Cranberry Apple Crumple is an easy winter dessert made with fresh cranberries and apples with a simple brown sugar crumble topping. It's delicious and perfect for the holidays, and incredibly easy to prepare.
It can also be made dairy-free or vegan, perfect for those with a dairy allergy.
Easy apple cranberry dessert
Winter rolls around, and I am suddenly craving everything cranberry. This dessert combines the taste of cinnamon apple pie with the tartness of cranberries, and it's topped with a simple crumble topping that has just the right amount of buttery, sugary crunch.
The holidays can feel so decadent that it's nice to have a dessert that's made with fresh fruit. Make sure to buy a bag (or two or three) of fresh cranberries when you find it in the store (you can freeze the extra!), so you can whip up this cranberry apple crisp whenever the mood strikes.
Of course, if you want to dip into decadent territory, I will say that this is divine served warm alongside some vanilla ice cream on top, melting slightly all over the cinnamony crumb topping. So good!
This baked cranberry apple dessert is super quick to prepare. Just peel and slice the apples (you only need 3, so it doesn't take long), stir the ingredients together and pop it in the oven.
It takes about an hour to bake, and while you're waiting you can bask in the amazing aromas that will be wafting through your kitchen.
Related recipe: Soft Cranberry Sugar Cookies
Related recipe: Raspberry Apple Crisp
Granny smith apple recipe
I used Granny Smith apples in this recipe because of their tart flavor and firm texture. But there are lots of other great baking apples you could use instead, including Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Fuji.
Ingredients
- 3 medium/large granny smith apples (or your favorite apples)
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from ½ lemon)
- ¼ cup salted butter, softened
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- Optional: vanilla ice cream for serving
You'll also need:
- An 8x8-inch baking dish or 9-inch pie dish
- Bowls, measuring cups, spoons, etc.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Peel the apples and slice into ½-inch slices.
Step 3: Combine apple slices, cranberries, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a bowl.
Step 4: Lightly butter a 1.5 quart baking dish (8x8-inch square). Add apple and cranberry mixture to dish and sprinkle with lemon juice.
Step 5: In a separate bowl, blend softened butter with flour and brown sugar using a fork, until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the dish.
Step 6: Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and the fruit mixture underneath bubbles. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Related recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Heaven
Doubling the recipe
This recipe as written serves around 6 people. But the recipe is very easy to double if you're feeding a crowd. Just double the ingredients and bake in a 3-quart (9x 13-inch) baking dish instead of an 8x8 dish.
Need a dairy-free/vegan dessert?
This is a great dessert to make dairy-free or vegan. All you need to do is swap out the butter for a vegan butter alternative, such as Earth's Best.
Related recipe: Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
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Easy Cranberry Apple Crumble
Ingredients
- 3 Granny smith apples or other apples (medium/large)
- 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice from ½ lemon
- ¼ cup salted butter softened to room temperature
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar light or dark
Special equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Peel apples and slice into ½-inch slices.
- Combine apple slices, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a bowl.
- Lightly butter a 1.5 quart baking dish (8x8-inch square pan). Add apple and cranberry mixture to dish.
- In a separate bowl, blend softened butter with flour and brown sugar using a fork, until mixture is crumbly.
- Sprinkle mixture evenly over the dish. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.