This cranberry apple crisp is a delicious combination of sweet cooked apples and tart cranberries, topped off with a crispy, crunchy oatmeal topping. It's a perfect choice for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert! In this post, I'll provide simple step-by-step instructions and expert tips to help you make this delicious dessert!
Why this Recipe Works
Apple crisp is a classic fall dessert, and this variation adds tart cranberries for a punch of color and flavor. The combination of the sweet cooked apples, warm cinnamon, and tart cranberries is amazing, and the sweet and crunchy topping provides a perfect contrast of texture with the soft cooked apples.
Best of all, this apple crisp with cranberries only requires a few simple ingredients and around 10 minutes of hands-on time to prepare, so it's perfect for a quick and easy holiday dessert.
Ingredient Notes
- Apples - most firm, crisp apples will work. I chose Honeycrisp because they were on sale. They're also less tart than Granny Smith, and the extra sweetness helps to balance out the cranberries.
- Cranberries - Fresh or frozen cranberries will work in this dish. If using frozen, you do not need to thaw them.
- Oats - Old-fashioned rolled oats will stay firmer during cooking than instant oats.
- Nuts - Chopped pecans or walnuts add more crunch to the topping but can be omitted if necessary.
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Make the filling - Add the apples, cranberries, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Fill the dish - Pour the apple mixture into a 2.5 quart baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Make the topping - Mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Add topping and bake - Spread the topping over the apple mixture and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the apples are tender and bubbling and the top is golden brown.
Expert Tips
- Slice the apples thinly so they soften and cook evenly.
- If the top begins to get too dark, loosely cover the dish with foil.
- This cranberry apple crisp can be prepared the night before baking. I recommend tossing the apples with lemon juice to help prevent browning. Prepare as directed, then cover and refrigerate. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to baking.
How to Serve Apple Crisp
Apple crisp can be served warm from the oven or cold if you'd like. This dessert is delicious by itself, but you can't go wrong with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! It's also delicious with a drizzle of caramel sauce on top.
Storage and Reheating
Store the crisp in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through. The cooled apple crisp can be frozen for up to three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
A crisp is typically made with an oat or streusel topping, while a cobbler is made with a doughy topping.
Granny Smith and Honeycrisp are two of the best apples for a crisp. They are both firm and crisp and hold their shape during cooking.
You don't have to peel the apples. This is a matter of personal preference.
More Dessert Recipes
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1½ cups fresh cranberries
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Add the apples, cranberries, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Pour the apple mixture into a 2.5 quart baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Spread the topping over the apple mixture and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the apples are tender and bubbling and the top is golden brown. If the top begins to get too dark, cover loosely with foil.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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