• Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Dessert First

a san francisco food and travel blog | all things sweet

  • About Me
    • about pastrygirl
    • faq
    • press
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • My Books
  • Recipes
    • Breads
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies
    • Custards
    • Fruit
    • Ice Cream
    • Pastry
    • Tarts
  • Sweet San Francisco
    • Sweet Spots
    • SF Events
  • Travel
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • California
    • Hawaii
  • reviews and recs
    • Cookbooks
    • Chocolate
    • Tools
  • Conversions

Apple Pear Crisp with Muscato Ice Cream: Ode to Autumn

Oct 10 by Anita 14 Comments

Img_1966a

Being a child of spring and of California, I have a predilection for sunshine like poured honey, flowers in burgeoning rainbows beneath scrubbed-blue skies, and berries ripe as promises, heavy with scent, tumbling through my fingers.

But over the years autumn has slowly worked its smoky, dusky spell on me. Surely if I’d visited more places where the leaves actually changed colors I might have come around sooner, but even in a place where Indian summer is expected in a few weeks and we haven’t put our shorts away yet, you can feel autumn creeping in with the breeze.

We had our first rain last week, a real rain and not just a sprinkling of drops from the sky. The clouds above my head as I drove home were massed, weighty, and dove-grey. As I walked into the apartment I could hear pattering on the roof, that slow percussive beat of soft rains where you can still make out individual drops. I stepped out on our balcony to feel the cool mist on my face, smell the newly earthy air, and watch a city softly muted to a murmur under a shimmering silver curtain.

A few nights later, I walked to my car in the early reaches of morning, that queer in-between pause inhabited by late-night denizens straggling home and insomniacs waiting for sunrise, and stopped to watch the full, round moon, glowing yellow and straddling the top of the hill, regarding me silently with the mysterious gaze of autumn’s eye.

And yet a few days later, we drove through the dense, wooded Santa Cruz mountains on a gorgeous windswept day in search of a winery secreted in the forest like Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house. Navigating twisting roads through towering groves of redwoods, sunlight barely penetrating the canopy, we felt deep in the heart of an autumn that had never left. In the cool, dark reaches beneath the trees, we were not surprised to see deer wander out in front of us, or a little cottage of a tasting room materialize around a bend of road, like something out of myth.

Autumn is slowly making her presence felt, she of dusty twilight, crimson sunsets, fallen leaves floating in slate-grey puddles, air scented with smoke and chestnuts, nights of cider and down comforters, the quiet winding down to the ending of the year.

Img_1987a

Of course, there are so many things from the kitchen to celebrate autumn: roast turkey, fruit pies, sweet squash, simmering stews – that veritable cornucopia of delights. I chose a relatively simple dessert to welcome autumn, but one I feel sings of cooler weather perfectly. Taken from Emily Luchetti’s A Passion for Ice Cream, a tumble of apples and pears baked to just fork-tender, covered with a crunchy crown of spices and nuts, is accompanied by a quenelle of muscato ice cream. Warm, sweet fruit in its own bubbling juices, laced with cinnamon and almonds – what lovelier way to end to ward off the chill of a nippy evening?

The muscato ice cream is what prompted a visit into the woods and the wonderfully eclectic Bonny Doon Winery. Unable to find a suitable Beaumes des Venise as the recipe suggested, I found a more than worthy substitute in Bonny Doon’s honey-sweet Vin de Glacière. Yes, it does translate to "Wine of the Icebox" – they have quite a skewed sense of humor in naming their wines –  but there is nothing funny about how quickly this bottle of muscato can disappear when you open it. While not a true eiswein, its gorgeous, potent mix of pineapple, citrus, and peach makes a more than a worthy dessert wine – and a lush partner to the apple-pear crisp in the form of a voluptuous, honeyed ice cream.

Img_1981a

So with open arms and an oven-warmed kitchen I say hello to crisp apples and pears, hello to butter-hued squash and pumpkins, hello to pies and tarts and cobblers, hello to autumn.

Img_1936a_1

Tagged with: Apple Pear Crisp + Muscato ice cream + Emily Luchetti + Bonny Doon + autumn

Filed Under: Fruit, Ice Cream, Recipes

Related Posts

  • {Cookbook Review} A Sneak Peek at Desserts by the Yard
  • Tweaking an Old Favorite: Meyer Lemon and Chocolate Tart
  • Pandan and Coconut: Snapshots from Vietnam
  • Summer Olallieberry Cheesecake For Mom
  • Apple Pomegranate GaletteApple Pomegranate Galette à la Chez Panisse
« Black and White Chocolate Cake
World Bread Day: Brioche »

Comments

  1. 1

    Kat says

    Oct 10 at 11:07 pm

    I’ve just received a dessert wine from Australia and was wondering how to serve it. Thanks for the idea. Your apple-pear crisp and ice cream look wonderful.

    Reply
  2. 2

    peabody says

    Oct 11 at 1:57 am

    Very Autumn indeed! Looks good.

    Reply
  3. 3

    Curious says

    Oct 11 at 4:49 pm

    I just wanted to drop in and let you know how very much I enjoy the beautiful, lyrical quality of your posts. Your words portray as vivid a picture as your stunning photography. Thank you for sharing your reflections on autumn.

    Reply
  4. 4

    Ivonne says

    Oct 11 at 7:10 pm

    Ah! You’ve given words to the beauty of Autumn! And this crisp is perfect for the season.

    As always, Anita, thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
  5. 5

    Karina says

    Oct 12 at 6:35 am

    What a gorgeous ode to autumn!

    Reply
  6. 6

    Helene says

    Oct 13 at 5:40 pm

    I love Vin de Glaciere, but would have never thought about ice cream, I am intrigued. I wish I could dig my spoon inti the screen. Sounds delicious as a light contrast to the crumble! Very nice picture!

    Reply
  7. 7

    J says

    Oct 13 at 5:45 pm

    hi anita, if you ask me, you’ve written the quintessential ode to autumnal moods and appetites – and what a divine looking crisp! i can almost smell the wafts of cinnamon from my screen 😉

    Reply
  8. 8

    Brilynn says

    Oct 14 at 12:53 pm

    Mmmmm, very tasty, and such a fall flavour

    Reply
  9. 9

    Bea at La Tartine Gourmande says

    Oct 14 at 1:46 pm

    This is a delight to read, and surely beautiful to eat.

    Reply
  10. 10

    Ari (Baking and Books) says

    Oct 15 at 5:15 am

    I’m from California too and feel the same way about autumn. I hope to move back to the west coast someday, but I sure am going to miss the seasons! This pear crisp looks like just the thing to use up those extra pears I have lying on the counter. 🙂

    Reply
  11. 11

    Anita says

    Oct 17 at 11:27 am

    Kat,
    Thanks so much! Ice wine is the best, if you want the recipe I’d be happy to share with you!

    Peabody,
    Thank you! I’m finally getting into the fall dessert mood!

    Curious,
    Thank you for your compliments. I enjoyed writing this post and I’m glad you liked reading it!

    Ivonne,
    Thank you! I’m sure you’re enjoying a beautiful fall up north, glad I can share just a little bit of it!

    Karina,
    Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks for visiting!

    Helene,
    The wine makes a wonderful ice cream, you should try it sometime! I loved it with the crisp!

    J,
    Thank you! I wish I’d had a bit more of the fruit showing from the crisp, but you are right – the cinnamon smells were heavenly!

    Brilynn,
    Thank you! It was nice way to start the fall:)

    Bea,
    Thank you! I’m glad you liked the post – I’ve loved reading about your trip to France so far:)

    Ari,
    Nice that you’re getting to experience real seasons:) But I do love California. Let me know if you’d like the recipe, I didn’t get around to posting it up on this site!

    Reply
  12. 12

    Tea says

    Oct 18 at 11:35 am

    What a gorgeous post! Your writing is as lovely as your desserts.

    Reply
  13. 13

    Julie says

    Oct 25 at 8:02 pm

    This is a lovely, beautifully written post.

    Reply
  14. 14

    Anita says

    Nov 13 at 9:40 am

    Tea and Julie,
    Thank you! I loved writing this post and I’m glad you enjoyed it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





About Me
Mentions in the Press
Want to go to pastry school?
Email me

subscribe to receive posts in your inbox

Archives

best of dessert first


The Making of Macarons (Sucre Cuit Style)

Hong Kong Eggettes (Daan Jai) for Mom


Tis the Season

A Better Brioche for World Bread Day


Consider the Humble Chocolate Chip Cookie

A Feast of Figs


Pure Dessert, Pure Inspiration

My Own Remembrance of Things Past: Dan Tats


The Slow Drip of Coffee on a Languorous Summer's Day

Still Life of Strawberry Tart

disclosure

This site uses affiliate links. Purchasing through the links will give this site commissions. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

about pastrygirl

Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, baby girl, and rescue cockapoo Snickerdoodle. More about pastrygirl

my latest cookbook


My newest cookbook, Lollipop Love, is now out!

stay connected

Subscribe to new posts by email

  • home
  • my books
  • recipes
  • sweet san francisco
  • reviews
  • conversions
  • shop
  • archives
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

© 2006–2023 Anita Chu. All Rights Reserved. Design by Deluxe Designs