Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 4 cups pears (about 4 large pears), peeled, cored, and diced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×9-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the sides to make it easy to lift the bars out once they are baked.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter to the mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your clean fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Take about two-thirds of the crumble mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. This will form the sturdy base of your bars. Set the remaining one-third of the mixture aside to use as the topping later.
- In another bowl, toss the diced pears with the granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, ground ginger, ground cardamom, and vanilla extract. Stir gently until the pears are evenly coated with the spices and the cornstarch, which will help thicken the fruit juices during baking.
- Spread the pear filling evenly over the pressed crust in the pan. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture over the top of the pears, ensuring an even distribution of the oat topping. Do not press down on the top layer; let it stay loose and craggy for the best texture.
- Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the pear filling is bubbling around the edges. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for the bars to set so they can be sliced cleanly.
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian