Tart rhubarb and juicy, sweet Bartlett pears team up in this summer Gluten-Free Rhubarb Pear Crisp. It's simple to make, great for crowds, and delicious served warm with a scoop your favorite ice cream.

I love making crisp year-round. It's such a warm and cozy dessert that can be made with your favorite seasonal fruit. In the summer, berries and stonefruit are excellent for crisp while in the fall, apples with cinnamon and nutmeg give that cozy feel. The simplicity of the dish makes it very appealing for preparation, especially since a crisp recipe does not require as much precision in measuring the ingredients. When I make crisp, it feels more like a cooking recipe where I can wing the ingredient measurements, and it still turns out delicious (unlike making something like a cake where exact measurements are required).

With rhubarb still in season, I didn't want to let the opportunity pass to make a rhubarb crisp. As a tart ingredient (rhubarb is technically a vegetable), I decided to pick a sweet pairing and opted for pears. Juicy, sweet Bartlett pears and rhubarb come together in this crisp with a delicious gluten-free crumble topping. It's so simple to make and perfect for serving warm with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Before you begin

Take out the following baking equipment.

Digital kitchen scale
12 x 8-inch baking dish
Large mixing bowl
Stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
Silicone spatula

Allow all of your ingredients to come to room temperature.
Read the recipe through from start to finish.

Understanding ingredients

The flavors of pears complement rhubarb very well. You can use your favorite pears for this recipe. However, I recommend using Bartlett pears. Their juicy, sweet flavor is a pleasant contrast to tart rhubarb. When selecting your pears, choose pears that are slightly firm. If they are too soft, they will become mush once they bake in the oven. Pears that are too firm will be crunchy and tart.

Almond flour adds a nuttiness to the crisp topping. Because we are not concerned with developing gluten for a crisp, using a gluten-free flour is an excellent option. If you prefer another nut flour you can easily substitute. Or if you do not have almond flour on hand, you can substitute all-purpose flour.

Always use unsalted butter in baking. You are better able to control the amount of salt that goes into a recipe. The role of the butter in this recipe is to create a delicious buttery, crumble topping. The butter is the key ingredient in bringing together all of the crisp topping ingredients.

Rhubarb season is short-lived, so it’s important to know what to look for when selecting rhubarb for your pie. Choose stalks that are redder and thinner. This indicates that they are more tender and sweet. Additionally, select stalks that are firm and crisp with shiny skins. Typically, the rhubarb season only lasts from late spring to early summer, so enjoy your rhubarb desserts while you can (like in my rhubarb cake and rhubarb apple pie)!

How to make the crisp topping

The crisp topping is simple to make. You can either make it using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, a handheld mixer or by hand.

Add your oats, almond flour, and sliced almonds to your mixing bowl. Mix everything together until combined. Then add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and combine. Finally, add the softened butter to the mixture and mix on medium-low speed until the butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients. If doing by hand, mash the butter and dry ingredients between your thumbs and fingers until you get a crumbly mixture.

Tips and takeaways

If you prefer to use flour as your thickening agent, you can substitute 35 g (1/4 cup) all-purpose flour for the cornstarch.
Apples are another delicious option in this crisp. You can substitute an equal amount of apples for the pears. I would recommend Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp apples.
Citrus pairs well with rhubarb. You can add 1 teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the recipe for a subtle but complementary flavor.
To make this vegan, simply substitute room temperature coconut oil for the butter.

More crisp recipes

Make sure to tag me @thesweetoccasion on Instagram and leave me a review below if you make this Gluten-Free Rhubarb Pear Crisp. I'd love to see your creations and read your feedback. And if you would like to make this recipe later, be sure to pin this recipe using the button on any of these images. Let's make every occasion a sweet occasion!