A classic dessert with a tart cranberry twist.
Some desserts are quite labor-intensive, while others require nothing more than scooping some ice cream into a bowl. But if you want the best of both worlds—a homemade dessert that is very simple to prepare—you don’t have to look any further than this apple-cranberry crisp.
There are so many iconic apple desserts that are, basically, variations on a theme—and that theme is apples cooked with sugar and warm spices, either inside or underneath some kind of pastry. There’s apple pie, of course, but also apple crumble (with a topping of butter, flour, and sugar), apple cobbler (more of a cake-like or biscuit topping), apple brown betty (baked with layers of sweetened crumbs between layers of the fruit), and the one we are featuring today: apple crisp. Crisps are topped with flour, sugar, butter, and oats. This last ingredient is the one that distinguishes the crisp from all the others. But we have distinguished our recipe even more with the addition of gorgeously red and wonderfully tart cranberries, as well as adding chopped pecans to our buttery topping. This delicious dessert is perfectly balanced: soft, warm fruit that is both sweet and tart beneath a crisp top with a nutty crunch.
If you’re new to baking, this recipe is perfect because it’s simple, straightforward, and doesn’t require any sophisticated techniques. Basically, you’re going to peel and slice the apples (try to keep the slices all the same size for even cooking) and mix them with the cranberries, sugar, and a bit of flour. In another bowl, you’ll mix the topping ingredients. Grease a baking dish, pour the fruit into it, then cover the fruit with the topping. And bake. That’s it.
Well, not quite. With a warm, fruit dessert like this one, you simply must have ice cream, if you ask me! And the classic choice is Vanilla Ice Cream. But considering the ingredients in the crisp’s topping, I also love it with Brown Sugar Ice Cream.
The Best Apples For Apple Cranberry Crisp
In our recipe, we recommend using Granny Smith apples, the bright green, slightly sweet, and brightly tart kind of apple that just seems made for baking in sugar and then nestling under a crispy top flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. But there are other options.
The beauty of this crisp is its perfect balance of flavors, so you probably don’t want to choose a variety of apple that is too sweet, such as Fuji or Gala. But Honeycrisps, known for their honey-like taste, are just tart enough for this recipe, and their texture bakes up beautifully. We also like Cortlands (tart) and Braeburns (sweet with a bit of spice) because their flavors complement the cranberries. Basically, you want a firm apple that is tart and not too sweet. It should bake up tender but not mushy. And you know what else? A combination of any of these kinds of apples works wonderfully, too.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
You can either wrap the cooled crisp in plastic wrap in the pan you’ve baked it in or transfer it to an airtight container, and it will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
We’ve established that ice cream is the classic topper for a warm crisp, but Homemade Whipped Cream is also delicious. And while we’re talking about whipped cream, you can also do a richer version with Diplomat Cream, a sweet, more airy take on this confection with Chantilly Cream, or a dairy-free version with Coconut Cream. And if I’m feeling really decadent, I’ll crumble some Pecan Pralines on top.
Sometimes when we have leftover crisp, I like to make parfaits (for breakfast or dessert!). In tall, clear glasses, I spoon in some crisp, top it with Mexican Crema (kind of like sour cream, kind of like crème fraîche), another layer of crisp, a drizzle of homemade Caramel Sauce, more crema, more crisp, top the whole thing off with a dollop of Cranberry-Apple Chutney, and garnish with Oven-Dried Apples.
Apple-Cranberry Crisp
Ingredients
- 3 cups peeled and sliced tart apples such as Granny Smith
- 1 3/4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats for topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour for topping
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar for topping
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon for topping
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg for topping
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans for topping
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted (for topping)
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix together sliced apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, and 3 tablespoons of flour until well combined.
- Pour the fruit mixture into a greased 11×7-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- In a separate bowl, combine oats, 1/2 cup of flour, the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chopped pecans.
- Pour melted butter over the oat mixture and stir until the mixture is crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumbly topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit mixture is bubbling.
- Serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Leave a Comment