This Cranberry Apple Crisp is WICKED GOOD! A buttery oat crumble is topped over tart cranberries and sweet apples. It is baked until the topping becomes crisp and golden brown and the fruit filling is soft and tender.
Serve this as an easy dessert or a sweet fruit side dish during the holiday season.
"This awesome dish will be a part of our family's Thanksgiving tradition. It is delicious." ★★★★★- Janet
The first time I tried this delicious cranberry apple crisp recipe, I was like, "Hello! Can you please give me some more?"
I am all about sweet and tart juicy filling combination; add in the buttery crisp topping and BOOM!
It is the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas. I hope you love it as much as our family does. Enjoy! Xoxo~Katie.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make this cranberry apple crisp:
- Granny Smith Apples- You can substitute with other juicy apples, but the Granny Smith apples bake well and compliment the cranberry flavors.
- Fresh Cranberries-A reader suggests you can substitute with fresh sliced rhubarb.
- Oat or Oatmeal-I have used both instant quick oats and old fashioned. Both work for oat toping.
- Butter-Salted or unsalted butter work.
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- All Purpose Flour
(*Full recipe with measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.)
Steps
Follow these easy steps to make this easy apple cranberry crisp.
- Peel and chop apples. Add apples to a large bowl and mix with cranberries. In a separate bowl, mix sugar and flour. Mix in sugar mixture with the fruit mixture.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine melted butter with oats, brown sugar, and cup flour to make the topping.
- Add the fruit base to a 13x9 baking dish. Top with oatmeal crumble topping.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 45 to 55 minutes. Rest 5 or more minutes before serving. It is best served warm, but can be served at room temperature.
Watch how to make
Serving Tip
Tip: If you have leftovers the next morning, serve cold with plain or vanilla yogurt for a tasty breakfast!
Can you freeze cranberry casserole?
You can freeze cranberry apple casserole. You have 2 options.
- Freeze it unbaked and bake it right from the freezer (with added cook time).
- Cook the casserole according to directions. Allow the casserole to completely cool. Then wrap it tightly before freezing. Thaw it out then reheat to serve.
About the recipe
My husband's cousin, Jennifer Stimpson introduced us to this dish. Jennifer is an amazing baker. She is well favored for bringing something sweet and incredible to share at our family gatherings. And I am always asking her to share those lovely recipes.
When she made this Cranberry Apple Casserole over the holiday season, I was trying to behave myself and only have small portions of sweets that day.
Well…. one bite of this and I was hooked. I couldn't control myself. I kept eating and eating it simultaneously saying, "OH MY GOSH, I LOVE THIS!" This recipe really should be called, "CRANBERRY CRACK!
Serve this warm dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Your family will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Or make a batch for your winter pot-lucks. Everyone will be asking for the recipe. You can tell them your friend, Katie, from A Fork's Tale shared her family recipe with you.
But don't wait for a special occasion. Go ahead and make it for your dinner guests any time during cranberry season!
For other great family recipes, check out:
When you make this fruit crisp tell me what you think in the comment section! I would love to hear back! My readers will too.
Also post your picture of your cranberry apple crumble on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Apple Crisp With Oat Crumble Topping
Ingredients
- 3 Granny Smith Apples
- 2 cups fresh Cranberries
- 1 ½ cups Sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 ½ cup Oatmeal
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 stick of Butter melted
- ⅓ cup flour
Instructions
- Peel and chop apples. Mix with cranberries. Mix sugar and flour. Mix in with cranberries and apples.3 Granny Smith Apples, 2 cups fresh Cranberries, 1 ½ cups Sugar, 1 tablespoon flour
- In a separate bowl, mix melted butter with oats, brown sugar, and cup flour to make the topping.1 ½ cup Oatmeal, ½ cup Brown Sugar, 1 stick of Butter, ⅓ cup flour
- Add the cranberry mixture to a greased 13x9 baking dish. Top with oatmeal crumble topping.
- Bake at 350 for 45 to 55 minutes. Rest 5 or more minutes before serving.
Donna says
What would the added cooking time be from frozen? Wild you recommend freezing before of after cooking?
Thanks for the recipe.
Katie Crenshaw says
Hi Donna. You freeze it both ways.Freeze it unbaked and bake it right from the freezer (with added cook time). You will need to add about 15 minutes extra cooking time.
Second option is to cook the casserole according to directions. Allow the casserole to completely cool. Then wrap it tightly before freezing. Thaw it out then reheat to serve (about 15-20 minutes).
Susan says
Hi. This is reminiscent of a recipe I had every holiday season courtesy of my Grandfather. Noone would get back to me if they had it or remembered how to make it. I pray this is a pretty close or ideal substitute. My biggest question is I am precooking as much as possible so I have less cooking to do when I get to my family's house. Can this be made a day ahead and do I cook it or not or just not make the topping? Thank you and have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.
Katie Crenshaw says
I think it would turn out just fine to prep it the day before and cook it before you want to serve it on the next day. It is just as good served at room temperature. So if you wanted to cook it ahead that morning and keep it out to serve at room temperature, that is fine too. You could cook it completely and reheat... but if you will be reheating either way, I would just bake it fresh. Hope this helps. Happy Thanksgiving.
Jude says
Cooking day before. Can it be warmed up in microwave and for long
Katie Crenshaw says
It can be reheated in the oven. I would not do the microwave. The topping would not be as crunchy in the microwave.
Liz says
Love the idea of adding cranberries! Gives the recipe a nice little tart taste!
adriana says
Apple crisp is such a comforting way to enjoy apples. Love that you added cranberries for a holiday twist.
Leslie Sawmiller says
I love your addition of cranberry to a traditional apple crisp recipe. Just that small change makes it so festive! LOVE!
Lauren Michael Harris says
I love cranberry apple crisp! This is going to be on our Thanksgiving table for sure this year!
Tammy says
I've never had a cranberry crisp before but I love this idea! Looks so pretty and comforting. The sweet and tart combo is my favorite.
Cathleen says
It is currently 4AM and I am craving this!! This has fruit so it's appropriate for breakfast, right??
Heather says
perfect for autumn and thanksgiving - simple yet comforting - rhubarb would make a nice substitute
Marta says
I tried this last year and my family loved it. I am making it again for Friendsgiving this weekend. It turns out so good.
Veronika Sykorova says
Omg yum that oatmeal topping is so crunchy. I love it! It turns out so good!
Bernice says
This is a winning combination for a wintery apple crisp. Love that golden baked topping, too.
Nancy says
Love the color as well as the taste! Really very tasty first baked or reheated.
Tara says
Has anyone tried to make this in a slow cooker??
Janet Baxley Hall says
This awesome dish will be a part of our family’s Thanksgiving tradition. It is delicious.
Chichi says
OH my. This recipe sounds so delicious. Looks amazing. Your husband’s cousin is such a kind lady. Thanks for sharing with us.
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
Cranberry, apple and oats sound like a match made in heaven. It's the perfect Christmas treat!
fiona saluk says
Oh wow this looks so tasty! There are always so many cranberries around this time of year and I never think of making something like this with them! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte says
I found this exact recipe in an old magazine years ago and have been making it for Thanksgiving ever since. It is to DIE for! You obviously have impeccable taste... : o)