Cranberry Apple Crisp

An easy-to-make cranberry apple crisp with a brown sugar and oatmeal topping. Perfect for fall!

Cranberry Apple Filling
Oatmeal Crisp Topping
FAQ
More Dessert Recipes

And now it really is fall! This morning I headed out for a walk and the air was crisp, cool and so fall-like I wanted to go buy school supplies. I know I’ve been writing about it going on for three weeks now, but today – today! – the season feels real. The weather has finally caught up with my autumn-loving heart.

The timing is perfect because today it’s all about a cranberry apple crisp. We’re knocking on the door of apple season right now and in the fall line-up of must-make recipes, apples top the list of ingredients. The scent of baked apples is hard to resist this time of year.

This crisp recipe has a fresh apple-cranberry filling. The tartness is balanced out with the buttery oatmeal topping for the finishing touch.

It’s the dessert of choice for people who hate making pies. You get all the feel-good aroma and flavor of an apple pie, without the fussy pie crust and the whole thing comes together with hardly any effort. Plus, you can make it ahead and pop it in the oven while dinner is served.

Cranberry Apple Filling

Granny Smith apples
Frozen cranberries
Lemon juice
Honey
Cinnamon

The filling is so, so easy. Just combine the chopped apples, cranberries, lemon, honey, and cinnamon and pour the apple mixture into a baking dish.

Oatmeal Crisp Topping

Old Fashioned Oats (rolled oats)
All-Purpose Flour
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
Cold, unsalted butter

Combine oats with the rest of the topping ingredients in a large bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture until it’s evenly distributed. Spread the topping in an even layer over the filling.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake the crisp for 40 to 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly hot. You can serve it warm or at room temperature. Add a scoop of vanilla ice for a finishing touch.

FAQ

What apples are best for apple crisp?

I like to use Granny Smith apples for this apple crisp because they are tart apples and hold their shape well. If you prefer sweeter apples you can try using Honeycrisp or do a combination of both. Golden Delicious apples will also work well in this apple crisp.

Can you use fresh cranberries?

Yes, you can substitute fresh cranberries in place of frozen ones for this cranberry apple crisp recipe. I like to use frozen cranberries because I also use them to make cranberry smoothies. If you’re wondering about dried cranberries, I recommend saving them for the granola or trail mix.

Can you use quick-cooking oats?

Technically, you can use them but the topping may not have the same texture. Rolled oats are chewier and create a thicker topping that works well.

What other fruit can you use?

If you don’t like cranberries, you can make another fruit filling with apples. Try adding strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

Enjoy this cranberry apple crisp as is or top each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Happy fall baking 🍏

overhead photo of three bowls with crisp.

More Dessert Recipes

Berry Crumbles – another favorite fruit dessert with a mix of berries and an oat crumble topping baked in small ramekins for an individual-sized dessert.
Dark Chocolate Pecan Bars – part dessert bar and part brownie, these bars are rich and decadent.
Peanut Butter Pots de Creme – creamy peanut butter custard topped with chocolate ganache.
Mocha Pudding Cake for Two – a one pan chocolate dessert for two.
Easy Fruit Cobbler – a no-fail recipe from Pear Tree Kitchen