail.
More Pear Desserts
Love this recipe? Be sure to also check out my Chocolate Mousse Poached Pear Tart. I also love this Pear Clafouti from Fifteen Spatulas!
Pear Cobbler
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 1/2 pounds ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks (about 6-7, see notes)
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 ounce unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- Optional: vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Place an oven rack on the center shelf and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, toss together the pears and lemon juice. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, both sugars, salt, cinnamon, and allspice. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla, followed by flour mixture, tossing until evenly combined.
- Prepare the topping: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use a spatula to stir in the egg.
- Pour the filling into a 9-inch pie dish. Spoon the topping over the filling and top with pieces of butter.
- Place the pie dish on a baking sheet, and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling up around the sides.
- Serve warm (I recommend serving with vanilla ice cream). Store leftovers by wrapping the pie dish tightly in plastic wrap, or transferring to an airtight container, and enjoy within 5 days.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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We have made this three times, once normal and twice with gluten free flour. It was amazing each time. We have a pear tree and don’t know what variety they are, but this is the perfect recipe for them. Thanks for sharing!
I made this last night for a family dinner with our neighbors. The 9 of us gave it a perfect 5 star rating. The balance of fruit to dough was perfect and the dough was perfectly chewy around the edges. We especially liked that it wasn’t overly sweet, tasted like pear instead of sugar. Served with vanilla ice cream and will be keeping this recipe forever. Today my kids already asked me when could I make it again!
I’m so glad you liked it! :)
Can you use asian pears? They are more firm than others.
Hi Mary Lou. I haven’t made this with Asian pears so I’m not entirely sure how it would impact the overall texture and flavor, but I think it would probably be fine.