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    Home » Dessert

    Gluten-Free Pear Crisp with Oats

    Published: Feb 23, 2023 · Modified: Oct 25, 2023 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    pinnable image for gluten-free pear crisp

    You can make this Gluten-Free Pear Crisp with Oats in less than an hour! It's vegan, too, and made with no refined sugar. You'll love this guilt-free, healthy pear dessert!

    pie dish of pear crisp with a couple of pieces missing

    If you don't tell anyone this pear crisp recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and contains no refined sugar, no one would ever guess.

    And, they'll be so busy shoveling in mouthfuls of this nutty, crunchy, salty-and-sweet dessert, they probably wouldn't hear you, anyway.

    But if you can't resist blurting it out (who, me?), when your announcement registers, they'll gleefully go for seconds. Since it's healthy and all.

    At least, that's my excuse for devouring half a pie plate of this awesome, gluten-free pear crisp.

    What can I say? I really love pear desserts. I also can't be trusted around this Amaretto Pear Cake with Canned Pears.

    Let me break down this gluten-free pear crisp for you.

    Cinnamon-spiced pears are crowned with the most delicious crispy topping. With whole-food ingredients like oats, almond flour, olive oil (yes!), pure maple syrup, coarsely chopped pecans, and a little salt, you’ll be on the express elevator to salty-and-sweet dessert heaven!

    Recipe ingredients

    pear, oats, pecans, cinnamon, maple syrup, oil, almond flour, salt

    Pears: Use fresh, ripe pears. It's OK if they're a little firm, but best if they're a little soft.

    I prefer sweet, red Anjou pears for baking and eating, but you can use Bartlett or Bosc pears if you wish.

    Asian pears, which look like apples with brown skin, can be used, but they have a high water content and aren’t as flavorful as other varieties.

    In a pinch, you can substitute canned pears if you drain and pat them dry first. Note that their texture is much softer than fresh pears.

    Oats: If you need this to be a gluten-free dessert, you must use gluten-free oats (affiliate link). Otherwise, use regular rolled oats.

    I haven’t tried this with quick oats, which have more of a powdery texture and probably wouldn’t crisp up as much. But, use what you have.

    Almond Flour: To keep this gluten-free, we’re using almond flour (affiliate link), which is simply ground almonds. I store mine in my freezer to keep it fresh for a long time. I also use it in my Torta Caprese chocolate cake and homemade almond paste.

    Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup instead of regular syrup. It has a richer and fuller flavor without any artificial ingredients or preservatives.

    If you want to make this diabetic-friendly, you can substitute golden monk fruit sweetener for the maple syrup.

    Olive Oil: To keep this dairy-free and vegan, we’re using olive oil in place of butter. It’s absolutely delicious, but make sure to use regular olive oil, which tastes milder than extra virgin.

    Pecans: Pecans taste delicious here, but you can use walnuts for a less-sweet flavor.

    How to make gluten-free pear crisp

    See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.

    pear slices, cinnamon added, oat mixture added, baked pear crisp
    1. Peel and slice the pears and place them in a pie dish.
    2. Add cinnamon and toss the pears with it to combine.
    3. Stir chopped pecans, almond flour, oats, maple syrup, olive oil and salt to combine and cover the pears with this topping.
    4. Bake until crisp and golden brown.

    It's like a crustless pear pie! Yum!

    Recipe tips

    • To prevent a soggy pear crisp, pat the pear slices with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
    • Don’t chop the nuts too small. Coarsely chopped pecans will lend extra crunch to our crisp topping!

    What to serve with it

    This easy pear dessert is delicious by itself, but if dairy isn’t an issue, you can serve it with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It would be wonderful with No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream!

    plate of pear crisp with oats and fork

    Fruit crisp variations

    We love using pears the best, but feel free to try this with other fruit or berries.

    Of course, you can make a gluten-free apple crisp. You can even make an apple-pear crisp by using a combination of the two fruits.

    And I can’t wait to try this with peaches in the summer! Blueberries work, too, but omit the cinnamon.

    large spoonful of pear crisp from glass pie dish

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you ripen pears quickly?

    If your pears are too firm, you’ll want to soften them before using them in this recipe.

    You can do this by placing your pears in a paper bag or air-tight container with a ripe banana or apple. The ripe fruit will emit a gas that speeds up the ripening process in pears.

    Is this gluten-free pear crisp keto-friendly?

    No, due to the high carb counts in the oats, pears and maple syrup. You can lower the carbs in this recipe by substituting golden monk fruit sweetener for pure maple syrup, but it still won’t be a keto-friendly dessert.

    Enjoy!

    More gluten-free desserts to love

    • Fluffy Crustless Cheesecake
    • NY Chocolate Cheesecake (Gluten Free)
    • Meringue Cookies with Pecans
    • Easy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese
    • Quick Healthy Summer Desserts

    Other desserts to try

    • The Best Jewish Apple Cake
    • Single-Layer Carrot Cake without Nuts
    • Chinese Chews (Date-Nut Bars)

    Enjoy!

    If you try this Gluten-Free Pear Crisp with Oats recipe, be sure to leave a comment and a rating!

    closeup of inside of pear crisp in glass pie dish

    Gluten-Free Pear Crisp with Oats

    This easy pear crisp is gluten free, vegan and contains no refined sugar! Everyone loves it.
    4.50 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 333kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    Pear Filling

    • 3 large ripe pears (I use red Anjou)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

    Crisp Topping

    • ½ cup unsalted pecan halves
    • 1 cup rolled oats (use gluten-free if needed)
    • ½ cup almond meal/flour
    • ¼ cup regular olive oil
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse and peel the pears. Remove the stems. Slice the pears (avoiding the core) into pieces about ⅓-inch thick. Place the pears in an ungreased pie dish and toss them with the cinnamon.
    • Give the pecans a rough chop, so they're still chunky. In a small mixing bowl, combine the pecans and all topping ingredients with a spoon or fork.
    • Cover the pears with the oat topping, spreading it evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the fruit is bubbling, and the topping is crisp and golden.
    • Let the pear crisp cool for 10 minutes before serving. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to a week.

    Notes

    This is so good plain, but if you don't need it to be vegan or lower in calories, you can add whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
    You can probably make this with canned pears, but you'll need to drain them well and pat them dry. They'll be softer than fresh pears.
    For more substitutions and variations, see the article that goes with this recipe.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

    (Recipe Source: Adapted from Shauna Niequist, Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes, 2013. Originally published here on January 19, 2017 and updated now with new photos and additional information. Photos by Kanyi Muraguri for Cooking with Mamma C.)

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    Comments

    1. Vicki grobe says

      November 16, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Have you made the sugar cookie crust with pecan pie filling? I
      My husband wants me to try this I wanted to ask you first if I c. Back the pecan pie filling directly into the sugar cookie crust. Thanks

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 16, 2021 at 7:28 pm

        Hi Vicki - I have not tried making that crust with pecan pie. If you do try it, bake the cookies for the top separately according to my recipe. For the pie, you'd have to use a pie shield or foil to protect the crust edges from getting too brown. Let me know if you try it.

        Reply
    2. Peg says

      July 16, 2020 at 2:07 am

      i am wondering, (I am sure you have a reason,) why you chose olive oil instead of coconut oil. I don't want to make a substitute that is "okay" but not quite as good. Also, would this be good with ginger and nutmeg instead of cinnamon?

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        July 16, 2020 at 10:07 am

        Hi Peg - I never use coconut oil in my cooking or baking. I love the taste of olive oil here, but it should be fine to substitute coconut oil. If you enjoy ginger and nutmeg, go for it!

        Reply
    3. Joyce says

      October 01, 2019 at 1:21 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious!i loved the nutty flavour.i also subbed coconut oil for olive oil.definitely on my hit list!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        October 01, 2019 at 1:31 pm

        Hi Joyce - I'm so glad you loved this pear crisp! It's good to know that coconut oil works here too.

        Reply
    4. HB says

      September 01, 2018 at 10:54 pm

      5 stars
      This is a super easy and delicious recipe. I made a few substitutions based on what I had - I used walnuts instead of pecans and coconut oil instead of olive oil. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, will definitely be making this again!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        September 02, 2018 at 8:41 am

        Hi HB - It's good to know walnuts and coconut oil work here too. I'm glad you enjoyed this dessert! It's one of our favorites.

        Reply
    5. Cheryl "CheffieCook" Wiser says

      January 23, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      Yes please...love it!!! xo

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 23, 2017 at 7:30 pm

        I think you'd really enjoy this, Cheryl! xo

        Reply
    6. Julie says

      January 19, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      This dessert doesn't need one thing. It's just gorgeous and sounds delicious. I love pears and crisps of all kinds!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 19, 2017 at 8:03 pm

        Thanks, Julie! It's a favorite in my house. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Donna says

      January 19, 2017 at 5:35 pm

      Yum, this sounds perfect! I have been craving a pear crisp for the longest time, and I am sure this would satisfy my cravings 🙂

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 19, 2017 at 5:40 pm

        This should do it, Donna!

        Reply
    8. Lisa says

      January 19, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      Haha...I think it's okay to serve it naked as long as you don't take photos of that for your blog! 😉 But seriously - this sounds wonderful! I love crisps because they're so much healthier and EASIER than pies! I make mine in much the same way, but I've not made a pear crisp before...my husband will love this!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 19, 2017 at 5:27 pm

        Hahaha!!! I swear that phrasing happened by accident, but then I had to leave it in. I agree, crisps are so easy! I hope your husband enjoys this, Lisa!

        Reply
    9. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

      January 19, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      I recently made a gluten free apple crisp that everyone raved over, so I know that a pear version would be equally welcome. I love that you've not used refined sugar here too! Lovely!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 19, 2017 at 5:07 pm

        It's exciting to make something delicious and guilt free that gets rave reviews. Thanks, Lisa!

        Reply
    10. Lizzie says

      January 19, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      Yum, pear and cinnamon are two of my favourite flavours, if only the pears we got last week had ripened! And I can't believe you mentioned lonely cream, it's the excuse for many a cake here!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 19, 2017 at 4:40 pm

        Haha! We must make all the things to prevent lonely cream, LOL. I've made this with pears that were pretty firm, and they actually softened a bit by the next day after baking.

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    4.50 from 12 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I've been sharing family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen for a decade! I hope you'll visit often!

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