Vanilla Poached Pear and Blackberry Crumble Bar

Wed, 17 September 2025

Makes 12 Crumble Bars

Ingredients For the Vanilla Poached Pears

400g sliced pear

1 vanilla bean pod or

30g vanilla extract

200g caster sugar

400ml water

30g or half of a lemon (juiced)

Cake Layer & Crumble Topping

170g softened unsalted butter

375g plain flour

18g/ 1 tbs baking powder

1 pinch sea salt

150g caster sugar

1 medium egg

15g vanilla extract

75g milk

400g Blackberries

 

Instructions:

1. Line a 12” x 8” roasting tin with baking paper.

2. Preheat your convection oven to 180°.

3. Peel and slice the pears. Removing the core.

4. Slice the vanilla pod down the middle and scrape out the beans into a medium sized pot.

5. Mix the water, caster sugar, lemon juice with the vanilla in the pot. Turn to a high/medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Once dissolved, lower the heat, add the sliced pears and allow to simmer for 15 minutes or until the pears are medium/soft.

6. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients together; plain flour, baking powder, sea salt and caster sugar.

7. Using your fingertips rub the butter into the dry ingredients as you would if making a scone mixture.

8. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients; milk, egg and vanilla extract.

9. When the dry mixture resembles a crumble, add the wet mixture and gently mix until the dough comes together.

10. Press ? of the dough into the base of your tin and keep back the remainder of the dough.

11. Drain the pears and pop both the pears and the blackberries on top of the dough. Spreading evenly.

12. Pinch little pieces of the remaining dough and spread on top of the fruit until all of the dough has been used up.

13. Place the tin into the oven and bake at 180° for 30 - 40 minutes until the topping is a nice golden brown.

14. To check if it is baked, press a skewer into the bake. It will come out clean when baked, however you may see some juices from the fruit.

15. Allow to cool and cut into bars. Enjoy dessert with a dollop of cream or pop one into the kid’s lunch box for a delicious morning snack