Blackberry and pear crumble

[RedRosie]

Can I have some swift Mumsnet advice please?

I was going to make an apple and blackberry crumble this afternoon, but the supermarket had no cooking apples.

I've got pears instead, but have never made a pear crumble. Do I need to cook the pears prior to putting them in the oven with the crumble topping? Or can I just peel and slice 'em, mix in the blackberries (I know not to pre-cook these) and get them in the oven with the crumble?

I don't want a crunchy fruit although I do want crunchy crumble ...

Can someone advise?

How ripe are the pears? If they're read to eat and reasonably soft then I probably wouldn't pre-cook them. If they're still bullet like, then I might give them a few minutes just to soften them a little.

HTH, sounds delicious by the way

i'd half poach them ime pears are like bullets from supermarkets!

pear and chocolate crumble is amazing btw....swap out a couple of tbs of flour and add in cocoa!

I wouldn't Pre cook them, pears need very little cooking. If you cooked them before hand they wouldnt have any bite. Remember you will need less sugar in the fruit.

Thanks. Mumsnet is so speedy!

Cairn - they say "ripe and ready" but I'm not so sure. I'll just crack on with the peeling and if they are a bit bullet-like I'll follow Catsmamma's suggestion and poach a bit ...No cocoa sadly, but that sounds delicious for next time.

I love crumble. Yum. Is it slimming do we think? As far as puddings go it can't be too bad (she says, hopefully?) I put chopped hazelnuts in the topping to make it healthier ...

Mmmmmchocolate - less sugar? Excellent.

Women of Mumsnet - it was delicious.

I thank you.

I'd add a couple of tablespoons of water to the fruit if the pears are not very ripe.

Hi Popbiscuit - I added the juice and zest of an orange and it was perfect.

Seconds tomorrow.

Yum! That sounds great .

If you've no cocoa, next time add choc chips or chopped up dark chocolate through the crumble mix. Blardy lovely.

Oooh. Crumble porn!