Crisps are wonderful desserts when you want something healthy, easy, and crowd pleasing! And who doesn’t want that? This apple cranberry crisp is full of fresh apples and fresh cranberries and then topped with a simple oatmeal mixture.
Hello all!
How did the holidays treat you? I hope you had time with family and friends and tried out all sorts of yummy new recipes.
Or maybe other people don’t try out yummy new recipes as often as I do? That’s okay, because I am here to share those recipes with you and help you skip all the testing and reworking I do. 🙂
As for our holidays, they were an interesting mixture of wonderful and terrible which looped back to not-so-bad. Cryptic, yes? No worries…I’ll expand!
On one hand we had lovely visits and parties: a neighborhood party, going up to Vermont to see family, and having other family to our home. And that was wonderful! On the other, we had the terrible luck of having someone turn into our lane on the highway coming home. Sideways (or nearly) and right in front of us.
BOOM.
That was a tough night and the car is totaled, but we are all okay with nothing more than a few bruises. We didn’t even crush the presents we were bringing home! Let’s give a shoutout to crumple zones, airbags, and seatbelts. Now we’re in the not-so-bad part – looking for a car, filing reports, talking to insurance, snuggling our pets, and craving comfort food.
Luckily, comfort food doesn’t have to be all creamy and full of calories. Instead you can make a fruit filled, not too sweet, oatmeal topped apple cranberry crisp! Perfect for those ‘we just got in a car accident and need something simple and sweet days’ or any other days you want a quick dessert. No car accidents needed!
How do you make apple cranberry crisp?
To make an apple cranberry crisp, top sliced apples and fresh cranberries with an oatmeal topping then bake in the oven until the topping is browned and the fruit is soft and bubbly. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
- Mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and spices. Work in the butter until crumbly.
- Peel and slice the apples. Wash the cranberries.
- Fill a baking dish the fruit and top with the oatmeal topping.
- Bake in a 350F oven until the topping is browned and the fruit is bubbling.
Make the oatmeal topping
All you need to make the topping is a bowl, a measuring cup, and your hands. Totally simple! And to make it even easier, I use equal amounts of flour, oats, and brown sugar along with half that in butter.
For the amount of crisp I’m making here I would use 1/2 cup of flour, oats, and brown sugar and 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of butter.
Mix together the dry ingredients with a spoon. Then add the soft butter and work it in with your fingers. Set the topping aside and done!
Tip: If you put the topping the fridge while you prep the fruit the butter has some time to chill and will make a crispier crisp.
Tip: Gluten-free flour mixes can end up creating a granular, overly sweet tasting topping. If you want a gluten free topping, use the topping in my blueberry peach crisp. It is a little more complicated, but has a great flavor.
Prep the Fruit
Since this is an apple cranberry crisp, you will need to peel and chop the apples.
You can use an apple peeler, a vegetable peeler, or a paring knife, but o matter what: peel the apples. The peel of apples is too thick to work well in a crisp. Then do a quick chop into evenly sized pieces (or there about) with an apple corer or your handy paring knife again.
Then wash the berries and combine the apple and cranberries with some cinnamon and cornstarch in your baking dish.
Tip: Use a few different types of apples in the crisp mixed together to provide a mix of flavors and firmness.
Bake the Crisp
Once everything is prepped and the oven is hot, sprinkle the topping over the crisp and put it in the oven.
I find crisps take about an hour 350F, though I like to check about 10 minutes before just in case they’re done early. Once your topping is all browned and the fruit is all bubbly, you are all set!
And the best thing? You barely need to wait if you don’t want to! Scoop some hot crisp into a bowl, top with ice cream or whipped cream if you wish (though if it’s super hot ice cream is key!), and dig in. Yum!
What apples are best for an apple crisp?
Really, the ones you have in the fridge right now would be fine so long as they are crisp and fresh.
If you are looking for recommendations, I would choose a couple different crisp and firm apples along with a soft apple.
Crisp and firm apples: Jonah Gold, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith (note: this one is VERY tart and you may need to add more sugar), Rome Beauty, and Gala are a few of the firm apples you might find at the store.
Soft apples: McIntosh and Cortland are great soft apples.
You will need 6-7 apples for this crisp. Use 1-2 soft apples and 5-6 crisp apples.
Do you know what is my favorite part of fruit crisps, like this apple cranberry crisp? You can put the kids to work! 🙂 Crisps were the first dessert my daughter could make by herself.
You don’t need any special equipment. You can make more or less crisp depending on how much fruit you have, and the topping uses simple ratios which are really easy to remember.
There is a certain amount of chopping and peeling, so make sure they are ready for that or give them a hand (or buy precut fruit!), and then let them go to bake. Start here and you may have all manner of baked goods in your future with little work on your part. Bonus!
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– Happy Baking, Annemarie
Apple Cranberry Crisp with Oatmeal Topping
Ingredients
Oatmeal Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup, 2 oz) butter, softened
Apple Cranberry Filling
- 2 1/2 lbs (6-7 medium) apples
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Oatmeal Topping
- Measure the flour, oats, and brown sugar into a medium bowl. Add the spices and salt and stir to combine.
- Add the soft butter and work the topping with your fingers until the butter is mixed in and the topping is crumbly.
- Put the topping into the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
Apple Cranberry Crisp
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Pull out either a 9x9 square baking dish or a 9x13 oval baking dish.
- Peel, core, and chop the apples. Toss the apples with the cranberries in a bowl.
- Add the cornstarch and cinnamon and mix well. Pour the filling into the baking dish.
- Crumble the oatmeal topping over the filling.
- Bake the crisp for 50-60 minutes, or until the topping is browned and the fruit is bubbling.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
- Oats: Though I prefer the chew and texture of old-fashioned oats, you can use quick oats in a pinch.
- Sweetness: As there is no sugar in the filling, you may want some ice cream on hand for those who prefer a sweeter crisp.
- Apples: While you can use all of the same type of apple, it's nice to use a few varieties to provide a range of textures and flavor.
- Spices: Feel free to change up the spices to your taste. You can just use cinnamon or use apple pie spice or add other warm spices you enjoy.
BitofBacon Pet Corner
Here is Midnight sitting on my laptop as I’m trying to work. Apparently the laptop is toasty warm, I’m paying too much attention to it and not to him, and my laptop settings are all wrong so he is going to help me. 🙂
Carmy says
This looks amazing! You are correct, comfort food doesn’t always have to be super heavy, this fruity dessert will hit just the spot! I love the mix of apples and cranberries. (My dog also loves to hang by the laptop too!)
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! And the crisp is definitely comforting.
Christina says
Oh goodness so sorry to hear about the accident! That’s never fun! This crisp on the other hand is absolutely fun! I love the combo of apples and cranberries! Perfect way to use the cranberries while they’re in season!
justalittlebitofbacon says
And you can find frozen cranberries at the supermarket so that’s a great option even when they aren’t in season. 🙂
tina says
That’s a great combo, apples, cranberries and oats. I really need to bake more. Thanks for this recipe, glad you are all OK. That is very scary, especially the car being totaled part. I totaled my hubby SUV the first Winter we were in Utah. It was snowing so hard the roads iced up and I went into a spin and hit the safety rail on the offramp. Those cost about $2,700 in case you are wondering. Yep, you get a bill from the state if you damage one of those. You kitty is trying to help you get some hygge in your life:)
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m real glad we didn’t a bill in addition to totaling our car. Ugh! And Midnight is all about hygge so long as it involves scritches.
Traci says
I’m always crazy for apple cranberry crisp during the winter. It’s so easy and satisfies that sweet tooth and antioxidant needs at the same time. Win win! Thanks for sharing 🙂
justalittlebitofbacon says
I agree! 🙂
Debra says
Thanks for the list of the various apples and which category they fall in. I’m always wondering which to buy for baking! I love a good and easy crisp recipe. Going to make this, just so the house will smell divine…and, of course, I know everyone will love it!
justalittlebitofbacon says
In the past I have often stood there wondering which ones are the good baking apples, so I figure we could all use a little info on the subject. 🙂
Dana says
Apples and cranberries together are ah-mazing! It’s actually one of my go-to combos for savory and sweet pork chops. But this is such a great way to amp up an apple crisp. The tartness of the cranberries add an extra layer of oumph!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Oooh, that sounds so good! I’ll have to try it next time I have some fresh cranberries.
Marisa Franca says
This is some combination of goodies to start your morning!! I can imagine how good it smells and the tartness of the cranberries and apples would certainly wake up my tastebuds. Our breakfasts are mighty boring and this would spruce up the roster. No plain oatmeal here. I’m printing out the recipe and making it tomorrow. I know I’ll be repeating this recipe quite a few times in the months to come.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! Enjoy! 🙂
Trish says
GAH! So glad to hear that everyone is ok! Accidents can be sooooo scary. I’m loving this apple cranberry crisp. I’m a sucker for anything cranberry, even after the holidays, so I’m all over this!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! It’s all good now and we have a shiny new car. And I’m glad you like the crisp!
Tracy says
Oh my gosh! I’m glad to hear you guys are all ok- how scary! Car accidents – it’s not just that they’re scary but all of the paperwork and everything that comes with it after! Good luck with that and finding a new car. Geez if I’d been what you guys had I’d eat this whole thing! Although it looks so good I probably would anyway – ha. I love the addition of the cranberries!!
justalittlebitofbacon says
It was! And the paperwork is no fun either. 🙁 Comfort food, however is awesome and we enjoyed the crisp mightily.
Sean@Diversivore says
I love that you made this with fresh cranberries. I love dried cranberries and I do use them a lot, but when I can use fresh ones I jump at the chance. That being said, I don’t have enough dessert recipes that incorporate them, so this is fantastic to have! I love make a good crisp or crumble, and I love their simplicity. I like that you didn’t add sugar here too, as it gives you the option of sweetening it to your taste with toppings, or even eating it as a simple, healthy breakfast. And honestly, crisp for breakfast? I can get on board with that.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Dried cranberries are great! But once I made some fresh cranberry cookies I thought why am I not using fresh all the time? And here we are. 🙂
Gloria says
Love the combination of flavours. Apples and cranberries together are the best. I would leave off the whipped cream and eat this for breakfast. Courtland apples are my favourite.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! It’s fairly tart without any topping since there no sugar added to the fruit, so keep that in mind for breakfast. 🙂