Delicious Air Fryer Pears With Crumble Topping
Looking for a delicious and (mostly) healthy dessert option? Try this air fryer pears recipe, which features juicy, sweet pears topped with a buttery and flavorful oat mixture. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and the air fryer helps to cook the pears to perfection!
Why Make Air Fryer Pears?
I know, pears in the air fryer is probably not how you originally expected to use your air fryer when you bought it.
Pears have never been my #1 favorite fruit either, but this recipe…I gotta say it is pure deliciousness! If you have some pears on hand that you’re about to throw away, try this instead.
The air fryer makes cooking these pears a breeze. Since it only takes about 5 minutes of prep plus cook time, you have nothing to lose! The pears are done in no time and they go great with ice cream for a last minute dessert.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these easy “baked” pears in the air fryer:
Pears – You’ll need two ripe pears. I used Bartlett pears that were pretty ripe when I bought them (more info on that farther down!)
Brown sugar – A little brown sugar will offset the tartness of the pears. Depending on how ripe your pears are, you can adjust the amount of sugar you add.
Butter – You’ll need 2 tbsp of butter. I used salted butter; this works well because again, it balances out the sweetness.
Oats – 2 tbsp of oats will add a crunchy texture almost like a crisp topping!
Vanilla – A little bit of vanilla helps bring out all the other flavors.
Cinnamon – I used a full tsp of cinnamon. It tastes wonderful mixed with the brown sugar and butter.
Nutmeg – I always add more warming spices whenever possible! A little bit of nutmeg adds a lot to the final flavor!
Cloves – Lastly, a touch of cloves is the perfect final addition to the spices going on the pears.
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Recipe Substitutions
There are quite a few ways you can adjust and customize this recipe to make it your own based on your preferences/what ingredients you have on hand.
- About the brown sugar: while I love the caramelly flavor it gives the pears, you can sub white sugar if it’s all you have. You can also use more brown sugar if your pears aren’t very ripe (and vice versa).
- Use whichever spices you have! Allspice would be another good “warming spice” to use. Or you can just use pumpkin pie spice since it is a mix of many of the same spices.
- If you are dairy free, you can try a vegan butter, but I do think these pears would be best using real butter.
- The oats are not required, but they are highly recommended! They add a nice change in texture since the pears are very soft.
What Kind of Pears to Use
As I mentioned earlier, I used Bartlett pears. These are very standard so you shouldn’t have a problem finding them.
However, recipes differ as to whether you should use ripe pears or more firm pears.
From what I’ve found, either will work. The riper the pear, the more it may lose its shape after being air fried. This personally didn’t bother me. I would prefer to use a riper pear and less sugar.
Plus, riper pears don’t take as long to cook! Mine only needed about 10 minutes at 325 degrees. If you’re using firmer pears, just keep in mind that you may need to cook them longer.
More Tips:
When cutting the pears, try to get each half as even as possible. This will help them cook evenly, rather than one being extra done.
Also keep in mind that all air fryers are different. You don’t necessarily have to cook your pears exactly 10 minutes. Check them for doneness—look for softened pear flesh and bubbly topping.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
- Air Fryer Apples
- Air Fryer Peppers & Onions
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
How to Make Air Fryer Pears
When you’re ready to start your pears, here are the steps to take. Hopefully the photos and video are helpful!
Step 1: Make the Oat Crumble
Start by combining all the ingredients for the oat crumble: melted butter, brown sugar, oats, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Mix it all together well, then set aside.
Step 2: Prep Pears
Next, get your pears ready. Wash and dry them first, then take the core/seeds out. I did this with a spoon, which didn’t look perfect, but that doesn’t really matter once the topping is on. If you do want perfection, you can use a melon baller.
Step 3: Fill Pears with topping
Next, take your topping and put a spoonful in the center of each pear. Use the spoon to then rub the topping all over the top of the pear. Don’t leave any flesh uncovered!
If you have any topping left fill up the center with it again.
Step 4: Air Fry
Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees (IF your air fryer requires preheating). Then, place the pears in the air fryer basket—however many will fit. I found that my small 2 quart air fryer always fit 2 pear halves so I worked in 2 separate batches.
Air fry for 10-12 minutes, until the pears are soft and the topping is caramelized!
How to Serve This Air Fryer Pear Dessert
Once your pears are done, there are a few ways you can serve them.
The first option is to simply eat them as is. I made these for myself one night and proceeded to devour 2 pear halves in a matter minutes with nothing added.
That said, this air fryer pear dessert could be even better with ice cream! You can serve the ice cream right on top, or on the side in a bowl.
Here are some more serving ideas:
- Serve with homemade whipped cream
- Serve with greek yogurt for a healthier option
- Add chopped pecans or almonds on top
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top
Air Fryer Pears With Crumble Topping
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Chef's Knife
Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 4 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp oats
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp cloves
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees.
- Wash the pears well, then evenly slice in half with a sharp knife. Use a spoon to remove the center core/seeds.
- Melt the butter. Add brown sugar, oats, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir well until combined.
- Put a spoonful of the butter/sugar mixture inside the hole of each pear. Spread the mixture out onto all of the top flesh. If you have more butter/sugar left, add more to the center of each pear.
- Place pears into air fryer (for a 2-quart air fryer, use only 2 halves; anything bigger should fit 3 or 4).
- Air fry at 325 for 10-12 minutes, or until carmelized and juicy.
- Eat alone or serve with ice cream, granola, etc. and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Ripe pears cook faster and are sweeter than firmer pears. If your pears aren’t ripe, you may need to cook them a bit longer and/or add extra sweetener.
- Use a spoon or a melon baller to core your pears.
- Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, greek yogurt, chopped pecans or almonds, caramel sauce, etc.!
- Try to cut the pear halves as evenly as possible so they cook at the same rate.
Conclusion
Perfect for a cozy night in or a quick dessert after dinner, these air fryer pears are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. I hope you will give this delightful recipe when you need an easy but delicious treat! Be sure to share the recipe with others so more people can try it!
