Cranberry Apple Crisp Delicious and Easy Dessert Recipe

Name: Cranberry Apple Crisp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp); 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries; 3.75 cup brown sugar, packed; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats; 0.5 cup all-purpose flour; 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened

November 27, 2025January 25, 2025 by Nora

Enjoy a warm bowl of Cranberry Apple Crisp that’s both easy to make and delicious! This simple dessert combines sweet apples and tart cranberries for a flavor that sings. You’ll learn how to pick the best apples, create the perfect oat topping, and even explore fun variations. Follow my step-by-step guide to impress your family and friends with a treat they’ll crave again and again!

Why I Love This Recipe

Perfect Balance of Flavors: The tartness of cranberries paired with the sweetness of apples creates a delightful harmony that is both refreshing and satisfying.
Easy to Prepare: This recipe requires minimal prep work and can be assembled quickly, making it ideal for both novice and experienced bakers.
Versatile Dessert: Serve it warm with ice cream for a classic dessert, or enjoy it as a breakfast treat; it’s a delicious option any time of day.
Seasonal Appeal: With its cozy flavors and warm aroma, this cranberry apple crisp is perfect for fall gatherings and holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

Fresh Fruits

For this delightful dessert, you need three medium apples. I love using Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. They add a nice tartness that pairs well with sweet cranberries. You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries, about one cup will do. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them.

Dry Ingredients

Next, gather your dry ingredients. You will need three-fourths cup of packed brown sugar. This gives the crisp a rich flavor. Add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon for warmth and a quarter teaspoon of ground nutmeg for depth. Lastly, you’ll need one cup of old-fashioned rolled oats and half a cup of all-purpose flour. These create the perfect texture for the topping.

Butter and Flavorings

Butter makes everything better! Use half a cup of unsalted butter, softened to mix easily. It brings richness to the topping. Don’t forget one tablespoon of lemon juice. This adds a bright zing to the fruit mixture, balancing the sweetness. These simple ingredients make this dessert a joy to prepare and eat.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepping the Oven and Baking Dish

First, set your oven to 350°F (175°C). This temperature helps cook the crisp evenly. Next, take a 9×13 inch baking dish and grease it. You can use butter or cooking spray. Greasing prevents sticking and makes serving easier later.

Preparing the Fruit Mixture

In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and cranberries. Use three medium apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor. Add 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar. This sugar adds sweetness and depth. Then, sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. These spices give warmth to the dish. Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The lemon brightens the flavors. Toss everything together until the fruit gets nicely coated. Once mixed, pour the fruit into your greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.

Crafting the Oat Topping

In another bowl, mix together 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to blend until it looks crumbly. This mixture will create a crunchy topping. Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the fruit layer. Make sure it covers all the apples and cranberries well.

Baking Time and Finishing Touches

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Watch for the top to turn golden brown and the fruit to bubble. This bubbling means the fruit is cooking well. Once done, take it out and let it cool slightly. This cooling helps the crisp set up before you serve. Enjoy your homemade cranberry apple crisp warm with ice cream or whipped cream!

Tips & Tricks

Choosing the Right Apples

To make the best cranberry apple crisp, pick tart apples. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp work great. They balance the sweet cranberries well. Tart apples add flavor and keep their shape during baking. Avoid soft apples like Red Delicious. They turn mushy and lose texture.

Achieving the Perfect Crisp Topping

For a crunchy topping, mix oats, flour, and softened butter well. Use your hands or a pastry cutter. Aim for a crumbly texture, not a paste. The butter should coat the oats and flour. This helps create a golden, crispy layer when baked. Don’t skip the topping; it adds flavor and crunch.

Serving Suggestions and Presentation Tips

Serve your cranberry apple crisp warm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it even better. You can also add whipped cream for extra richness. For a nice touch, sprinkle some cinnamon on top. This dessert looks great in a clear dish, showing off the colorful fruit. Enjoy it with family or friends for a special treat!

Pro Tips

Choose the Right Apples: For the best flavor and texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Granny Smith adds tartness, while Honeycrisp offers sweetness and crunch.
Make It Ahead: You can prepare the fruit mixture a day in advance and keep it in the fridge. Just add the topping before baking for a quick dessert!
Experiment with Spices: Feel free to add a pinch of ginger or allspice to the topping for an extra layer of flavor that complements the apples and cranberries.
Serve with a Twist: Add a scoop of caramel sauce or serve it with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese for a delicious contrast to the sweetness.

Variations

Gluten-Free Alternatives

You can easily make this dish gluten-free. Use gluten-free oats and flour. These swaps keep the crisp’s texture nice. You will still enjoy the great taste!

Adding Nuts or Other Fruits

Adding nuts brings a nice crunch. Try walnuts or pecans for a great flavor. You can also mix in other fruits. Pears or blueberries work well with apples and cranberries. Just remember to adjust the sugar if you add sweeter fruits.

Flavor Infusions with Spices or Extracts

Spices can change the flavor of your crisp. Besides cinnamon and nutmeg, try ginger or cardamom for a twist. You can also add extracts. A splash of vanilla or almond extract can enhance the taste. These little changes make each crisp unique!

Storage Info

Storing Leftovers

After enjoying your Cranberry Apple Crisp, store any leftovers in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to three days. This helps keep the flavors fresh. I often use glass containers, but plastic works too. Just make sure the lid seals tightly.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat your crisp, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover crisp in a baking dish. Cover it with foil to prevent it from drying out. Heat for about 15-20 minutes. If you want it hot and bubbly, remove the foil for the last 5 minutes. You can also use a microwave if you’re in a hurry. Just heat in short bursts, checking often.

Freezing Cranberry Apple Crisp

You can freeze your Cranberry Apple Crisp for future treats. Let it cool completely first. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with foil. This helps prevent freezer burn. It stays good for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat as mentioned above. Enjoy a taste of fall anytime!

FAQs

Can I use frozen cranberries?

Yes, you can use frozen cranberries in this recipe. They work great! Just add them directly to the fruit mixture without thawing. This keeps the crisp fresh and tasty. The cooking time remains the same, so don’t worry about adjusting it. Frozen cranberries give a nice tart flavor that goes well with the sweet apples.

How do I know when the crisp is done?

You can tell the crisp is done when the top is golden brown. The fruit should bubble around the edges. After baking for 30-35 minutes, check for these signs. If you see a nice golden color and bubbling fruit, it’s ready. Let it cool slightly before serving to enhance the flavors.

What can I serve with Cranberry Apple Crisp?

Cranberry apple crisp is delicious on its own, but you can elevate it. Try serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Whipped cream also makes a great topping. For a fun twist, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nuts for crunch. Each option adds a tasty layer to this dessert!

You now have all the tools to make a great Cranberry Apple Crisp. We covered the best fresh fruits, dry ingredients, and flavorings. You learned step-by-step how to prep, bake, and serve it well. Tips on picking apples and perfecting the topping ensure success.

Remember, you can customize it with nuts or spice, too. Enjoy your sweet creation! Make it your own and share it with friends and famil

$For this delightful dessert, you need three medium apples. I love using Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. They add a nice tartness that pairs well with sweet cranberries. You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries, about one cup will do. If using frozen, there's no need to thaw them. Next, gather your dry ingredients. You will need three-fourths cup of packed brown sugar. This gives the crisp a rich flavor. Add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon for warmth and a quarter teaspoon of ground nutmeg for depth. Lastly, you’ll need one cup of old-fashioned rolled oats and half a cup of all-purpose flour. These create the perfect texture for the topping. Butter makes everything better! Use half a cup of unsalted butter, softened to mix easily. It brings richness to the topping. Don't forget one tablespoon of lemon juice. This adds a bright zing to the fruit mixture, balancing the sweetness. These simple ingredients make this dessert a joy to prepare and eat. {{ingredient_image_1}} First, set your oven to 350°F (175°C). This temperature helps cook the crisp evenly. Next, take a 9x13 inch baking dish and grease it. You can use butter or cooking spray. Greasing prevents sticking and makes serving easier later. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and cranberries. Use three medium apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor. Add 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar. This sugar adds sweetness and depth. Then, sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. These spices give warmth to the dish. Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The lemon brightens the flavors. Toss everything together until the fruit gets nicely coated. Once mixed, pour the fruit into your greased baking dish, spreading it evenly. In another bowl, mix together 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to blend until it looks crumbly. This mixture will create a crunchy topping. Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the fruit layer. Make sure it covers all the apples and cranberries well. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Watch for the top to turn golden brown and the fruit to bubble. This bubbling means the fruit is cooking well. Once done, take it out and let it cool slightly. This cooling helps the crisp set up before you serve. Enjoy your homemade cranberry apple crisp warm with ice cream or whipped cream! To make the best cranberry apple crisp, pick tart apples. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp work great. They balance the sweet cranberries well. Tart apples add flavor and keep their shape during baking. Avoid soft apples like Red Delicious. They turn mushy and lose texture. For a crunchy topping, mix oats, flour, and softened butter well. Use your hands or a pastry cutter. Aim for a crumbly texture, not a paste. The butter should coat the oats and flour. This helps create a golden, crispy layer when baked. Don’t skip the topping; it adds flavor and crunch. Serve your cranberry apple crisp warm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it even better. You can also add whipped cream for extra richness. For a nice touch, sprinkle some cinnamon on top. This dessert looks great in a clear dish, showing off the colorful fruit. Enjoy it with family or friends for a special treat! Pro Tips Choose the Right Apples: For the best flavor and texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Granny Smith adds tartness, while Honeycrisp offers sweetness and crunch. Make It Ahead: You can prepare the fruit mixture a day in advance and keep it in the fridge. Just add the topping before baking for a quick dessert! Experiment with Spices: Feel free to add a pinch of ginger or allspice to the topping for an extra layer of flavor that complements the apples and cranberries. Serve with a Twist: Add a scoop of caramel sauce or serve it with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese for a delicious contrast to the sweetness. {{image_2}} You can easily make this dish gluten-free. Use gluten-free oats and flour. These swaps keep the crisp's texture nice. You will still enjoy the great taste! Adding nuts brings a nice crunch. Try walnuts or pecans for a great flavor. You can also mix in other fruits. Pears or blueberries work well with apples and cranberries. Just remember to adjust the sugar if you add sweeter fruits. Spices can change the flavor of your crisp. Besides cinnamon and nutmeg, try ginger or cardamom for a twist. You can also add extracts. A splash of vanilla or almond extract can enhance the taste. These little changes make each crisp unique! After enjoying your Cranberry Apple Crisp, store any leftovers in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to three days. This helps keep the flavors fresh. I often use glass containers, but plastic works too. Just make sure the lid seals tightly. To reheat your crisp, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover crisp in a baking dish. Cover it with foil to prevent it from drying out. Heat for about 15-20 minutes. If you want it hot and bubbly, remove the foil for the last 5 minutes. You can also use a microwave if you’re in a hurry. Just heat in short bursts, checking often. You can freeze your Cranberry Apple Crisp for future treats. Let it cool completely first. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with foil. This helps prevent freezer burn. It stays good for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat as mentioned above. Enjoy a taste of fall anytime! Yes, you can use frozen cranberries in this recipe. They work great! Just add them directly to the fruit mixture without thawing. This keeps the crisp fresh and tasty. The cooking time remains the same, so don’t worry about adjusting it. Frozen cranberries give a nice tart flavor that goes well with the sweet apples. You can tell the crisp is done when the top is golden brown. The fruit should bubble around the edges. After baking for 30-35 minutes, check for these signs. If you see a nice golden color and bubbling fruit, it’s ready. Let it cool slightly before serving to enhance the flavors. Cranberry apple crisp is delicious on its own, but you can elevate it. Try serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Whipped cream also makes a great topping. For a fun twist, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nuts for crunch. Each option adds a tasty layer to this dessert! You now have all the tools to make a great Cranberry Apple Crisp. We covered the best fresh fruits, dry ingredients, and flavorings. You learned step-by-step how to prep, bake, and serve it well. Tips on picking apples and perfecting the topping ensure success. Remember, you can customize it with nuts or spice, too. Enjoy your sweet creation! Make it your own and share it with friends and family.$