Healthy Baked Pear Crisp

This simple recipe has all the lovely flavors of fall without being a sugar bomb. Crunchy oats, spicy cinnamon, and sweet dried cranberries are the perfect compliment to fully ripe pears. I love the pretty presentation of a pear half, topped with crisp and a small scoop of ice cream, whipped cream or coconut cream.

Pears are an excellent source of water-soluble fiber, including pectin. Pectin is an important form of fiber because it helps to lower cholesterol levels and tones the intestines. Pears are also a hypoallergenic fruit and are less likely to produce adverse response in people with allergies than other fruits. Because pears are one of the fruits with high pesticides residue, it is always best to select organically grown pears and clean the fruit before cooking.

Cinnamon has long been treasured in both Eastern and Western cultures for its medicinal benefits. It has well documented effects as a circulatory stimulant, digestive, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic. Cinnamons unique healing properties are from the active ingredients in the essential oils located in the bark. Cinnamon is a versatile and delicious spice that enhances both the flavor of your food and your health.

Cranberries have many health benefits, and I have used dried cranberries in this recipe as a way to cut back on refined sugar and add some nice tartness. Cranberries are a good source of Vitamin C and both soluble, and insoluble fiber. They have long been used as a remedy for urinary tract infections and kidney stones, and they have antioxidant properties.

Healthier Baked Pear Crisp

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 firm Bosc or Bartlett pears, washed and sliced vertically
• 4 tbsp butter or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup old fashioned organic oats
• 2 tbsp almond flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Using a melon baller carefully core and remove seeds from pears. Place on parchment lined baking sheet cut side up.
3. Combine the rest of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until mixture is well combined and crumbly.
4. Using a spoon mound crisp topping onto the pear halves, pressing gently to help it adhere to the pears.
5. Bake in middle of 400 oven for 30 minutes.

   Pears are perfect by themselves, but a scoop of ice-cream or dollop of gently whipped cream make it a bit fancier.