12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree! Traditionally, the 12 days of Christmas starts on December 26th, but the traditional holiday song is of French origin and well, I'm not French. So my 12 days of Christmas starts now with this delicious treat...

~ Apple and Pear Crisp ~
Courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa & The Food Network

Filling:
2 lbs ripe Bosc pears (about 4)
2 lbs firm honeycrisp apples (about 6)
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Topping:
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 tsp salt
1 c old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 lb (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

Preheat oven to 350.

Peel, core, and cut the apples and pears into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 x 12 x 2 inch oval baking dish.

For the topping:

Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed 1 minute, until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering completely.

Place the baking dish on a baking sheet and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.



This is fantastic with ice cream, by the way. Come back tomorrow for the 11th day of Christmas!