Apple and Cranberry Crisp

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This apple and cranberry crisp with oatmeal gingersnap topping is a surprisingly easy twist to an old-fashioned favorite! Made with sweet apples, tart cranberries, cookie crumbles, and oats in just over 1 hour.

A serving spoon lifting a scoop of apple cranberry crisp from the corner of a white pan of it.

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Why You'll Love Apple Cranberry Crisp:
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
How To Make Cranberry Apple Crisp
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making My Gingersnap Oatmeal Apple Crisp Recipe
What To Serve With Cranberry Apple Crisp With Oatmeal
Other Delicious Apple Recipes To Try
Apple and Cranberry Crisp
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Why You'll Love Apple Cranberry Crisp:

Now, I love some classic apple crisp as much as the next fruity dessert lover. But, it's always fun to shake things up a bit. Tart cranberries break through the sweetness of the apples and sugar, but the sugar and spices help tone down the overall tartness making it much more subtle and enjoyable.

To make the topping extra special and just a dash of spicy — not like hot sauce but full of great spiced flavor — I made it with gingersnap cookies and oats. It's an apple crisp... with a twist! It almost tastes a little bit like apple oatmeal but in the best way possible.

I almost considered making this as a pie instead of a crisp. That's right, after previously crying all the pie tears, I thought about going back in. But then I decided to keep it simple. And stress-free. Toss a few things with your apples and cranberries and then into the pan. Cut some butter in with a few other tasty things and sprinkle over your fruit. Bake it off and bam! An excellent and easy seasonal dessert. Here are a few other reasons to make this apple cranberry crisp recipe:

Simple and stress-free dessert option
Perfect for end-of-year holidays
Fruity, tart, and sweet
Unique topping
Crunchy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside
Family-friendly

An overhead image of a white baking dish of Cranberry Apple Crisp with a black and white towel next to it and broken pieces of gingersnap cookies.

Ingredient Information And Substitutions

Apples- You can use any baking-friendly apple for apple cranberry crisp. I like Granny Smith, Cortland, and Braeburn are some of the best apples for apple crisp, but 20 Ounce apples are my favorite for their large size and great flavor.
Cranberries- Add that tart flavor I mentioned plus a pop of color. If you don't have any, raspberries can be used in a pinch for a similar taste.
Granulated Sugar- Sweetens the filling.
Cinnamon- For a touch of warm and cozy spice. You could also use nutmeg, ginger, allspice, or an apple pie spice blend.
Lemon Juice- Keeps the fruit from browning too much.
Cornstarch- Needed to thicken the filling and prevent the apple and cranberry crisp from getting too runny.
Topping- Made with gingersnap cookies, light brown sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, salted butter, and a pinch of salt.

Overhead images of labeled recipe ingredients.

How To Make Cranberry Apple Crisp

Step 1- Make the filling.

Add the apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, cornstarch, and salt to a large bowl and mix to combine. Pour the mixture into a 9x13-inch baking pan and set aside.

An image of filling ingredients in glass bowl next to an image of filling ingredients mixed together in the same bowl.

Step 2- Prepare the topping.

In a separate bowl, add the gingersnap cookie crumbs, brown sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in the butter, and combine until the topping has a gravelly texture and the pieces of butter are pea-sized.

Topping ingredients in a clear bowl next to an image of the butter added to the topping ingredients.

Step 3- Assemble & bake.

Sprinkle the topping mixture on top of the filling and bake your apple cranberry crisp until bubbling and the top is golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving and enjoy!

Filling in a white baking dish next to an image of the topping added to the baking dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp?

It's all about the topping. An apple crumble boasts a streusel topping made with butter flour and sugar. A crisp, like my cranberry apple crisp, features oats (and sometimes nuts) in the topping, making it a lot "crisper" than a crumble!

Can I use frozen cranberries?

Absolutely! I've made it with both frozen and fresh cranberries and it came out great both times without any other changes.

What is the best apple for apple crisp?

Any of the baking apples I mentioned above — Granny Smith, Cortland, or Braeburn — would all work great in apple cranberry oatmeal crisp. My favorite is 20 Ounce Apples since they're really large and still have great flavor (less peeling!). You could even combine a few different varieties for an even more unique flavor.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy?

Don't skip the butter in your topping! You really do need a full stick to prevent the whole dish from getting mushy. It will melt as your apple cranberry crisp bakes, which, along with the added cornstarch, helps the fruity filling thicken. Be aware that it will get a bit soggy after the first couple days, though still delicious.

Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?

Technically room temperature is ok for the first couple days, but it will last longer if covered and refrigerated.

A close up image of a white plate with cranberry apple crisp ala mode.

Tips For Making My Gingersnap Oatmeal Apple Crisp Recipe

Prep all the ingredients before you get started. That means peel, core, and slice the apples, crumble the gingersnaps, and cut the butter into small cubes. This will make the whole process a lot smoother... and faster!
When you pour the filling into the baking pan, make sure to spread it evenly so that the bottom of the dish is covered. You'll help ensure that the apple and cranberry crisp bakes evenly and the apples come up perfectly tender.
Use a fork to cut in the butter. Or, if you want it to be a bit easier, a pastry cutter works wonders.
Check for doneness after around 50 minutes in the oven. You'll know the crisp is ready when the filling is nice and bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Over-baking will lead to dry results!
A food processor helps crumble the cookies, but you could also use a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Ingredients to prep ahead- As mentioned, you can clean the apples, crush cookies, and dice butter for easier cutting before you get started.
Leftovers and storage- Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best texture, I recommend reheating covered in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.

A close up image of a fork with apple crisp on it next to the plate of it with ice cream on top.

What To Serve With Cranberry Apple Crisp With Oatmeal

This dessert just screams fall to me, so I'll often make it during the colder months or for the holidays! I always serve it with some vanilla ice cream. Here are a few other cozy dishes to pair with it:

Other Delicious Apple Recipes To Try

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