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Apple Cranberry Crumble

Featured in Sweet Treats and Baked Favorites.

Blend juicy apples and tart cranberries under a crispy topping made of cinnamon, pecans, and brown sugar. Serve warm with ice cream to complete the fall vibes.

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Aisha
Updated on Sat, 22 Mar 2025 16:05:08 GMT
A baked treat with a crunchy topping over apples and cranberries. Served alongside a dollop of whipped cream. Pin it
A baked treat with a crunchy topping over apples and cranberries. Served alongside a dollop of whipped cream. | cookingflavor.com

This scratch-made Apple Cranberry Crisp blends juicy baked apples with zingy cranberries underneath a crispy, buttery topping packed with nuts and cinnamon flavor. It's the ultimate fall treat that's bursting with cozy flavors and tastes amazing with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Whether you're throwing a holiday bash or just want something warm and satisfying, this dessert brings homey goodness in every spoonful!

What Makes This Crisp Special

This sweet treat strikes the perfect balance between tangy and sweet with amazing texture contrasts. You'll love how the soft fruit pairs with the crunchy, buttery topping, and the fall spices give it that snug, comforting vibe. It's super easy to make, works great prepared beforehand, and never fails to wow your friends. And don't forget how your kitchen will smell absolutely heavenly while it's in the oven!

What You'll Need

  • For the Filling:
    • 6 large baking apples, cored, peeled and cut into slices
    • 2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
    • 3/4 cup white sugar
    • 2 tablespoons regular flour
    • 2 tablespoons juice from an orange
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • For the Topping:
    • 1 1/2 cups regular flour
    • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
    • 1/2 cup white sugar
    • 1/2 cup dark sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup pecans, chopped up
  • For Serving:
    • Vanilla ice cream
    • Caramel topping (if you want)

How To Make It

Mix Your Fruit
Heat your oven to 350°F. Grab a big bowl and throw in your apple slices, cranberries, sugar, flour, orange juice, and vanilla. Mix everything up until all the fruit gets coated. Dump it all into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Create Your Crumble
In another bowl, combine your flour, both sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add your cold butter chunks and work them in with your fingers or a tool until you get something that looks like rough breadcrumbs. Mix in your chopped pecans.
Put It All Together
Scatter your crumble mix evenly on top of your fruit. Stick it in the oven for about 45-50 minutes until you see bubbling fruit and a golden-brown top.
Let It Rest
Take it out and cool for 15 minutes. Scoop some onto plates with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel if you're feeling fancy.

Tricks For The Best Results

Go for apples that won't turn mushy when baked. Make sure your butter stays in the fridge until you're ready to use it. Don't mix your topping too much or you'll lose that nice crumbly texture. Try using parchment paper in your dish for super quick cleanup. Take a peek around 40 minutes to make sure the top isn't getting too brown.

A baked fruit dish topped with a golden oat crumble, featuring apples and cranberries, served in a white dish on a marble surface. Pin it
A baked fruit dish topped with a golden oat crumble, featuring apples and cranberries, served in a white dish on a marble surface. | cookingflavor.com

Ways To Serve It

Enjoy it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for that amazing hot-cold combo. Try adding some caramel sauce on top for extra sweetness. It looks really fancy when served in small individual dishes for dinner parties. This dessert fits perfectly on any holiday table.

Keeping It Fresh

Pop leftovers in the fridge with a cover for up to 4 days. Warm up single servings in the microwave whenever you want some. You can get everything ready ahead of time and bake it right before dinner. Stick the unbaked dish in the freezer for up to 3 months, then let it thaw overnight before cooking. For the crunchiest top, wait to add your crumble until you're ready to bake.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use frozen cranberries?

Totally! Both frozen and fresh cranberries work great. No need to defrost frozen ones—just toss them right in.

→ Why cover with foil?

If the top seems to brown too much, covering with foil helps it stay golden without burning, letting the fruits soften nicely.

→ What apples work well?

Go for apples like Braeburn, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp. They don't get mushy when baked and compliment the cranberries perfectly.

→ Can I prepare it early?

Absolutely. Assemble it ahead and bake later. Reheating works too, but the crunchy top might soften a little.

→ Why cool before serving?

Letting it sit 10 minutes thickens the fruit juices and cools it enough for a safe, enjoyable serving—especially with a cold scoop of ice cream.

Conclusion

A comforting fall treat of baked apples and cranberries, topped with a sweet pecan crumble. Perfect for cozy evenings with friends or family.

Apple Cranberry Crumble

Warm autumn flavors of sweet apples and tangy cranberries, finished with a pecan-studded sugar topping for texture.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Aicha

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (1 9x13 dish)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 4 big apples, peeled, seeds removed, and diced into 1/2-inch chunks.
02 12 ounces of cranberries, fresh or straight from the freezer.
03 1/2 cup white sugar.
04 3 tablespoons plain flour.
05 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
06 1 tablespoon orange juice.
07 1/4 cup regular flour.
08 1/4 cup packed brown sugar.
09 3 tablespoons white sugar.
10 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped.
11 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
12 2 tablespoons butter, chilled and diced.
13 Optional: Vanilla ice cream for serving.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 375°F and let it warm up. Grease a 9x13 dish lightly with cooking spray.

Step 02

Toss together the apple chunks, cranberries, orange juice, vanilla, sugar, and flour in a big bowl. Once mixed, scoop it all into your greased dish and hold tight.

Step 03

Use the same bowl to mix the flour, pecans, cinnamon, white sugar, and brown sugar. Work in the cold butter chunks with your hands until it feels crumbly, then spread it over the fruit mix evenly.

Step 04

Let it bake until the fruit softens, the topping crisps up, and you see bubbling juices at the edges. This should take around 45 minutes. If it looks like your topping's browning too fast, lay some foil on top for the last 15 minutes.

Step 05

Let everything cool down for about 10 minutes. Scoop some ice cream on top if you'd like, then dig in!

Notes

  1. Cranberries can be used fresh or frozen.
  2. If the topping's cooking too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
  3. Allow it to cool slightly before serving for best results.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13 dish for baking.
  • A large bowl for mixing.
  • Foil for optional covering.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains pecans (tree nuts).
  • Includes wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 269
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 51 g
  • Protein: 2 g