Mini Apple Pear Crisp (Week 48, 52 New Foods) December 10 2012, 7 Comments

apple pear crisp


A mini apple pear crisp is the fresh food version of a big warm bear hug! Filled to the brim with sweet, bubbling fresh pears, apples and cranberries, it’s the perfect treat to serve at a cozy winter get-together by the fire with friends and family.

Pears and apples abound at our local market and they are one of our favorite snacks. To be sure, they are absolutely delicious enjoyed just as they are – nature’s perfect fast food. But this week my kids and I had a hankering for a holiday treat. We wanted to make something a little special for our upcoming school celebration, so we decided to make a big batch of apple pear crisp in mini ramekins. A warm little treat to greet each one of our guests.

Mini Apple Pear Crisp

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 to 35 minutes
Yield: Serves 12

Ingredients:

apple pear crisp ingredients


For the apple pear crisp filling:

6 medium apples
4 medium pears
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ tsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ c whole wheat pastry flour
½ c sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For the apple pear crisp topping:
1 ¼ cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 sticks of butter
¼ cup flax meal
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. Peel and core the pears and apples, then cut into large chunks. I find this a bit tedious, but my kids love recipes with lots of peeling and chopping so they were in charge of this step!

apple pear crisp step 1


2. Load the fruit into a large bowl with the cranberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, whole-wheat flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss gently to combine. Set aside.

apple pear crisp step 2


3. For the topping, combine the whole-wheat flour, oats, butter, flax meal and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix gently until the mixture looks like large crumbles.

apple pear crisp step 3


4. Portion the fruit mixture into 12 small ramekins, then top each with a handful of the crumble topping.

apple pear crisp step 4


5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the fruit is bubbling. When it’s ready the smell is absolutely glorious!

apple pear crisp

apple pear crisp vertical


NOTE: To make ahead, simply assemble the mini crisps in the individual ramekins, cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready, simply bake and enjoy!

My good friend and fellow family foodie, Kim Gerber at Out of the Box Food, inspired our apple pear crisp recipe this week. Be sure to check out her healthy remakes of all of your favorite foods.

* Do you have a family favorite recipe for apple pear crisp? What is your favorite way to prepare this cozy treat?

Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s recipe: Romanesco

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.