Most pear pie recipes just swap pears for apples in an apple pie recipe and call it a day. Well, not this pear crumble pie! This delicious pie recipe makes pears the star of something special.
Juicy pears are paired with hints of honey, orange, and warm spices and topped with a variation of my oatmeal crumble topping. Add this unexpected pie to your Thanksgiving dinner for something special - it's just perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
If you were looking for a more traditional pear pie, I recommend apple pear pie recipe.
Ingredient Notes
This homemade pear pie uses simple ingredients which can be found in any grocery store. It is both gluten free and dairy free as written, but I have included notes below on substitutions if you don't have dietary restrictions.
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats - I use old-fashioned rolled oats for my crumble topping. If you're following a gluten free diet, you will need certified gluten free oats. Bob's Red Mill is my go-to brand.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend - A small amount of flour is used in the crumble topping. I typically use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 flour, although any gluten free flour blend should work fine. If you're not gluten free, use all purpose flour in the same measure.
- Pistachios - I used raw, unsalted pistachios for the topping but I do order those online. If you only have store bought pistachios available, go for lightly salted and omit the salt in the crumble topping. If you're not a fan of pistachios, pecans or walnuts would make a great substitute.
- Fresh Pears - You will want very ripe pears for this pie. I prefer Bartlett pears. Go for skins that are yellow or yellow-green in color. The pears should also feel soft near the stem if you press with your finger.
- Fresh Orange Juice & Orange Zest - There is no substitute for fresh oranges here. The addition of orange adds so much flavor to the pie and pairs perfectly with the fresh pears. Don't skip it!
- Cornstarch - A bit of corn starch helps to thicken the juices of the pie during baking. If you avoid corn, you can substitute arrowroot powder or tapioca starch in the same measure.
- Gluten Free Pie Crust - I always use my homemade gluten free pie crust recipe, but you can use a store-bought pie crust if you want to save some time. If you're not gluten free, use your favorite pie crust.
See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Not Dairy Free - Use regular unsalted butter in place of the vegan butter in the crumble topping.
- Not Gluten Free - Use regular rolled oats and all purpose flour in place of the gluten free ingredients. Replace the gluten free pie crust with your favorite pie crust.
- No Pistachios - Replace the pistachios with walnuts or pecans in the same measure.
- No Cornstarch - Replace corn starch with an equal measure of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.
- Make it a Double Crust Pie - In place of the crumble topping, you can use a top crust with steam vents or a lattice pie crust. The remaining instructions are the same.
How to Make a Pear Crumble Pie
This easy pear pie recipe comes together with just a few minutes of hands on time. Slicing the pears is probably the bulk of the work.
Prepare your pie dough before beginning, line the pie plate and place it in the freezer while you make the pear pie filling.
STEP 1: Add the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter, and pistachios to a medium bowl. Use your hands or a fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients to create a crumble.
STEP 2: Once the crumble topping is prepared, place it in the refrigerator while you mix the pie filling.
STEP 3: Core the pears and remove the stems. Slice pears thin, about ¼". Since the skins are very soft, I don't bother with peeling the pears.
STEP 4: Add the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl with the pear slices. Stir well to coat the fruit.
STEP 5: Add the pear mixture to your prepared pie crust along with any fruit juice from the bowl. It is not necessary to pre-bake the crust for this recipe.
STEP 6: Crumble the topping over the top of the pie. Now you're ready to bake!
Expert Tip
Place your pie plate on a baking sheet before placing it in the oven. This will help to catch any juices that spill over and safe you a mess in your oven.
Storage
Store leftover pie in an airtight container, like a pie keeper, for up 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Reheat the whole pie in a 350F oven until the center is warmed through. This will also re-crisp the crumble topping.
More fruit pies to try:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Pear Crumble Pie
Ingredients
For the crumble topping
- ¾ Cup Gluten Free Oats
- ⅓ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend or all purpose flour for non GF
- ⅓ Cup Light Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 6 Tablespoons Vegan Butter cold and cut into cubes
- 1 Cup Pistachios roughly chopped
For the pie filling
Instructions
- Prepare your pie shell and place it in the freezer while you make the pie filling.1 Gluten Free Pie Crust
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C).
For the crumble topping
- Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, cubed butter and pistachios in a medium bowl. Use your hands or a fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients.¾ Cup Gluten Free Oats, ⅓ Cup Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend, ⅓ Cup Light Brown Sugar, ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 6 Tablespoons Vegan Butter, 1 Cup Pistachios
- Once the crumble mixture is prepared, place it in the refrigerator to chill while you make the pie filling.
For the pie filling
- Core the pears and remove the stems. Slice the pears about ¼" thick and place them in a large bowl. Because pear skins are so soft, I don't bother with peeling.2 ¼ pounds Pears
- Add the honey, brown sugar, corn starch, orange juice, zest, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to the sliced pears. Stir together to coat the fruit.¼ Cup Honey, ¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch, 1 Tablespoon Orange Juice, 1 ½ teaspoons Orange Zest, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- Pour pear filling into your prepared pie crust along with any juices from the bowl.
- Crumble the topping over the pears in an even layer.
- Place the pie pan on a baking sheet to catch any spills. Bake the pie on the bottom rack of the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes. You will likely need to drape a piece of aluminum foil over the pie after 30 minutes to prevent the crumble from browning too much.
- The pie will be done when the filling is bubbling a lot and the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing - 4 hours minimum.
Notes
- Not Dairy Free - Use regular unsalted butter in place of the vegan butter in the crumble topping.
- Not Gluten Free - Use regular rolled oats and all purpose flour in place of the gluten free ingredients. Replace the gluten free pie crust with your favorite pie crust.
- No Pistachios - Replace the pistachios with walnuts or pecans in the same measure.
- No Cornstarch - Replace corn starch with an equal measure of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.
- Make it a Double Crust Pie - In place of the crumble topping, you can use a vented solid pie crust or a lattice pie crust top. The remaining instructions are the same.
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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