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This cranberry apple crisp recipe uses fresh cranberries as well as apples to bring you the perfect dessert for the holiday season. It is sweet, tangy, crispy and oh so delicious!
Since you’re here check out these cranberry sauce cheese danishes, this orange cranberry loaf as well as this dutch apple pie recipe.
If you’re in the mood for something a little different from classic apple crisp, this is the one to make. The tart cranberries cut right through all that sweetness, and the oat topping bakes up perfectly crisp every single time (no soggy topping here, promise!). It comes together in one bowl, no mixer required, and it’s just as at home on your Thanksgiving table as it is on a random Tuesday when you’re craving something cozy.
Why you need to make this recipe!
- It is a budget-friendly recipe especially now that everything is so much more expensive.
- This is a super easy holiday dessert that even beginners can make.
- It is perfectly served cold or warm depending on your preference.
- This is a super versatile recipe that can be made for Thanksgiving as well as for Christmas.
Ingredients for this apple-cranberry crisp recipe
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this sweet crisp home. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Cranberries– You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe.
- Apples– Granny Smith apples give you the most tartness and hold their shape best, but honeycrisp or gala apples work beautifully too if you want more natural sweetness. Braeburn is another great option if that’s what you have on hand. Whatever you choose, just make sure it’s a firm baking apple so it doesn’t turn to mush in the oven
- Cinnamon, and nutmeg- These are warming spices that fit the season and will elevate our simple dessert.
- Vanilla extract- This is a great way to add extra depth of flavor.
- Brown sugar- The brown sugar will sweeten our fruit filling.
- Flour- All-purpose flour works well for the sweet streusel topping.
- Oats– This recipe uses old-fashioned oats for the oat streusel topping.
- Butter- Make sure to use cold butter for this recipe. Both salted and unsalted butter would work great for this.
How to make this easy apple cranberry crisp
This is how you can make this cozy dessert. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, oats, and cinnamon together in a large bowl to make the crisp topping.
- Add in the cold cubed butter and mix with a pastry blender or by hand until small clumps form.
- Set that mixture aside in the fridge.
- In your 9-inch pie plate or 8×8-inch baking pan combine the apples and cranberries, vanilla extract, sugar, and spices.
- Top the fruits with the oat mixture we prepared earlier and wrap the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven.
- Let the cranberry apple crisp rest for 5-10 minutes to set before serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a spoonful of vanilla Greek yogurt.
Variations to try
- Swap in a pear – Trade one of the apples for a ripe but firm pear for a softer, juicier bite.
- Add nuts – Fold chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds into the topping for extra crunch, they pair beautifully with the tart cranberries.
- Make it gluten-free – Use certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats and swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend.
- Make it dairy-free – Coconut oil or your favorite vegan butter works great in place of regular butter, both in the filling and the topping.
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
You sure can! Assemble the crisp as directed, then wrap it tightly and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days before baking.
Want to bake it later? Assemble the crisp, wrap it tightly, and freeze it. Bake it straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
Absolutely! If it isn’t cranberry season, you can always use frozen cranberries and bake them as per the recipe’s directions.
This usually comes down to the cornstarch. Cranberries release a lot of liquid as they bake, so don’t skip or reduce the 3 tablespoons of corn starch in the filling, it’s what thickens everything up as it bakes. If your crisp still looks a little juicy, let it rest for the full 5-10 minutes before serving, the filling keeps setting as it cools, so cutting in too soon will always look watery.
Make sure your butter is cold when you cut it into the flour mixture, that’s what gives you those little pea-sized clumps that bake up crisp instead of melting into a paste. If you’re not serving it right away, reheat it uncovered in the oven instead of the microwave so the topping can re-crisp instead of going soft.
Yes! This recipe doubles well, just switch from an 8×8 pan to a 9×13 baking dish and you’re good to go. Keep an eye on the bake time though, it may need a few extra minutes since the filling will be deeper.
The best cranberry apple crisp
Ingredients
For the topping
- 2/3 cup Flour
- 3/4 cup Oats
- 2/3 cup Brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Butter Cold, cut into cubes
cranberry apple filling
- 3 large honey crisp apples
- 1 & 1/2 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- preheat the oven to 350F.
- Peel and chop the apples, and add them to a large bowl with the cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, corn starch and nutmeg, and mix to combine. Pour into a 9-inch pie place or an 8×8-inch square pan.3 large honey crisp apples, 1 & 1/2 cup cranberries, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 tbsp corn starch
- In a separate large bowl mix the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and vanilla extract to the mixture and mix with a pastry cutter or clean hands. You'll know it's ready when the mixture is crumbly and looks like small peas.2/3 cup Flour, 3/4 cup Oats, 2/3 cup Brown sugar, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup Butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pour the dry mixture evenly on top of the cranberry-apple mixture and bake in the oven for 55 minutes. Make sure to place your dish on a baking sheet because it might leak.
- Let the cranberry apple crisp rest for 5-10 minutes to set before serving it with ice cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely amazing! I doubled it in baked in a 9 x 13 and it turned out perfect!
So easy and so good!!!
YAY!