Description
A perfectly balanced Apple Cranberry Crisp combining tart, firm apples and tangy cranberries with a sweet, spiced oat topping for a warm, cozy dessert that’s easy to prepare and irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Filling
- 6 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn), peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼-inch wedges
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (no need to thaw if frozen)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Topping
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure even baking right from the start.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or a deep 10-inch pie dish with butter or non-stick spray and set aside.
- Prepare the Fruit Filling: Peel, core, and slice 6 apples into ¼-inch thick wedges and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries to the apples.
- Sweeten and Spice the Filling: Add ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Gently toss everything to coat evenly. Taste and add an extra tablespoon of sugar if the filling tastes too tart.
- Assemble the Fruit Layer: Pour the fruit mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly for uniform cooking.
- Make the Topping: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup rolled oats, ¾ cup packed brown sugar, ½ cup flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together to blend.
- Incorporate Butter: Add ½ cup cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry topping mixture. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers, cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for added depth of flavor.
- Add the Topping to Fruit: Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the fruit layer without pressing it down to keep the topping light and crunchy.
- Bake: Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling bubbles around the edges. Cover loosely with foil if the topping browns too fast.
- Cool Before Serving: Let the crisp rest for 15–20 minutes to allow the filling to thicken for easier serving and better texture.
Notes
- Adjust sugar based on the tartness of your cranberries and apple variety.
- Cut apples uniformly to ensure even baking with a pleasing texture.
- Keep butter cold for a flaky, crisp topping; avoid warm or melted butter.
- Do not overmix the topping to prevent toughness.
- Using glass or ceramic baking dishes is preferred to dark metal pans to avoid over-browning.
- Allow the crisp to rest after baking to avoid a runny filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Apple Cranberry Crisp, apple dessert, cranberry dessert, baked fruit dessert, oat topping, easy fall dessert, warm dessert
