Apple Cranberry Crisp

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Apple cranberry crisp is a wonderful seasonal dish that pulls double duty for breakfast or dessert. It’s an instant crowd pleaser!

Not everyone in my family likes cranberry sauce, so around Thanksgiving we usually have lots of extra cranberries on hand with me wondering what to do with them. 

Both cranberry mustard and spiced cranberry ice cream have become go-to recipes, but sometimes you just want something warm and cozy.

This apple cranberry crisp fits the bill. It’s full of sweet and tart fruit with a buttery, crumbly oat topping that I just adore.

What’s the difference between a crisp and a crumble?

I love crisps and crumbles because they’re a bit like pie but easier. They have all of the good filling and none of the fussing about crust. 

Plus, they are perfect as dessert or fresh out of the oven for breakfast on a cold day.

You might be surprised to know that, while the terms are often interchangeable, there is a difference between crisps and crumbles!

Both have fresh fruit on the bottom and a buttery topping. Crumbles have a more streusel-like topping, similar to what you might have on a coffee cake.

Crisps have oats in the topping, and often nuts as well, making it less soft and more, well, crisp!

Make sure you use rolled oats in your crisp rather than quick oats. Quick oats are chopped small and you won’t get that signature crispy, nutty texture on the baked topping with them.

How to make this apple cranberry crisp recipe

Crisps are super easy to make, so you can easily throw one together to bake on a weeknight.

Combine the filling:

• Fresh (or frozen and thawed) cranberries
• Diced apples
• Granulated sugar
• Flour

If you have fresh cranberries and apples on hand, this will come together in a snap. Don’t worry about peeling the apples!

You can swap in pears, too, if you prefer, or try a mix of both pears and apples with the cranberries.

Stir to coat the fruit well and scoop it into a 2-quart casserole dish.

Next, we’re making the crisp topping.

In a bowl, stir together:

• Rolled oats
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Walnuts
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Salt

My go-to spices for baking are always cinnamon and nutmeg, which are always wonderful in cooler temperatures. You can swap in your own favorites, like cardamom, cloves, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice blend.

Break up any large chunks of brown sugar and make sure everything is evenly distributed.

Then, pour in the melted butter. Stir until the ingredients are coated and clumping together.

We use melted butter to ensure the topping clumps well and creates a nice crunch when baked. If you use cold butter, as in a crumble, your topping will be more cakey and soft.

Scatter the topping evenly over the top of the fruit. Bake for 45 minutes, until the topping is browned and crisp, and the fruit juices are bubbling.

Be sure to let the crisp cool a bit before serving to help those juices settle down!

Storage tips

Any cranberry apple crisp leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, making for a delicious start or finish to the day all week long. 

You can also rewarm the crisp right in the baking dish. Set the oven to 350°F and heat for 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of your crisp and desired temperature. 

If warming in the oven, consider covering with foil to prevent the topping from browning further.

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

If you want to freeze this dish, I recommend dividing it into individual portions and freezing once cooled from the oven.

Thaw servings overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the microwave. Frozen crisp will store for about 3 months.

Apple cranberry crisp is so good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or with yogurt for breakfast. It’s the perfect seasonal dessert.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Apple cranberry crisp is a wonderful seasonal dish that pulls double duty for breakfast or dessert.

Author : Megan Myers

4.83 from 23 votes

Print Pin Recipe Review

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Calories 367 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 3 cups chopped apples, 2-4 apples, depending on size
• 2 cups fresh cranberries, or frozen and thawed
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For the topping

• ¾ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ cup butter, melted and cooled

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
• In a bowl, combine apples, cranberries, sugar, and flour. Stir to coat evenly, then scoop into baking dish, scattering any extra sugar from the bowl over the top.
• In another bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to evenly distribute, breaking up any chunks of brown sugar. Add the melted butter and stir until no dry bits are left and topping is forming clumps. Scatter clumps evenly over the fruit.
• Bake for 45 minutes, until topping is browned and crisp and fruit juices are bubbly. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Recommended Products

• Cuisinart CTG-00-SMC Stainless Steel Measuring Cups, Set of 4
• OXO Good Grips 3-piece Mixing Bowl Set
• Emile Henry Square Baking Dish

Nutrition

Calories: 367 kcalCarbohydrates: 53 gProtein: 4 gFat: 17 gSaturated Fat: 8 gCholesterol: 31 mgSodium: 163 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 36 g

Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate based on online calculators. Any nutritional information found on Stetted should be used as a general guideline only.

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