Description

These easy 15-minute chai spiced pear crumble bars are a warm, fragrant dessert that combines tender spiced pears with a buttery, crunchy oat crust. Perfect for using up overripe fruit, they are portable, make-ahead friendly, and require minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 medium firm pears (Bosc or Anjou), peeled and diced
2 tablespoons chai spice mix
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Peel and dice pears into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chai spice mix. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized clumps.
Press half of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
Pour the spiced pear mixture over the crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle with nuts if using.
Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the pears, ensuring no large gaps are exposed.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden brown and juices are bubbling. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour to allow the bars to set.
Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

Notes

Keep butter cold for a flaky crust. Do not skip the cornstarch to prevent a soggy bottom. Bars must cool completely before cutting to hold their shape. Can be stored at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated for 5 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 280
Sugar: 24
Sodium: 150
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 42
Fiber: 2
Protein: 3

Keywords: chai spice, pear crumble, oat bars, easy dessert, make-ahead dessert, fall baking, fruit bars