This Apple Cranberry Crisp combines sweet-tart apples and juicy fresh cranberries under a buttery oat crumble topping. It’s an easy crumble recipe made with simple pantry staples, no mixer required, and no fussy pie crust to roll out. Whether you’re serving it for the holidays or making dessert on a random Tuesday night, it’s a delicious way to enjoy fall flavors without a lot of extra work!
I make some version of this crumble at least once a month once the weather turns cool, and it never fails to make the house smell like fall! The combination of tart granny smith apples, sweet gala apples, and those little bursts of cranberry just feels like fall.
My family asks for this apple cranberry crumble by name now, and I love that it’s a dessert I can throw together without a special trip to the store.
If you’ve been searching for an easy crumble recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavor, this is it. No fancy equipment, no complicated technique. Just good ingredients doing what they do best!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Sweet meets tart – The mix of gala and granny smith apples with tangy fresh cranberries creates the perfect balance of flavors in every bite.
- Truly easy – This is about as low-effort as dessert gets. Mix, top, and bake. That’s it!
- Crowd-pleasing – It’s a fantastic make-ahead dessert for holidays, potlucks, or Sunday dinners, and it always disappears fast.
- Better than pie – All the cozy apple pie flavor without the stress of a pie crust.
Recipe Notes
This apple cranberry crisp recipe is as simple as promised! It’s just fruit, a few pantry staples for the topping, and one baking dish. There are no special skills required for a family-friendly dessert everyone will love.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make apple cranberry crumble to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Gala apples – These bring natural sweetness and hold their shape nicely once baked.
- Granny Smith apples – The tartness here balances the sweeter gala apples and cranberries perfectly; don’t skip them.
- Fresh cranberries – Frozen cranberries work in a pinch too, just don’t thaw them first or they’ll turn mushy.
- Quick-cooking oats – These give the topping its classic crumble texture. Old-fashioned oats can work but will be a bit chewier.
- Brown sugar – Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness to the topping that white sugar just can’t match.
- Butter – Melted butter is what binds the topping into those perfect crumbly, gravel-sized pieces.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Add some crunch – Stir ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumble topping for extra texture.
- Swap the fruit – Try pears in place of some of the apples for a slightly different flavor twist.
- Spice it up – Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger to the filling for a warmer, more complex spice profile.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make apple cranberry crumble.
Preheat oven to 350˚F. If you have one, use an apple peeler to peel your apples.
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and cranberries with white sugar, tablespoon of flour and cinnamon. Stir until all the fruit is evenly coated.
Make the crumble topping by combining the oats, 1 cup of flour, brown sugar, baking powder and melted butter. Work the mixture with a fork or your fingers until everything is moistened and it starts to come together in pieces the size of gravel.
Spread the apple mixture in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the crumble topping over top and then spread it evenly to cover the top of the apples.
Bake for about 1 hour or until the edges are bubbling all the way around and the topping is lightly browned and crispy. Let cool 15-20 minutes then enjoy alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Tips
- Slice apples thin and even – This helps them cook through evenly and reach that perfect tender texture by the time the topping is golden.
- Don’t skip the flour in the filling – It thickens the juices as they bake, so you get a luscious, spoonable filling instead of a soupy one.
- Use your fingers for the topping – Working the butter in by hand gives you better control over that classic crumbly texture than a mixer would.
- Watch the bubble, not just the clock – The best way to know how long to cook a crumble is to watch for bubbling juices around the edges and a lightly browned topping, which usually happens right around the hour mark.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Buy pre-sliced apples – Many grocery stores sell apples already peeled and sliced in the produce section.
- Use a food processor – Slice your apples in seconds using the slicing attachment instead of doing it by hand.
- Prep the topping the night before – Mix the dry crumble ingredients ahead of time and just stir in the melted butter right before baking.
- Skip the peeling – Leaving the peel on the apples saves time and adds a bit of extra texture and fiber, if you don’t mind it.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this apple cranberry crisp recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Assemble the crumble completely in a freezer-safe baking dish, but don’t bake it.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then a layer of foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Label with the date and freeze; bake from frozen, adding about 20-30 extra minutes to the bake time.
How to Freeze Apple Cranberry Crumble After Cooking
- Let the baked crumble cool completely to room temperature.
- Portion into an airtight, freezer-safe container or wrap the dish tightly in plastic and foil.
- Freeze and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
What to Serve with Apple Cranberry Crumble
Since this cozy dessert has warm, spiced fruit flavors, it pairs beautifully with many of your favorite creamy or crunchy accompaniments.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream, melting into the warm filling
- A drizzle of caramel sauce for extra decadence
- A dollop of freshly whipped cream
Apple Cranberry Crisp Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Crumble parfaits – Layer leftover crumble with yogurt and granola for a next-level breakfast treat.
- Crumble topped pancakes – Warm it up and spoon it over pancakes or waffles in place of syrup.
- Mini crumble jars – Layer with whipped cream in small mason jars for an easy grab-and-go dessert.
Recipe FAQ’s
Are apple crisp and crumble the same thing?
They’re very similar, and to be honest, I use the term interchangeably. However, a crisp traditionally includes oats and often nuts in the topping, while a crumble is classically just flour, sugar, and butter.
Do I cook apples before putting them in a crumble?
No, raw apples go straight into the dish! Tossing them with sugar, flour, and cinnamon (like in this recipe) lets them soften and release their juices as they bake alongside the topping.
What is the secret to a good crumble topping?
Using melted butter and working it in with your fingers until the mixture forms coarse, gravel-sized clumps is key. It creates that perfectly crisp, buttery texture instead of a flat, sandy layer.
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes, frozen cranberries work well in this recipe. Just add them straight from the freezer without thawing so they don’t turn mushy in the filling.
More EASY Dessert Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dessert recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Cinnamon Streusel Blondies
- Cranberry Upside Down Cake
- Strawberry Crumble Bars
- Oatmeal Cranberry Cupcakes
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 4 cups gala apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
- 4 cups granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the crumble topping:
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and cranberries with white sugar, tablespoon of flour and cinnamon. Stir until all the fruit is evenly coated.
- Make the crumble topping by combining the oats, 1 cup of flour, brown sugar, baking powder and melted butter.
- Work the mixture with a fork or your fingers until everything is moistened and it starts to come together in pieces the size of gravel.
- Spread the apple mixture in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the crumble topping over top and then spread it evenly to cover the top of the apples.
- Bake for about 1 hour or until the edges are bubbling all the way around and the topping is lightly browned and crispy.Let cool 15-20 minutes then enjoy alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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