The dessert group I joined a couple of months ago has a crumble due today and I apologize for being late. I want to stay true to my Food Writer Fridays commitment so I posted that first.
The last thing the group made was Italian Cream Cake and I thought we needed to follow the recipe given to us by Claire of SimplySweetJustice.com but I was wrong. Everyone else changed it up but me!
So, not to be outdone, I’ve come up with a really lovely pear and crumble with vanilla poached pears in it. Folks, it was SO good! If you love pears and apples and crumble, well this one is pretty spiffy. It’s also really good with creme anglais poured over and a bit of vanilla bean ice cream. (but what ISN’T better with custard and ice cream on it?)
I’ve been complaining that lately I’m always a day late and a dollar short but this is one thing I couldn’t wait to try. I made this two weeks ago and liked it so much I made it again when we had a friend over for dinner.
I started by poaching the pears and I could give you the recipe but that would be stealing because I copied David Lebovitz’ recipe for poached pears right down to the baking paper cover. I don’t think anyone can improve on his recipe or method. When I poked the pears with the tip of a sharp knife and they were soft, it was time to put the crumble together.
I peeled and chopped 3 pears and 2 apples and added just a bit of water and cooked them for 5 minutes to get the fruit started. Then I repeated the vanilla flavor by adding just a hint of vanilla extract and a tablespoon of caster or superfine sugar and mixed to combine. I buttered a serving dish and placed the whole poached pears in the middle of the dish and then surrounded them with the pear and apple mixture.
My crumble topping is really easy to make but it does require blitzing macadamia nuts before adding flour, butter, a hint of vanilla paste and the oats. I hope you try it! This could be your moment of glory.
Yes, I know the recipe calls for 4 pears and there are only 3 in the photos. Sorry. There were only 3 of us for dinner so I only made 3. That’s the great thing about cooking at home. You make just what you want.
- 4 poached pears in vanilla syrup by David Lebovitz
- 3 pears
- 2 apples
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbs caster sugar (or more if your fruit is not sweet)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup macadamia nut meal
- ½ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
- ¾ cup butter
- ¼ tsp vanilla paste
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F
- Prepare poached pears according to David Lebovitz’ recipe but leave them whole.
- Peel pears and apples and chop into a saucepan. Add just a spoonful of water and cook for about 5 minutes to start the cooking.
- remove from heat and add sugar and vanilla and mix to combine.
- Place poached pears in the middle of individual ramekins or an oven dish large enough for a crumble.
- Add the pear and apple mixture around the pears.
- Blitz the macadamia nuts for the nut meal and chop the remaining nuts finely
- Mix the butter, brown sugar, vanilla paste and nut meal together til it looks like peas, then mix in the oats and chopped nuts.
- Clump the mixture in your hands and break apart bits and spread over the pear and apples until well covered.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Please check out the other folks making crumble this month. It’s winter in Australia and crumble just makes my heart warmer.
Shannon at Dinner or Dessert: http://www.dinnerordessert.com/
Matt at Grad School Chef: http://www.
Claire at Simply Sweet Justice: http://www.simplysweetjustice.
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Ooo – love that is is still Friday here and Saturday there! The pears look divine. Creative take on an old stable. I will definitely try this.
YUM!
V
I love the way the pears are poached in vanilla – what a beautiful flavour. This is the best looking crumble I have ever seen. And I thought those were Maltesers in the photo! But they’re macadamias. I’ll hide my disappointment – I was very much feeling like a malteser! Anyway, I love macadamias (as long as I don’t have to shell them) and they are better for me than a box of maltesers! xx
This crumble has the cold seeping out of my bones and warmth coming in
It looks incredibly delish!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..June Foodie Pen Pals + A Perfect Cookie
This looks like a simply elegant dessert. Bravo!
Love that you used macadamia here. A gorgeous combination! And indeed, crumble is extra satisfying in this winter weather…
leaf (the indolent cook) recently posted..earl grey pear muffins
Oh, this looks absolutely mouthwatering! What a beautiful dish you’ve baked, and photographed so well too!
so so perfect for this time of year!! must have more crumble in my life
Oh these pears look amazing!!
I have power again! Yay! It’s still Friday here!
Maureen, this is a beautiful presentation! What an elegant dessert that looks incredibly delicious! I am now adding poached pears to my recipe bucket list. Blitzing macadamia nuts – you go girl!!
How beautiful, I love the poached pears emerging from the crumble. Looks absolutely divine!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..coconut-macadamia chocolate chip cookies
This looks seriously amazing. What a great combination of ingredients, and a great way to jazz up a crumble!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts recently posted..On veganism and vegetarianism – what they are and what they are not
I’ve only had poached pear at restaurants and never prepared it at home – always thought it’s too fancy for me (but remember, any desserts are fancy for me to make.
). I love how these poached pear look. So tasty and love the apple crumble around it too. Irresistible now…
Oh my gosh Maureen, this is truly spectacular. I am in love with this dish. I want to make it really badly right now.
Oh my god, this looks soooooo delish. Can’t wait to test this recipe out.
Maureen this looks divinely good, your photos captured it perfectly. I really want to take a bite out of that pear with the little vanilla beans on it. You and I have some things in common feeling like a day late and a dollar short lately. I finally gave up on being on time and just go with it and use the excuse I’m a type B personality
I love that I can see the vanilla specks in this crumble. And pears are my favourite winter fruit too (and crumble happens to be my favourite ever topping!). Thanks Maureen!
What a beautiful and impressive dessert. I don’t think I have ever served anything so fancy looking before. My friends and family wold be impressed!
Oh, my…two of my favorite fruits to use in baking! This looks so elegant and delicious! Beautifully done~
Love the presentation with whole pears. Well done!
This does look delicious! You always have lovely photos of your food. I am a work in progress when it comes to food photography xo
One word: YUM!
Sounds and looks delish!
It looks too cute to eat, but that wouldn’t stop me
That looks fabulous! I love the the whole pears sitting in the middle of the crumble – GENIUS!
Oh My! My husband loves fruit desserts and especially anything made with pears so I am all over this. Just gorgeous!
Yummy! Love pears. Such a beautiful recipe, Maureen. Thank you for sharing.
I love making poached pears but usually just serve them with a scoop of ice cream. Unlike the technique you linked to, I put a plate on top of the parchment paper lid so the pears stay submerged, and core the pear bottom so I can eat the whole thing more easily.
Your post reminded me that I have a bottle of cranberry mead that I could use as part of the poaching syrup hmm…
this is the most elegant crumble I have ever seen… would not hesitate one minute in serving this at formal dinners – and I really like how you up all aspects in making a simple dessert astonishing…
This elegant dessert is good for our family of three. Have a great Sunday!
Balvinder recently posted..Almond Cupcakes With Rose Scented Icing
WOW Maureen! This is just stunning! Makes me wish it were fall here in the states just to make it. What is the name of the dessert group? I might like to play! : )
Poached pears are wonderful, and I rarely do them. Part of the problem is finding really good pears – and when I do, they’re so wonderful to eat straightaway, which only a quick wash. But still, one does want dessert. Good stuff – really nice crumble. Thank you.
kitchenriffs recently posted..Soupe au Pistou
This looks incredible! The pears are gorgeous!
Dear Maureen, This looks elegant and rustic! I’m sure it is absolutely delicious…I love poached pears. This is something I’m sure I would enjoy. Have a wonderful Sunday. Blessings my dear, your friend, Catherine xo
A really clever crumble, certainly perfect for a dinner party. The pears look really neat in rows down the dish. GG
This looks absolutely amazing and so elegant. Perfect for a dinner party. I have never combine pears and apples, but it sounds heavenly.
Beautiful photos and sounds like such an amazing dish!
Jessica recently posted..Penna Gourmet Foods {Olives}
This looks so simple & beautiful – great job
CJ at Food Stories recently posted..Strawberry Sundae Day & NEW Food Story Photos
I usually would just stop with the poached pears because they are one of my favorite fall treats; however, what you have done here with the crumble and the additional pear and apple sounds absolutely fabulous! The added flavor of the macadamia – OMG! So good!
Wow!!! Stunning Maureen.
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama recently posted..Almond Joy Ice Cream (without an ice cream maker) ~Sundays With Joy~
The pears look just beautiful poking out the top. I can nearly taste the vanilla beans jumping out from them. Yum!
Pears are so good at the moment and I love the drama of serving this dish with them poking out from the crumble.
What a gorgeous presentation!
wow, poached pears alone are so good. adding macadamia nuts, YUM!!! super buttery and flavorful! fabulous recipe!
Love that you leave the fruit whole. It makes a beautiful dessert.
Helene recently posted..All-Bran Peach Almond Crumble
Poached Pears are my fav and when you add crumbles to that .. YUMMY!
Oh how elegant! Pears are so beautiful no matter how they are served or photographed, but you’ve captured them perfectly in your recipe and photos! I just love your blog! Thanks for stopping by! Roz
The pears are so beautiful looking and tasty I’m sure too…love a good crumble, this one sounds so indulgent.
gorgeous dessert! bookmarking this for the fall
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) recently posted..Chicken Liver Pate with Sage
Looks amazing! Crumble is my absolute favourite desert and I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
two of my favorite fruits in a single dessert… this is like a dream come true
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