Comfort food typically calls to mind soups, stews and hearty meals meant to warm you up on a chilly day. However, you can also turn to tasty treats as a way to end a cold day on a hot note.
For example, warm fruits baked into a crisp dessert provide an easy, heartwarming option for putting a smile on loved ones’ faces when the weather turns south. This Walnut Apple Pear Crisp combines two fall favorite fruits in a sweet and simple yet flavorful nibble.
Start by mixing the walnut crisp topping separate from the soul of the recipe: the apple pear filling. Then layer in a cast-iron pan and bake for an easy treat that cooks while you enjoy dinner with the family. In the end, the crunch of the crispy walnut crust provides a savory contrast to the sweetness of the fruity filling.
Find more comforting dessert recipes at Culinary.net.
Walnut Apple Pear Crisp
Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes Servings: 4
Ingredients:
Walnut Crisp Topping:
1 1/2 cups California walnuts, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, chilled and sliced into pieces
Apple Pear Filling:
4 apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
3 pears, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ice cream (optional)
Caramel sauce (optional)
Instructions:
Heat oven to 350ºF.
To make walnut crisp topping: In a food processor, pulse 1 cup walnuts until finely ground. Set aside in a separate bowl. In a food processor, pulse remaining 1/2 cup walnuts until chopped. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine ground walnuts, flour, brown sugar, oats and cinnamon. Cut butter into the mixture until a coarse crumb forms.
To make apple pear filling: In large bowl, toss apples, pears, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice.
Pour fruit mixture into the bottom of a 12-inch cast-iron pan. Layer walnut crisp topping mixture over fruit.
Bake 45 minutes, or until fruit mixture is hot and bubbly and topping is golden brown.
