Party Time: Guilt-Free Holiday Recipes

Dessert: Pear and Cranberry Crisp

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Makes: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
Filling
1/3 cup dried cranberries
2 pounds firm pears (4 large or 5 small pears), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons rolled oats
Pinch ground nutmeg
Small pinch salt
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed and softened

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cranberries in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let soak until plump, about 15 minutes. Drain well.

2. Combine the almonds, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, oats, nutmeg, and salt in a food processor; pulse a few times. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles granola.

3. In a 10-inch glass pie plate or baking dish, combine the drained cranberries with the pears, maple syrup, flour, and vanilla. Toss well. Scatter the topping over the fruit.

4. Bake the crisp until the topping is well browned, about 1 hour. Serve warm.

Nutrition facts per serving: 260 calories, 3g protein, 49g carbohydrate, 7g fat (3.3g saturated), 6g fiber

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, November/December 2009.