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Festive apple cranberry crisp is a delectably easy dessert with a gooey fruit filling under a crispy oat topping. A scoop of ice cream makes it even better!
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Why you'll love apple cranberry crisp
Apple cranberry crisp is the perfect baked dessert for holiday dinners and family meals during apple and cranberry season. Like apple crisp, this sweet fruit crisp is an ideal way to get the comfort of baked pie with minimal effort. Even beginners will crush this recipe.
The method is as simple as prepping the filling ingredients, then the topping ingredients, combining the two and putting them into the oven. You end up with a warm and gooey fruit filling with crispy topping that everyone loves, especially with a scoop of ice cream.
I can't think of an easier dessert to complement your turkey or spiral ham dinner during the holidays. It's truly a walk in the park.
Ingredients you'll need
For the filling
- Apples - Use your seasonal favorite! Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Jonathan, Gala, and Fuji apples are widely available and perfect for this recipe.
- Pears - Adds texture, flavor, and volume. You'll want them to be ripe and juicy. If they're not available, substitute them with apples.
- Fresh cranberries - Use fresh or frozen whole cranberries for this recipe.
- Orange juice - Adds the perfect citrus flavor in the same way it flavors cranberry orange sauce.
- Brown sugar - Helps caramelize the fruit filling and the crispy oat topping.
- Cornstarch - This is the magical ingredient that thickens the fruit filling. I've included a substitute in the 'recipe variations' section and in the recipe card.
- Cinnamon - This ties all the flavors together in this recipe.
For the topping
- Rolled oats - Use quick-cooking oats or old-fashioned rolled oats.
- Oat flour - If you don't have this on hand, you can blend rolled oats into a powder using any high-speed blender.
- Walnuts - Adds crunch and rich flavor to the topping.
- Brown sugar - This adds depth to the sweetness. Use any sugar in its place.
- Oil - I prefer olive oil, but any oil will work for this recipe.
- Salt - Ties flavors together for balance and satisfaction.
How to make apple cranberry crisp
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking dish with cooking spray. To make the topping, stir together rolled oats, oat flour, walnuts, brown sugar, salt, and oil in a mixing bowl. The texture should be coarse and crumbly.
Next, mix the filling ingredients by tossing the fruit, orange juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl until it's evenly coated.
Now, transfer the fruit filling to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the topping mixture over the surface.
Bake the crisp uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and rest for 10 minutes at room temperature. Serve warm with your favorite ice cream!
Apple cranberry crisp is a great way to use seasonal fall and winter produce. During the summer, try a blueberry crisp or juicy peach crisp and be wowed in a warm weather way.
Recipe tips and variations
- If using frozen whole cranberries for this recipe, they can be used frozen or thawed for assembly and baking.
- If cornstarch isn't an option, substitute it with two teaspoons of arrowroot powder.
- Make oat flour on the spot by blending oats into a fine powder. It helps thicken the fruit filling, so it's the perfect substitute for all-purpose flour.
- Once it's baked, I recommend serving immediately after the 10-minute resting stage so the topping is still crispy and the fruit filling is warm.
- To make ahead, work through recipe steps 1 through 4. Refrigerate the filling and store the topping at room temperature. Continue with the recipe when ready to bake.
More cranberry recipes
- Cranberry Walnut Bread
- Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
- Turkey Cranberry Salad
- Pomegranate Cranberry Relish
📖 Recipe
Apple Cranberry Crisp
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When scaling the recipe 2x or 3x, the gray ingredient note stays the same. Adjust quantities accordingly.
Ingredients
For the topping
- ½ cup Dry Rolled Oats, or dry quick oats
- ¼ cup Oat Flour, or preferred flour
- ¼ cup Walnuts, chopped
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 tablespoon Oil, or butter
For the filling
- 2 Apples
- 2 Pears
- ½ cup Fresh Cranberries, rinsed and dried
- ¼ cup Orange Juice
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch, or 2 teaspoons Arrowroot
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven or air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and chop apples and pears into bite-sized pieces.
- To make the topping, stir together OATS, OAT FLOUR, WALNUTS, BROWN SUGAR, SALT, and OIL in a mixing bowl until it becomes coarse and crumbly. Set aside.
- To make the filling, stir together PEARS, APPLES, CRANBERRIES, ORANGE JUICE, BROWN SUGAR, CORN STARCH, and CINNAMON in a separate mixing bowl until the fruit is coated.
- Transfer the fruit filling to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the topping mixture over the surface.
- Bake uncovered 20-30 minutes, or until filling is bubbling and topping is golden brown.Note: Air fryer oven bake time is 15-20 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and rest 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Serve warm with your favorite ice cream.
Recipe Notes
- If using frozen whole cranberries for this recipe, they can be used frozen or thawed for assembly and baking.
- If cornstarch isn't an option, substitute it with two teaspoons of arrowroot powder.
- Make oat flour on the spot by blending oats into a fine powder. It helps thicken the fruit filling, so it's the perfect substitute for all-purpose flour.
- Once it's baked, I recommend serving immediately after the 10-minute resting stage so the topping is still crispy and the fruit filling is warm.
- To make ahead, work through recipe steps 1 through 4. Refrigerate the filling and store the topping at room temperature. Continue with the recipe when ready to bake.
Equipment
- 10 inch heat safe skillet or 8 x 8 baking dish
- Air fryer oven or conventional oven
Janice Berger says
My contribution for one of our Thanksgiving meals is a cranberry dish. This will be great. I just baked it. Hope can keep it till Thanksgiving.
Does it need to be in refrigerator?
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay!! I'm planning to make it again this year too 🙂 Yes, refrigerate until serving, if it's overnight. Enjoy!
Paula Montenegro says
Crisps are such a great dessert, and hard to screw up as you say! But the mix of fruit you used here is fantastic! This recipe is making an appearance in my house very soon!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Paula! So glad you can enjoy this one 🙂
Irina says
This pear/apple/cranberry combo is the best what the fall season brings! Plus, add crispiness on top. Love your recipe! Cannot wait to try!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Irina! So glad you can enjoy it 🙂
Denay DeGuzman says
I'm attending a family gathering tomorrow afternoon, and this is the perfect recipe to take and make! I look forward to sharing this beautiful pear-apple-cranberry crisp!
Traci Antonovich says
Awesome, Denay...hope everyone loves it! 🙂
Dannii says
This would be great for a Christmas time dessert. My husband loves anything with cranberry.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Danni 🙂 Cranberry season is almost here...YAY!
Beth says
What a delicious and beautiful dessert! I'm always on the lookout for new, festive recipes and this is it!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much, Beth! Glad you can enjoy this one 🙂
Catherine says
There is nothing more comforting than a fruit crisp in the fall. This sounds and looks wonderful...I have a bunch of pears on the counter and I was thinking of a making something like this. Love the addition of the cranberries too!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Catherine 🙂 I do love baking fruit crisps during fall too! Enjoy!
Maureen says
I made this last week for the 1st time. It was soooooo delicious. I made it exactly like the recipe. We loved it. I think next time I’ll add one more apple and one more pear or double the recipe. Thank you. And its vegan.Thats a bonus right there...This is a 5star in my books.
Traci Antonovich says
So glad to hear it, Maureen! That's pretty much how I feel about this recipe. Thanks for dropping back by and letting me know 🙂
Pam Greer says
This is my kind of dessert! Healthy, with fruit and cooked in a cast iron skillet!
Traci Antonovich says
Yes! Love hearing that, Pam...thanks! 🙂
Shinta Simon says
Definitely one that I will be making, I have been looking for a good gluten free dessert recipe for long! Can't wait to give this a spin
Traci Antonovich says
Glad to hear it Shinta! Hope you love it like I do 🙂
Noel Lizotte says
Fall flavors! Love this combination and when made as a crisp ... definitely going on the list of things to bake this fall when the cool damp weather hits!
Traci Antonovich says
Yep, just in time...thanks Noel 🙂
Lisa Bynum says
I am so ready for ALLL the cranberries! Not much longer now ...
Traci Antonovich says
Oh I know! Bring 'em! 🙂
Jessica Levinson says
This is a perfect fall dessert! Love crisps and this one has a delicious fruit flavor combination going on!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jessica! I love apple and cranberry together 🙂
Courtney says
Secretly healthy deserts are my favourite 🙂 . Love and the flavours in this crisp - and that its refined sugar free.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Courtney! Me too! 🙂
Rae says
This really is a great and easy fall recipe that's perfect for just about every occasion.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Rae! Yay for fall and all the occasions! 😉
Tisha says
Love making desserts in a skillet! This looks amazing!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Tisha...love hearing it!
Lisa Huff says
Great idea combining pears, apples, and cranberries! Perfect fall dessert! I just made a peach crisp with blueberries and now I'm ready for fall fruit! 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Lisa...bring on the fall fruit! 🙂
Krissy Allori says
My family loves any type of crisp, so I'm sure that this will easily become one of our favorites!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Krissy, hope you love it like we do 🙂
camila says
this recipe is perfect. and specially cause the flavors are soooo autumn!!! I love this season and its flavors!!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Camila 🙂
Danielle says
This looks perfect for fall! Just add a bit of whipped cream or ice cream and you're set! I love the addition of tart cranberries to the apples.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Danielle, yep à la mode is my fav way to eat it 🙂
Danielle says
It's the perfect weather for a nice comforting crisp. I love all the colours going on in this one.
Traci Antonovich says
Thank you so much...love hearing that! And it's totally baked fruit season, isn't it 🙂
prasanna hede says
love crisp i liked the addition of all my favorite fruits there! yummm
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yep...all the best fruits under a crispy blanket of oats. My fav too! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Patty says
Hot, fresh out of the oven cranberry crisp is one of my all-time favorites! I love that you added the pears - definitely awesome!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yes Patty! I was determined to make a cranberry crisp, but needed more than just apples for texture and flavor. When I think about it, this whole dish is a vehicle for the cranberries...I'm crazed over them! 🙂 Thanks for your comment and Happy Thanksgiving!
Syama says
We love crisps - it is so easy to make. I love that you used maple syrup in this recipe. The flavors and spices sound so good . Yum !
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks! Yep, maple syrup works perfectly in this recipe...and really complements the ginger 🙂 Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
Rebecca says
That crisp looks so good! I can imagine it would be incredible topped with ice cream!
Traci Antonovich says
Hey thanks! We actually DID top it with ice cream and it was...dreammmmy 🙂 Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!