There’s just something magical about the first chill in the air, right? It always makes me want to pull out all my favorite cozy recipes, and at the top of that list is this incredible Cranberry Apple Crisp. Seriously, the way the tart cranberries play with the sweet, tender apples, all under this super crunchy oat topping? It’s pure fall comfort in a dish. I remember the first time I made this for my family; my dad, who can be a bit picky, had seconds and then thirds! It’s become our go-to dessert for any crisp autumn evening.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Apple Crisp

This Cranberry Apple Crisp is a winner for so many reasons!

Super Easy to Make: Seriously, you can whip this up in no time. It’s pretty forgiving, so don’t stress!
Perfect Flavor Combo: That sweet-tart dance between the apples and cranberries is just *chef’s kiss*.
Cozy Fall Vibes: It’s the ultimate dessert for autumn gatherings, holidays, or just a chilly Tuesday night.
Crowd-Pleaser Guaranteed: Everyone loves a warm crisp, especially when it smells as amazing as this one.

Ingredients for Cranberry Apple Crisp

Alright, let’s talk about what you’ll need to make this dreamy Cranberry Apple Crisp! It’s all about simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to make something truly special. Don’t worry, you probably have most of this stuff in your pantry already!

Apples: You’ll need about 6 cups of sliced apples. I like to use a mix – maybe some Fuji or Honeycrisp for sweetness and Granny Smith for a little tartness. About 3 to 4 medium apples usually does the trick.
Cranberries: Grab 2 cups of fresh or even frozen cranberries. They give us that wonderful tartness that cuts through the sweetness.
Granulated Sugar: Half a cup of regular granulated sugar goes into the fruit filling.
All-Purpose Flour (for filling): Just 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour helps thicken up those lovely fruit juices.
Cinnamon: One teaspoon of ground cinnamon is a must for that warm, cozy flavor.
Nutmeg: Half a teaspoon of ground nutmeg adds a little extra spice; it just smells like fall!
All-Purpose Flour (for topping): For that glorious crumb topping, you’ll need 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
Rolled Oats: One cup of rolled oats is essential for that perfect crunchy texture. Make sure they’re rolled oats, not instant!
Brown Sugar: Half a cup of packed brown sugar brings a lovely caramel note to the topping. Make sure it’s packed in there!
Salt: Half a teaspoon of salt balances all the sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: And the star of the topping: half a cup of cold unsalted butter, cut into little cubes. Cold is key here, trust me!

Tips for the Perfect Cranberry Apple Crisp

Okay, so you’ve got your ingredients ready, but here are a few little tricks I’ve learned over the years to make sure your Cranberry Apple Crisp turns out absolutely perfect every single time. It’s not complicated stuff, just little things that make a big difference! Sometimes I even whip up some homemade whipped cream with heavy cream to go with it, which makes it extra special.

Choosing Your Apples Wisely

When it comes to apples, using a mix is my secret weapon! I love tossing in something a bit tart like Granny Smith with something sweeter like Honeycrisp or Fuji. The tart ones hold their shape beautifully and give a nice bite, while the sweet ones soften up just right. Avoid apples that turn mushy too quickly, like Red Delicious, unless you want a less structured fruit layer.

Getting That Topping Just Right

The topping is where all the magic happens for that amazing texture, right? Make sure your butter is COLD when you cut it into the flour, oats, and sugar mixture. I like to use my fingertips or a pastry blender – it’s kind of therapeutic! You’re looking for a coarse crumb, like wet sand, not a paste. If it gets too warm and doughy, just pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes before sprinkling it over the fruit. That crunch is everything!

No More Soggy Bottoms!

Ugh, a soggy bottom is the worst! To avoid that, I usually make sure my fruit mixture isn’t too wet before I add the topping. Also, using a baking dish that conducts heat well, like a ceramic or glass one, helps. If you’re worried about the cranberries making things *too* wet, you can toss them with a tiny bit of cornstarch along with the sugar and spices. And baking it on the lower-middle rack helps ensure the bottom cooks through properly. For an extra layer of insurance, you could even mix a tablespoon of flour into the fruit mixture.

How to Make Cranberry Apple Crisp: Step-by-Step Instructions

Alright, let’s get this amazing Cranberry Apple Crisp into your oven! It’s really straightforward, and honestly, the whole house smells incredible while it’s baking. Just follow along with these simple steps, and you’ll have a warm, bubbly, incredibly delicious dessert in no time.

Get that oven Ready! First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (that’s 190°C). This ensures everything bakes up perfectly.
Mix the Fruit: Grab a nice big bowl. Toss in your sliced apples and those bright cranberries. Give them a gentle stir to get acquainted.
Spice it Up! In a smaller bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of flour, your cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle this magical mix over the apples and cranberries. Toss everything together until the fruit is nicely coated. This helps create that lovely sweet-tart filling.
Into the Dish: Pour this gorgeous fruit mixture into your baking dish. An 8×8 inch pan works perfectly for this recipe, giving you nice thick layers.
Make the Topping: Now for the best part! In a separate medium bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of flour, the rolled oats, the packed brown sugar, and that pinch of salt. Give that a quick whisk to combine the dry bits.
Cut in the Butter: Add your cold, cubed butter to the dry topping ingredients. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter in until it all looks like coarse crumbs. You want little buttery bits scattered throughout, not a paste! If it feels too warm, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.
Top it Off: Sprinkle that crunchy crumb topping evenly all over the fruit mixture in the baking dish. Try to get it all covered!
Bake to Perfection: Pop it into your preheated oven and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes. You’re looking for that topping to be a beautiful golden brown and the fruit underneath to be nice and bubbly. If you try other recipes, you might find baking times vary, but this is usually just right!

Patience, Please! Once it’s out of the oven, let your Cranberry Apple Crisp cool down for at least 10-15 minutes. Those juices need a moment to settle, and it’ll be super hot! It’s worth the wait, trust me.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Cranberry Apple Crisp

You know, the beauty of this Cranberry Apple Crisp is how adaptable it is! While I absolutely adore it just as written, sometimes you need to make a little tweak here and there. My pantry is always stocked with things like apple cider caramels for gifts, so I get needing to swap things out!

Apple Adventures!

When it comes to the apples, I really do recommend a mix. That blend of sweet and tart is key! But if you only have one kind, don’t sweat it. Granny Smith is great for tartness and holding its shape. Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala are good for sweetness. Just try to avoid varieties that get super mushy, like Red Delicious, unless you prefer a softer filling.

Cranberry Choices

Fresh cranberries are fantastic, but if they’re out of season or you just want convenience, frozen ones work just fine! No need to thaw them either – just toss them in as they are. They’ll thaw beautifully in the oven.

Gluten-Free Goodness?

If you need to make this gluten-free, you can definitely swap out the all-purpose flour. A good gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (one that contains xanthan gum) usually works well for both the filling and the topping. For the oats, just make sure you grab certified gluten-free rolled oats.

Serving and Storage for Your Cranberry Apple Crisp

Oh, the best part! This Cranberry Apple Crisp is absolutely divine served warm, maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into it, or a dollop of fluffy whipped cream. If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare in my house!), just let it cool completely. You can store it covered in the fridge for about 3-4 days. To reheat, just pop a serving in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or warm it gently in a 300°F oven for about 10-15 minutes until it’s cozy again. Kind of like how my Grandma’s Peach Cobbler is best served warm!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cranberry Apple Crisp

Can I use different fruits besides apples and cranberries?

Absolutely! This recipe is super flexible. While the apple and cranberry combo is fantastic, feel free to experiment. Pears work wonderfully with apples, or you could try a mix of berries like blueberries or raspberries instead of or alongside the cranberries. Just make sure your total fruit amount is around 6 cups. Think of this as a starting point for your own delicious variations!

My topping always burns before the fruit is bubbly. What am I doing wrong?

Oh, that’s a common frustration! The trick is usually oven temperature and placement. Make sure your oven isn’t running too hot; try doing a quick oven thermometer check. Also, if the topping is browning too fast, you can always loosely tent the whole thing with aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking. This protects the topping while letting the fruit underneath finish cooking to perfection. It’s similar to how you might protect the top of a pie!

Can I make the Cranberry Apple Crisp ahead of time?

You sure can! You can assemble the whole crisp ahead of time, cover it tightly, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, just add a few extra minutes to the baking time since it’s starting out cold. The topping might not be *quite* as perfectly crisp as when baked fresh, but it’s still delicious!

What’s the best way to serve this Cranberry Apple Crisp?

Honestly, warm is best! It’s heavenly with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream or a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream. A drizzle of caramel sauce is also pretty darn amazing. It’s a lovely contrast to the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the apples. It reminds me a little bit of serving up a warm slice of blackberry cobbler!

Nutritional Information (Estimated)

Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for this Cranberry Apple Crisp is an estimate, okay? It totally depends on the exact apples you use, how much butter sneaks into the topping (ha!), and all that jazz. But generally, you’re looking at something around 350 calories per serving, with about 15g of fat and 35g of sugar. It’s a dessert, after all! Enjoy it!

Cranberry Apple Crisp

Author: memorecipes.com
Total Time: 60 min
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

A warm and comforting dessert with tart cranberries and sweet apples, topped with a crunchy oat topping.

Ingredients

Scale

6 cups sliced apples (about 3–4 medium apples)
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and cranberries.
In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle this mixture over the apple and cranberry mixture and toss to coat.
Pour the fruit mixture into an 8×8 inch baking dish.
In a separate medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, and salt.
Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly.
Let it cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
You can add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for extra crunch.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350
Sugar: 35g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 55g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 35mg

Keywords: cranberry apple crisp, apple crisp recipe, cranberry dessert, fall dessert, easy crisp recipe, baked apples, oat topping