Two of the most iconic fruits of autumn are apples and cranberries. The crisp snap of a Granny Smith is a classic taste many people enjoy this time of year. The sharp tartness of the cranberry offers a refreshing flavor that clears the palate. This Apple Cranberry Crisp recipe is a Thanksgiving
Warm Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe
Combining apple and cranberries offers the best of both worlds. You get the sweetness of the apple that stands in contrast to the tart flavor of the cranberry. Adding cinnamon and nutmeg brings savory spice to the mix. It's a combination that is perfect for Thanksgiving and any other
A crisp represents one of the easiest desserts you can make. Create a mix of fruit, spices, and sugar. Layer it into a baking dish. Then top with a combination of oats, brown sugar, and flour. Add some cold butter to make a crumble and sprinkle over the filling. Bake it for a while, then take it out to cool a bit.
Ice cream is often served along with the warm crisp. But, it's a matter of preference. Serving it warm with ice cream creates a milky combination that many crave. Others prefer it without ice cream, wanting to experience the flavors without the ice cream interfering with the taste. Offer ice cream as a side option, but let your guests decide.
Making the Crisp Your Own
This recipe for Apple Cranberry Crisp calls for Granny Smith apples. They are the go-to apple for baking in many kitchens. They retain their structure during the baking process.
Some apple varieties don't stand up to baking so well. For example, experienced bakers don't recommend baking with either the Red Delicious or the Golden Delicious. Both are great snacking apples, but fall apart when cooked. You end up with apple mush instead of baked apple slices.
If you want to try something besides Granny Smith apples, go with a Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Jonagold, or Winesap. Each offers its own flavor and texture to the mix. You may need to experiment to find the flavor profile that you prefer. Some are tarter than others, while some offer a cider-like flavor.
Want to add some variety? Substitute chopped walnuts for the pecans, or mix them together. Both pecans and walnuts have a buttery flavor, though the walnut has a more intense taste. They are good nuts to pair with apples because of the complimentary flavors. They also bring a crunch to the dessert.
To add a bit of extra spice to this Apple Cranberry Crisp recipe, substitute ground cloves for the nutmeg. The sweet peppery flavor of the cloves gives the crisp an extra zing. If you don't want to miss out on the nutmeg flavor, go with 1/2 teaspoon of each.
Make sure the butter is cold when you mix it into the oats, flour, and brown sugar. This will ensure you get a fine crumble and a flavor-filled texture that will top the apples and cranberries perfectly.
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Apple Cranberry Crisp
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Granny Smith apples – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- ¾ cup cranberries
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅓ cup quick-cooking oats
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C.) Butter an 8 inch square baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together apples, cranberries, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place evenly into baking dish.
- In the same bowl, combine oats, flour and brown sugar.
- With a fork, mix in butter until crumbly.
- Stir in pecans.
- Sprinkle over apples.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until topping is golden brown, and apples are tender.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 50
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Kelvin Wong/Shutterstock.com.