Indulge in the delightful combination of apples and cranberries with this easy-to-make crisp. The warm, bubbly fruit filling topped with a golden, crunchy oat mixture makes for a perfect dessert, especially during the fall and winter seasons. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra treat.
While most of the ingredients for this recipe are commonly found in your pantry, you might need to pick up cranberries if they are not a staple in your home. Fresh cranberries can be found in the produce section, especially during the fall and winter months. If fresh ones are unavailable, you can use frozen cranberries as a substitute.
Ingredients For Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe
Apples: These provide the sweet and tart base for the crisp. Choose firm varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
Cranberries: These add a tangy flavor and vibrant color to the dish. Fresh or frozen can be used.
Sugar: Used to sweeten the fruit mixture.
Cinnamon: Adds a warm, spicy note that complements the fruit.
Rolled oats: These give the topping its characteristic crunch.
Flour: Helps bind the topping ingredients together.
Brown sugar: Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the topping.
Butter: Melted butter is mixed into the topping to create a crumbly texture.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To enhance the flavor and texture of your apple cranberry crisp, consider toasting the rolled oats lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before mixing them with the flour, brown sugar, and butter. This will add a nutty depth to the topping and make it even more delicious.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
apples - Substitute with pears: Pears have a similar texture and sweetness when baked, making them a good alternative to apples.
cranberries - Substitute with dried cherries: Dried cherries provide a similar tartness and chewy texture, though they are slightly sweeter than fresh cranberries.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey can provide the necessary sweetness and adds a slight floral note to the dish.
cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg offers a warm, spicy flavor that complements the fruit similarly to cinnamon.
rolled oats - Substitute with quinoa flakes: Quinoa flakes provide a similar texture and are a good gluten-free alternative.
flour - Substitute with almond flour: Almond flour is a gluten-free option that adds a slightly nutty flavor to the crisp topping.
brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar caramel-like flavor and can be used as a 1:1 substitute for brown sugar.
butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil provides a similar fat content and moisture, with a subtle coconut flavor that complements the fruit.
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How to Store or Freeze This Recipe
Allow the apple cranberry crisp to cool completely at room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the topping soggy.
Transfer the crisp to an airtight container. If you don't have a container large enough, you can cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Store the crisp in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cool temperature will help maintain the freshness of the apples and cranberries while keeping the topping crisp.
For longer storage, you can freeze the apple cranberry crisp. First, ensure it is completely cooled. Then, wrap the entire baking dish in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
Alternatively, you can portion the crisp into individual servings and place them in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags. This makes it easier to reheat just the amount you need.
Label the containers with the date so you can keep track of how long it has been stored. The crisp can be frozen for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, thaw the crisp in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture of the fruit and the crisp topping.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the crisp in an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent the topping from burning and bake for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.
For a quicker option, you can reheat individual servings in the microwave. Place a portion of the crisp in a microwave-safe dish and heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
To refresh the crisp topping, you can place the reheated crisp under the broiler for a minute or two. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning. This will help restore some of the original crunchiness.
How to Reheat Leftovers
For a quick and easy method, use the microwave:
- Place a portion of the apple cranberry crisp in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover it loosely with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
- Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure it heats evenly.
- Let it sit for a minute before enjoying, as the fruit can get very hot.
For a crispier topping, use the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the leftover crisp to an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the topping from burning.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, removing the foil for the last 5 minutes to re-crisp the oat topping.
- Check that the fruit mixture is heated through and bubbly before serving.
For a balance between quickness and crispiness, use a toaster oven:
- Preheat the toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place a portion of the crisp in a small, oven-safe dish.
- Cover with foil and heat for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the foil for the last 3-5 minutes to allow the topping to crisp up.
- Ensure the fruit is hot and the topping is golden before serving.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used for baking the apple cranberry crisp at a consistent temperature of 350°F (175°C).
Mixing bowl: Essential for combining the apples, cranberries, sugar, and cinnamon together.
Baking dish: The vessel in which the fruit mixture and topping are baked.
Peeler: Handy for peeling the apples before slicing them.
Knife: Used to slice the apples into even pieces.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for slicing the apples.
Measuring cups: Necessary for accurately measuring the sugar, oats, flour, and butter.
Measuring spoons: Used for measuring the cinnamon.
Wooden spoon: Useful for mixing the fruit mixture and the topping ingredients.
Oven mitts: Protect your hands when placing the baking dish in the oven and removing it once done.
Cooling rack: Allows the crisp to cool evenly after baking.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Prepare the filling: Slice apples and mix with cranberries, sugar, and cinnamon the night before. Store in the fridge to save time.
Use a food processor: Quickly mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter using a food processor for a faster, even crumble.
Preheat the oven: Start preheating the oven while you prepare the ingredients to save time.
Batch cooking: Double the recipe and freeze half for a quick dessert later.
Use pre-sliced apples: Buy pre-sliced apples to cut down on prep time.
Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
- 4 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup cranberries
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine apples, cranberries, sugar, and cinnamon. Transfer to a baking dish.
- In another bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and melted butter. Sprinkle over the fruit mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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