Garam Masala Pear Crumble
Soft, juicy pears with a hint of warm spice under a buttery, oaty crumble that goes crisp and golden in the oven.
Made with Garam masala (homemade). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.48 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Toss the pears with the caster sugar, lemon juice, cornflour and 2 g of your ready made garam masala (see the base recipe). Tip into a 1.5 litre baking dish.
- 2
Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the demerara sugar, oats, salt and the remaining 3 g of garam masala.
- 3
Scatter the crumble evenly over the pears. Do not press it down, as loose crumble stays crisper.
- 4
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is deep golden and the fruit is bubbling at the edges.
38 min - 5
Rest for 10 minutes so the juices thicken, then serve warm with custard or vanilla ice cream.
Tips
- Use ripe but firm pears such as Conference. Very soft pears turn to mush in the oven.
- Cornflour in the fruit soaks up the juices, so the base does not turn watery.
- For a crisper top, bake the crumble on its own on a tray for 15 minutes first, then spoon it over the fruit.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 2 days covered at room temperature on a cool day, or 3 days in the fridge. Reheat until steaming hot. Freeze the baked crumble for up to 3 months.
Questions
Can I make this vegan and dairy free?
Yes. Use cold dairy free spread in place of butter. Serve with oat or coconut custard. Check that your spread and oats are suitable.
Can I make a gluten free version?
Yes. Swap in gluten free plain flour and gluten free oats. The topping stays crisp and buttery, though it may need 5 minutes longer in the oven.
Does garam masala make it taste like curry?
No. In this small amount it gives a gentle warmth like mixed spice, with a floral note from the cardamom. Use less if you are unsure.
More made with garam masala (homemade)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
