Steph De Sousa's Crumble-A-Licious Pear Magic: A Cozy Dessert Delight
Warm, spiced pears crowned with a golden, crunchy crumble topping define the ultimate comfort food experience. Celebrity chef Steph De Sousa is sharing her beloved "Crumble-A-Licious Pear Magic" recipe, a delightful and flavour-packed dessert from her latest cookbook, No Stress Recipe Queen. Featuring toasted coconut, hearty rolled oats, and aromatic warming spices, this simple, budget-friendly treat delivers immense taste satisfaction, making it an ideal choice for those cooler evenings when only something cozy and comforting will suffice.
Ingredients and Preparation Details
Preparation and Cooking Time: Approximately 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients List:
- 825 grams of canned pear slices in syrup or 1 kilogram of fresh pears
- 1/4 cup of caster sugar (required only if using fresh pears)
- 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon of garam masala
- 1 tablespoon of cornflour
- 1 cup of plain flour
- 1 cup of shredded coconut
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 125 grams of butter, melted
- To Serve: cream, custard, or ice-cream
Step-by-Step Method Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Pears
If utilizing fresh pears, begin by peeling, coring, and cutting them into thin wedges. Place the pear wedges in a microwave-safe bowl along with the caster sugar and half a cup of water. Cover the bowl securely with a dinner plate and microwave on HIGH for about 5 minutes or until the pears become just tender.
Step 2: Assemble the Base
Take a 20-centimetre square baking dish and transfer the freshly cooked pears along with their syrup (or the canned pears including the syrup) into the dish. Evenly sprinkle the ground ginger, garam masala, and cornflour over the pears. Gently stir the mixture to thoroughly combine and infuse the warm, spiced flavours throughout.
Step 3: Preheat and Make the Crumble Topping
Preheat your conventional oven to 180 degrees Celsius or set your air fryer to 160 degrees Celsius. In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain flour, shredded coconut, rolled oats, and brown sugar. Pour the melted butter over the dry ingredients and mix diligently with a wooden spoon until a crumbly, cohesive topping forms.
Step 4: Apply the Topping and Bake
Take handfuls of the crumble mixture, squeeze them gently to create delightful clumps, and arrange these clumps evenly over the top of the pears. This technique ensures those highly desirable big, chunky, golden bits that everyone adores in a perfect crumble. Place the assembled pear crumble in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or in the air fryer for 18 minutes, until the topping turns a beautiful golden brown and emits an irresistible, heavenly dessert aroma.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Serve the pear crumble warm, accompanied by your choice of cream, custard, or generous scoops of vanilla ice-cream. For an extra indulgent treat, feel free to add all three toppings – because more is always merrier when it comes to dessert!
