4.8 from 84 votes
Unbelievable Pear & Dark Chocolate Crumble
The Unbelievable Pear & Dark Chocolate Crumble features ripe pear chunks tossed with cornstarch and lemon juice, topped with a rich chocolate crumble made from flour, brown sugar, Dutch-process cocoa, cold butter, and bittersweet chocolate. Baking yields a tender, juicy filling beneath a crisp, deeply chocolate-flavored topping.
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
8
people
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 7-8 ripe pear Bartlett or D'Anjou
- 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¾ cup (4 ½ oz/128 g) dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (6 oz/170 g) butter cold and cubed
- ½ cup (3 oz/85 g) bittersweet chocolate chopped
Notes
- The crumble topping can be made up to 3 days in advance or frozen for 2 weeks.
- If you prefer, substitute apples for pears for a different fruit experience.
- Use a wide, shallow baking dish to evenly spread a generous crumble layer.
- Dutch-process cocoa powder is essential for smooth chocolate flavor; avoid hot chocolate powder.
- Bittersweet chocolate balances pear sweetness; adding semi-sweet chips can enrich the topping.
- For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour, noting almond flour may brown faster and yield a less crispy texture.
- Consider making your own brown sugar for the freshest flavor in the topping.