1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

Featured in Irresistible Sweet Treats.

This warm dessert blends tart cranberries with sweet apples, finished off with a buttery, crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream for extra comfort.

Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A woman in a white chef's outfit with a chef's hat and apron.
Updated on Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:02:38 GMT
A warm baked dessert topped with buttery crumbs over a mix of apples and cranberries, served with some whipped cream beside it Pin it
A warm baked dessert topped with buttery crumbs over a mix of apples and cranberries, served with some whipped cream beside it | cuisinegenial.com

My homemade apple and cranberry dessert mixes juicy baked apples with tangy cranberries underneath a rich, nutty topping with hints of cinnamon. It's the go-to treat for autumn, packed with cozy flavors that taste even better with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top. Whether you're throwing a holiday bash or just want something warm and tasty, every spoonful of this dessert brings pure comfort!

What Makes This Fruity Delight Special

This treat has the perfect mix of sweet and tangy flavors with amazing texture. You'll love how the soft fruit contrasts with the crunchy, buttery top layer, and the warm spices make you feel all cozy inside. It's super easy to make, you can prep it ahead of time, and your guests will always ask for seconds. And don't forget the wonderful smell that fills your kitchen while it's in the oven!

What You'll Need For Your Dessert

  • For the Filling:
    • 6 large baking apples, peeled and sliced
    • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
    • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Topping:
    • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • For Serving:
    • Vanilla ice cream
    • Caramel sauce (optional)

How To Make It

Mix The Fruit
Heat your oven to 350°F. Put your sliced apples, cranberries, sugar, flour, orange juice, and vanilla in a big bowl. Mix everything until the fruit gets coated nicely. Dump it all into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Create The Crumbly Top
In another bowl, combine flour, both sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter chunks and work them in with your fingers or a pastry tool until you get coarse crumbs. Then mix in your chopped pecans.
Put It Together And Cook
Scatter the crumbly mixture all over the fruit. Bake for about 45-50 minutes until you see bubbling fruit and a golden brown top.
Let It Rest
Wait about 15 minutes after taking it out of the oven. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce if you want.

Tricks For The Best Results

Go for hard baking apples that won't turn mushy. Your butter should stay in the fridge until you're ready to use it. Don't mix the topping too much or you'll lose the crumbly goodness. Try using parchment paper in your baking dish for quick cleanup. Take a peek after 40 minutes to make sure it's not getting too brown.

A baked fruit dish topped with a golden oat crumble, featuring apples and cranberries, served in a white dish on a marble surface. Pin it
A baked fruit dish topped with a golden oat crumble, featuring apples and cranberries, served in a white dish on a marble surface. | cuisinegenial.com

Ways To Enjoy This Treat

Eat it while it's still warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for that awesome hot-cold combo. Try adding some caramel sauce on top if you're feeling fancy. It looks really nice served in small individual dishes for dinner parties. This dessert always fits right in on any holiday table.

Keeping It Fresh

You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days with a cover on top. Just warm up single servings in the microwave when you want some. You can get everything ready ahead of time and pop it in the oven right before eating. If you want to plan way ahead, freeze the unbaked dessert for up to 3 months and thaw overnight before cooking. For the crunchiest top, add that part just before baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can frozen cranberries be used?

Yep! Both frozen and fresh cranberries will work. Don’t bother thawing frozen ones; toss them in as is.

→ Why cover it with foil?

Foil helps stop the topping from burning if it’s browning too fast, while the fruit can keep softening perfectly underneath.

→ What apples are best for this?

Stick to firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn. They bake well and balance the cranberries’ tang.

→ Can this be prepped ahead?

Absolutely, you can prep everything and bake it later. If reheating after baking, note the topping won’t be as crunchy.

→ Why wait before eating?

Cooling for 10 minutes helps the juices set and makes it safer to eat, especially if scooping some ice cream on top.

Conclusion

Enjoy a cozy autumn treat of sweet baked apples mixed with tart cranberries, topped with a buttery pecan crumble that’s bursting with flavor.

Cranberry Apple Crumble

A warm, comforting mix of tart cranberries and tender apples beneath a crispy, sweet pecan topping for the ultimate fall treat.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Ferdaous

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (One 9x13 dish)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 4 big apples, peeled, cored, and diced into chunks about 1/2 inch wide.
02 12 ounces of cranberries, fresh or frozen, your choice.
03 Half a cup of white sugar.
04 Three tablespoons of regular flour.
05 One teaspoon of vanilla extract.
06 A tablespoon of orange juice.
07 1/4 cup of plain all-purpose flour.
08 1/4 cup of brown sugar, packed.
09 Three tablespoons of white sugar.
10 Half a cup of pecans, finely chopped.
11 One teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
12 Two tablespoons of cold butter, diced.
13 Vanilla ice cream (optional, to serve).

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13 dish with non-stick spray to stop sticking.

Step 02

Toss your apples, cranberries, sugars, flour, vanilla, and orange juice together in a big bowl. Once mixed, spread the mixture inside the greased baking dish and set aside.

Step 03

In the same bowl, combine flour, sugars, cinnamon, and pecans. Use your hands to crumble in the cold butter. Sprinkle the mixture over the fruit in your prepared dish.

Step 04

Pop it into the oven and cook for about 45 minutes. Look for fruit that’s soft, a golden topping, and bubbly edges. If the top’s browning too fast, cover loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes.

Step 05

Let it cool off for 10 minutes. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top (if you’d like) and dig in!

Notes

  1. Frozen or fresh cranberries work equally well.
  2. Cover with foil if the top is browning faster than expected.
  3. Make sure it cools down a bit before serving.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13 dish.
  • A big bowl for mixing.
  • Foil for covering, if needed.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes tree nuts (pecans).
  • Contains wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 269
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 51 g
  • Protein: 2 g