Juicy pears, tart ruby red cranberries, and a buttery brown sugar topping come together in this downright delicious cranberry pear crumble pie. You won’t be able to stop stealing tastes of this pear pie filling—it’s SO GOOD.
This cranberry pear crumble pie is a new favorite this time of year. Between those creamy pears, the bursts of tart cranberry, the flaky pie crust, and the buttery brown sugar crumbles—there isn’t a soul on Thanksgiving Day who won’t beg you for this pie recipe. Guaranteed.
How to Make Cranberry Pear Crumble Pie
Let’s break today’s pear pie down in 3 parts.
- Buttery pie crust: Use my can’t fail all butter pie crust or my buttery flaky pie crust. Both yield 2 crusts and make an excellent base for this sky-high pear pie. You’ll have an extra crust leftover, so you can freeze it for another use, or whip up a pecan pie or pumpkin pie. (Or get the best of both worlds and make a pecan praline pumpkin pie!)
- Juicy cranberry pear pie filling: Have I mentioned it’s juicy? All the normal pie squad is here including sugar to sweeten, flour to thicken, cinnamon and ginger for extra yum, and a little squeeze of lemon to keep the flavors bright. Fresh or frozen cranberries work wonders for a ruby red pop of flavor and our FAVORITE pears bring it all home.
- Brown sugar crumble topping: If precise pie crust decorating isn’t your thing, free-form crumble topping most certainly is. A simple blend of melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon, this crumble is scattered all over the cranberry pear pie filling and supplies the perfect crumbly crunch to the soft fruit below.
You know what I love most about crumble toppings? They’re EASY. If you want help shaping the edges of the pie crust underneath all that goodness, see How to Crimp and Flute Pie Crust.
Pears for Pear Pie Filling
Soft pears are sooooo good for snacking, but it’s best to use slightly firmer pears for baking. Peel the pears, then cut them into (about) 1/2-inch chunks NOT slices like we do for apple pie. Remember how we cut peaches for peach pie? Just like that. Let me explain.
Now here’s the real trick: Slices are awesome when it comes to apples, but chunks are KEY for softer fruits like pears or peaches. Pear slices will quickly turn into mush, but pear chunks hold their shape beautifully. They take on a creamy texture, but still have a little bite.
For pear pie filling, you want slightly firm pears peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks.
Besides the the texture and crumble topping—my favorite part about this pie are the HOT PINK juices bubbling on the edges. Is there truly a more beautiful sight?
If you’re looking for more pie inspiration, here are all of our favorite Thanksgiving pies.
More Favorite Cranberry Recipes
- Orange Cranberry Bread
- Cranberry Crumble Pie Bars
- Apple Cranberry Pie or Apple Cranberry Crumble Pie
- Cranberry Orange Scones
- Cranberry Sauce (a Thanksgiving classic!)
And if pears are your favorite, don’t forget these super easy maple baked pears or this spiced pear berry crumble!
Pie Crust Troubleshooting
- Prevent a crumbly pie dough that rips and tears when you roll it out. Make sure you use enough ice water when preparing your pie dough. Too little water creates an unworkable dough.
- Prevent a tough pie crust. Tough crusts are the result of not enough fat in the crust, as well as overworking the dough. Use the all butter pie crust recipe or my shortening and butter pie crust recipe to ensure a flaky, tender pie crust. Additionally, don’t work the dough too much.
- Prevent a burnt crust with a pie crust shield. A shield keeps the crust edge covered, which protects it from browning too quickly or worse, burning. Use an adjustable silicone pie crust shield that you can fit to the size of your delicate pie crust. Metal can break the crust. Alternatively, you can cover the pie with a piece of aluminum foil. Cut a large circle in the center of the square so the center of the pie is exposed.
This recipe is part of Sally’s Pie Week, an annual tradition where I share a handful of new recipes that fit into the pie/crisp/tart category. Join the community below!
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Cranberry Pear Crumble Pie
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours, 55 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Pie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Juicy pears, tart ruby red cranberries, and a buttery brown sugar topping come together in this downright delicious cranberry pear crumble pie. You won’t be able to stop stealing tastes of this pear pie filling– it’s SO GOOD.
Ingredients
- Buttery Flaky Pie Crust or All Butter Pie Crust (my recipes both make 2 crusts; freeze the 2nd half for later use)
- 6 cups (840g) 1/2-inch chunks of peeled pears (about 5 medium pears)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (do not thaw)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice*
Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup (94g) all-purpose flour
- 5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
- The crust: Prepare my pie crust recipe or butter pie crust through step 5.
- After the pie crust has chilled, adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Roll out the chilled pie dough: On a floured work surface, roll out one of the discs of chilled dough (you can freeze the 2nd for later use, see note). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch pie dish.* Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is smooth. Flute or crimp the pie crust edges. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer as you prepare the filling and crumble topping.
- The filling: Combine the pear chunks, cranberries, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon juice together in a large bowl.
- The crumble topping: Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together. Pour the melted butter on top and, using a fork, gently mix until crumbles form.
- Spoon the filling into the crust, leaving any juices behind. Sprinkle crumble topping all over the filling.
- Bake the pie for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. After the first 20 minutes of bake time, place a pie crust shield on top of the pie to prevent the edges from browning too quickly. You can also tent a piece of aluminum foil over the whole pie if the top is browning too quickly. Remove finished pie from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. The pie filling will set as it cools.
- Slice and serve pie at room temperature. Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions – 1-5 Days Ahead: You can get started by combining all the filling ingredients one day ahead of time. Keep covered tightly in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the pie. You can also make the pie dough 1-5 days in advance since it needs to chill. If you want to bake the pie 1 full day in advance, bake it as directed, allow it to completely cool, then cover tightly and keep in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- Make Ahead Instructions – Freezing: The baked pie freezes well for up to 3 months, tightly wrapped in a couple layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the unbaked pie with crumble topping. Freeze for a couple hours to set the filling, then tightly wrap the entire pie in 2-3 layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, remove from the freezer, unwrap, and bake for about 20 minutes longer.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Vegetable Peeler | Rolling Pin | 9-inch Pie Dish | Glass Mixing Bowl | Pie Crust Shield | Cooling Rack
- Freezing Pie Dough: You can freeze the 2nd pie dough for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
- Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon brightens up the overall flavor of the filling. You won’t regret adding it!
- Glass Pie Dish: I strongly recommend a glass pie dish so you can see when the crust on the sides is browning, which signals that the pie is finished.
Reader Comments and Reviews
I’m going to give this pie a try this year! Sounds delicious! Any recommendation on which type of pear to add the best flavor?
Hi Brandy! When I can’t get my hands on Harry & David pears, I love baking with Bartlett pears. You can find those at most major grocery stores.
Hi, this recipe looks so delicious!! I’m wondering if you had any suggestions on how to make them into mini pies using a cupcake pan. This Thanksgiving, it’s just me and my husband, so I’d like to make a few for us and give the rest to friends. Do I need to alter anything? Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Hi Emme, Yes you can use this recipe for mini pies using a cupcake pan. Cut the pie dough into 3 or 3.5 inch circles and press into your pan before filling. I’m unsure of the bake time but it will be shorter.
I plan to make this thanksgiving morning. I’ll be making your shortening pie crust (With vodka) weds night. My first time making a crust! I’d like to use the topping recipe from your apple crisp, because it has oatmeal in it and we love that. Do you think the oatmeal will soak up too much of the juice? Will this work? Thanks for any help!
Hi Marianne, That topping should work just fine with this pie. Happy baking!
Sweet, tart, juicy deliciousness! First time making pie with pear and certainly won’t be the last! Thanks Sally for another great recipe!
Hi Sally, I love your recipes. Thank you for sharing all this goodness with the world. 🙂 I wanted to make this pie but the store was out of cranberries! Do you think I should just add an extra cup of pears? I’m sure it won’t be the same but I imagine it would still be yummy. Thanks!
Hi Rachel, Yes you can simply replace the cranberries with the same amount of pears. Enjoy!
I really wanted to love this pie. I liked it but not as much as I was hoping. Perhaps the pears are too bland? Or maybe I’m not sure what to expect from a pear dessert. There were a few sour cranberries scattered around as well which also distracted (not Sally’s fault). The crumble topping was great. It looks absolutely beautiful, however.
Hi Sally
This pie looks incredible……would like to make for Christmas. Want to know can cold butter be used for the topping to get bigger crumbs??
Thanks!
Michele
Hi Michele! You can definitely try cold & cubed butter instead, but the crumbs won’t necessarily be larger. Whichever form of butter you use (cold or melted) don’t over-mix the crumble. By over-mixing, you’ll have small pieces (with cold butter) or a paste (with melted butter). You want a crumbly mixture.
My pie was WAY to wet – left for a very soggy bottom. Any tips? I’ve heard cornstarch can thicken…
Hi Lena, When you spoon the filling into the crust, leaving any juices behind in the bottom of the bowl. Next time you can also bake the pie for longer – use a pie crust shield to prevent your crust from browning too much!
I just made this , though I added a few cortland apples in it, can’t wait to serve it for Thanksgiving, looks and smells delicious. Thank you Sally for all the great recipes to try.
This is the first pie I’ve made from scratch. I used the butter crust recipe, and followed the recipe to a t. My pie was pretty overstuffed, I had 6 cups of pears, but it took 6 actual pears to accomplish that measurement. The pie came out gorgeous, but it took almost an hour longer to cook. It may have been because I had so much filling. I’m very happy with the results, I’d definitely recommend the recipe, but I think 4 or 5 cups of pears would be enough. I can’t wait to cut into it on thanksgiving! Yummmm!
I wish I knew how to post a photo, this pie is a beauty!
This was a huge hit at last year’s Thanksgiving, so I’m making it again. So unique and yummy! I did have a question… Can you bake the pie 2 days ahead of time and then refrigerate it? Logistics with two little kids and a drive to my family’s house are making me see how far in advance I can do this! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!
Do you I think I would be able to make this recipe into tarts?
Thanks in advance!
I haven’t tested it but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! Let me know if you give it a try!
Made this pie for my husbands thanksgiving pie competition at school and won 1st place LOL. Although everybody just thought it was cranberry apple pie (I used barletts) and based on the 1/3 of a bite that I got (it was gone real fast) I couldn’t really taste the pear myself. Thanks Sally for another great recipe!
Hi!
I was wondering if you thought it would be ok to use fresh grated ginger instead of ginger powder?
Thanks!!
P.S. My family LOVES your pumpkin pie recipe 🙂 the added ground pepper makes it taste so great and the texture *drool* 🙂
Hi Crystal, I’m so happy your family enjoys the pumpkin pie so much! According to McCormick’s website, 1/4 tsp. Ground Ginger = 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger. I hope this helps!
Oh my gosh Sally! I made this tonight because I had cranberries to use up from thanksgiving and I can’t believe how good it is. It’s honestly my new favourite pie, and that’s saying something because I’ve eaten your salted caramel apple pie on multiple occasions 😉
I was eating some with my husband and I told him I’ll be making it every fall from now on because it’s THAT good. We didn’t wait for it to 100% cool – we couldn’t actually haha. So it was a little messy to eat but was sooo good warm!! Thanks for yet ANOTHER keeper
This is the best cranberry pear pie!! Thank you so much for the recipe we loved it!
My sister is allergic to ginger, do you have a suggestion for a substitute? Love all of your recipes!
Hi Hannah! Use cinnamon in its place.
I have a really hard time deciding which recipes to make. My mouth gets dry and my tummy rumbles just looking at the pictures of your yummy desserts. And the cranberry pear pie was to die for. I am a huge fan. Thank you for making it so easy and making me look like a Grand baker.
I would love to make this for Thanksgiving, but I’ve already committed to bringing an apple pie, so could I just substitute the pears with apples? If so, do you have any recommendations for what kind of apples and how many? Thank you so much!
Hi Christi! Apples are a great substitute if you want an apple cranberry crumble pie. You’ll need about 6 apples. I recommend Granny Smith and/or Fuji and Honeycrisp. Using a variety is best.
Hello from across the pond 🙂 I’m from the English countryside where crumble is a very big deal indeed! This was hands down the best crumble I have ever had. I’d never baked with pears before but I am officially converted. Thanks so much!
Love all your recipes. If my pears are a little soft is that okay? Or should I find firmer ones? Thanks
Thanks Rebecca! Firm pears are ideal.
Hey Sally! Going to make this for Thanksgiving this year! You’ve given me the confidence to bake a pie from scratch, crust and all! Do we need to blind bake the pie crust before adding the filling?
You do not need to blind bake this crust, especially if you use a glass pie dish as suggested in the recipe notes!
Sally, this pie is PERFECTION! I baked it last night and I’ve fallen in love with this recipe! I took some pieces to work and saw everyone’s eyes roll into the backs of their heads when they tasted it. This was my first time baking with pears, but not my last. The pears were more subtle than apple, and the cranberries were exactly what they needed to brighten up the filling. Plus, the cranberries are pretty! Even though I bake all the time, pie crust is not my favorite to work with so I may skip the crust next time and just made a crisp crumble topping is the best anyway, so it can be the star in a crisp! I rarely repeat a recipe (I’m always on to the next one ) but this is a keeper. It’ll definitely be coming out of my kitchen again soon! Thanks for being my go-to for the best recipes