Hey there.
I made you a crisp. A golden brown crisp topped with a crunchy, almond-scented Amaretti cookie and brown butter mixture. Underneath the crunchy topping is a mess of sweet and juicy seckle pears. Seckle pears are tiny, red blushed, and fairly firm pears that I find take really well to baking. They cook up super tender but manage to keep their shape…plus they are so CUTE! I can’t resist teeny, tiny food…and teeny, tiny produce that grows on a tree is even better. Way to be, pear tree.
This crisp combines the sweetness of pears with always welcome brown butter, and the flavor of almonds in two ways…the cookies, which are flavored with almond extract and toasty, nutty chopped almonds. There’s a bit of cinnamon in there for warmth and a nod to the season. I’d serve this crisp still warm from the oven (or reheated in the microwave, like you do) and topped with a heaping scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. It’s only the natural thing to do.
Side note: I’m trying this thing where I don’t add text to my photos. I’ve been feeling like I’m forcing it too much, but I’d like to hear what you think in the comments below. Thanks, pals…I do appreciate your input. Cheers! [recipe]
Amaretti Brown Butter Pear Crisp
I used Amaretti cookies in this recipe, small Italian almond and meringue cookies. I love these crisp little cookies on their own and they work really well with the juicy tender pears and almonds in this recipe.
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, browned
3/4 cup crushed amaretti cookies
1/3 cup almonds, chopped
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons brown sugar
4-5 heaping cups diced pears
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2-4 tablespoons sugar (depending on sweetness of fruit)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Brown the butter in a 7-inch cast iron pan (if using to bake the crisp, otherwise use a saucepan) until fragrantly nutty and deep, toffee brown. Pour into a heatproof dish and set aside. In a large bowl combine the crushed cookies, almonds, wheat flour, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar. Add the browned butter and mix to combine.
In another bowl combine the pears with the cornstarch, sugar to taste, lemon juice, and cinnamon, toss to coat. Scrape the pear mixture into the cast iron pan or other baking dish and top with the amaretti crisp mixture. Bake in the center of the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the top is crisp, golden, and the pears are bubbly. Serve warm, preferably with ice cream. [/recipe]
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
Those tiny babies are so stinking cute! I might just eat that whoooole skillet myself!
Erika
Love how you added brown butta.. This looks amazin!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
I LOOOOVE amaretti cookies. This looks awesome. And I don’t really miss the text, though I never did think you “forced” it. 🙂
Nicole
This sounds incredible, Cindy! I love those amaretti cookies and now I must try those seckle pears. I am forever a fan of your gorgeous photos, fonts or no. If you you’re feeling like it’s forced, do what you gotta do!
Billy
I LOVE EEVERYTHIING ABOUT THIS. Pear crisp is my fall lover and that last image is MONEY.
About the text, I only do it on my photos because I feel like they’re a little more successful on pinterest that way? I could be full of shit though.
Robyn
To be honest, your pictures are always gorgeous and don’t need text to enhance them. Having said that, your text additions are some of the best, most stylish ones. It’s not like you’re just sticking Arial on them; they’re cute and fun and you can tell you put a lot of thought into them! I say just do whatever feels right! Not every post has to have a picture with text. Does that help?
Shikha
Amaretti is the best! I feel like it’s an underused ingredient, especially with apples. Can’t wait to try this!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Brown butter makes everyhting better! LOVE this!
Tieghan
Honestly, I am not normally a pear person, but I have also only ever had one on it was terrible and like 10 years ago. I think it is time to give them another go!! I mean there crisp look killer (you pics are awesome! The amaretti cookies and brown butter sold me right away!
Eileen
Hooray, pear season at last! These crisps sound just fantastic. Almonds and baked fruit sure are a match made in heaven!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
First of all: all the crisp please.
Second of all: Jimi Hendrix used to say “groove your own way”. I try to embrace this in all areas of life and I think it’s totally apt here. Text? No text? Just groove.
Carolyn
This looks delish! I definitely need to get on the crisp bandwagon soon. Pears are so often overlooked!
I like the text on your pics. Maybe cut down to just the first picture on the post? I like using a picture with the name of the recipe when I pin it.
Laura Dembowski
Pear desserts are so nice in fall. Everyone focuses on apples but pears are very tasty too. The crumble sounds great with the cookies!
Megan
I want to add a crumble to my breakfast and dessert erryday.
And follow your heart with the type! It’s my fave when you sprinkle the photos with hearts, but you know how I am. Love lovin’.
Beth
I can’t even tell you how happy it made me, just to think about brown butter pear crisp. Hard to imagine how I’ll feel after I’ve eaten it!