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 really love this fantastic pie! I’ve made it so many times for different occasions. I’ve used fresh or dried cranberries in the past and it is so so good! This most recent time I used frozen cranberries as that was all I had and it was absolutely terrible. I did not change anything else and the extra liquid from them being frozen led to a very wet and unset pie, it was disappointing. I will continue to make this pie but never again with frozen!
Soo good!
I baked this using allulose (a natural sugar substitute) and no one was the wiser. This pie is fantastic. It is even better than apple/cranberry. I used red bartlett pears which I allowed to ripen to various stages first and frozen cranberries.
This has been my goto Christmas dessert for a few years now! It’s Christmas in a pie! Baking it for a gluten free family this year. Can I sub any GF flour for the topping?
Hi Neecolez, we haven’t tested the topping with any gluten free flours, so we’re unsure of the results. Let us know if you give anything a try!
I made this with gluten free flour and a store bought gluten free pie crust and it was great! I’m a lazy baker and don’t make my own crusts. Sorry, Sally!
Can I use pre made pie dough? If so does it alter the cook time?
Hi Stephanie, you can use pre-made pie dough. Baking time and directions remain the same.
We loved this recipe! The pears become so aromatic when baked and the cranberry adds a nice pop of color and flavor. Crumble topping is tasty and simple. Another great recipe from Sally!
Hi Sally,
Can I freeze the filling in advance? If so, do I need to drain it before putting it in the pie crust?
Hi Lesley! See recipe Notes for our tested and recommended make-ahead instructions.
Sally-could you make this crumble without the bottom layer crust? I’m trying to save a few calories when I serve this at a brunch. Thank you!
Hi Kayla, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work!
I made this pie last year, and it was a hit! Would it be possible to use a graham cracker crust? My family prefers that to regular pie crusts.
Hi Amy, you definitely can use a graham cracker crust if you prefer! Pre-bake it for 10 minutes before filling. A Biscoff crust would be delicious with this pie filling too. Enjoy!
Thank you for the suggestion! I think I might try the Biscoff crust this year!
Any substitution recommendations for the butter to make vegan?
I’d love to make this pie this weekend, but I’m struggling to find fresh or frozen cranberries. Can I rehydrate dried cranberries and then freeze them to get the same affect? Thank you!
Hi Michelle, we wouldn’t recommend doing that, no. If you can’t find fresh or frozen cranberries, you could maybe try this caramel pear pie instead? You could definitely use the streusel topping from this recipe in place of a top crust, if you’d prefer.
I use canned cranberries with the whole cranberries in it, Works fine for us, my husband loves this pie,
I’m short on time. Can I use a premade frozen pie crust? My family received a beautiful box of pears for Christmas and I’m looking for a good dessert recipe.
Hi Anna, absolutely. Hope your family enjoys the pie!
I need to make this pie in advance. Do you think the pie would taste better if I freeze it before baking, Or freeze after baking?
Hi Angela, either method works — it really depends on how much work you want to do after the pie is frozen (i.e. do you just want to thaw and be ready to eat, or do you have the time to bake the pie as well?). Hope you enjoy it!
Absolutely delicious! Followed filling recipe exactly and used my best double crust dough recipe with a cutout top. (my husband isn’t fond of crumble crusts). I may add 1/8 tsp more ginger next time. I bought more pears to make again soon!
Made this pie tonight and it was delightful. My only question is about how to adjust for a ceramic pie dish. I only have a ceramic dish and even after cooking for an hour and a half the crust came out raw. Any advice besides getting a new pie plate? Thanks for the recipe!
Made this pie and we loved it! The only issue is that my homemade pie crust was not baked all the way through at the bottom, though the rest of the pie was done. Should I pre bake it next time? Or what else would cause this?
Hi Angie, We are so happy that you loved it! Did you bake the pie in a glass pie dish? You shouldn’t need to blind bake this crust, especially if you use a glass pie dish and can see when the sides and bottom begin to brown. It sounds like your pie simply needed to bake longer.
This was a phenomenal pie, we really enjoyed it. Just curious, what type of pears do you recommend using? I tried red pears and loved the texture. Thanks!
Delicious!! I’ve never baked pears…they’re delicious with the cranberries and cinnamon mixture and the crumble on top!! So yummy
Thank you
Hi, Sally! What type of pears do you recommend for this? Do you have a favorite that you use?
Hi Jamie! We love baking with Bartlett pears.
I’m already planning Thanksgiving pies and just had to leave a review on this one. I’ve made it in addition to some old family classics the last 2 years and it has become a fan favorite! So easy and so delicious. I think cardamom plays really well with these flavors so I add a bit in with the cinnamon for the crumble. Perfection!
I subbed fresh blueberries instead of cranberries when I first made this because cranberries were not in season, and it came our great!
Too much cinnamon! I couldn’t taste pears. You probably can use potatoes and won’t taste a difference, so much cinnamon!
Hi Sally, does this recipe need ripe pears? Or can I use any pears? Also, can I make this without the crumb topping and a lattice pie crust top instead?
Thanks,
Phoebe Jane
Hi Phoebe, it’s best to use slightly firmer pears for baking here. Yes, you could do a lattice pie crust top instead of the crumble. Enjoy!
Question. If cranberries are frozen why not thaw them and halve them?
Hi Peter, We use whole cranberries here – no need to chop them. We recommend keeping the cranberries frozen for the best texture. Frozen fruit can get soft and mushy if thawed before baking.
This pie has been a family favorite since the first time I made it 2 years ago. We all get excited for the cranberry season just because it means this pie is coming! The balance of the sweetness from the pears with the tartness of the cranberries is just right. I was skeptical about baking pears but they hold up beautifully.
So good.
Can I possibly use canned pears instead of fresh?
Hi Kristin! It’s best to use fresh pears for this pie.
Can I use a lattice over the brown sugar crumble? Or just mix the crumble with the filling and then put the lattice on?
Hi Carlotte! We recommend doing the crumble topping OR a pie crust lattice, not both. The crumble mixture will be too much mixed into the filling. For lattice instructions you can check out this post!
I made this for Christmas, and it was absolutely delicious! Used your half shortening/half butter pie crust and I’m so excited that I have half in my freezer for a future pie – I will never use another crust recipe again. Thank you for all of the tasty and reliable recipes!
Also, I saw someone above worried about the crumble getting mushy in the fridge. It was just me and my husband for Christmas this year due to the pandemic, and we ate this pie from the fridge for 4 nights straight – the crumble stayed crisp the whole time!.
Just curious – if I bake the pie today, but don’t want the crumble to get mushy in the fridge overnight, do you think it would be possible to put the crumble on in the morning and stick it in the oven for 5-10 minutes? Thanks!
Hi Kim, We don’t recommend it, the crumble will need more than that to bake.
hi, opposite of a lot of questions, i have plenty of cranberries and no pears, do you think this would work with all cranberries, and some extra sweetening? or would i be better off finding a different recipe for just a cranberry pie 😛
Hi Liz, We haven’t tested this with all cranberries but you can use apples instead of pears. Or try these cranberry bars instead.
Hi Sally. If I use apples, does it change anything else about the recipe? Thank you!
Hi Michele! We would use the filling from this apple cranberry pie instead – you can still top with this crumble if desired. Enjoy!