Cranberry Apple Crumble is the combination of tart cranberries and sweet apples served with a delicious oat and brown sugar crumb topping.

This flavorful cranberry apple crisp is perfect to serve for breakfast and pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients in Cranberry Apple Crumble
• How to Make Apple Cranberry Crumble
• Substitutions in Cranberry Apple Crumble
• Variations in Apple Crumble
• How to Store Fruit Crisp
• Frequently Asked Questions
• RELATED
• 📖 Recipe

This cranberry apple crumble recipe is a great addition to the Thanksgiving menu and is also an easy rustic dessert for the holiday season as well as the Christmas time of year. 

This recipe is similar to my Apple Crisp, another fruit crumble recipe made with Granny Smith apples and a warm blend of spices in the crumble. 

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's the perfect combination of tart and sweet
• It's a festive dessert for the holiday table. 
• It's an easy dessert to make from start to finish. 

Ingredients in Cranberry Apple Crumble

• 2 cups cranberries, thawed or frozen, thawed
• 3 cups Granny Smith apples, chopped and peeled
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

How to Make Apple Cranberry Crumble

The steps to making this apple cranberry crumble recipe are easy and straightforward.

To begin, preheat the oven to 350ºF, grease an 8x8 baking dish (10x6 dish works as well), and set aside.

Prep the fruits by washing the cranberries and peeling and chopping the apples. Mix the fruit together and add the cranberry mixture to the greased dish.

Sprinkle the white sugar evenly on top of the fruit base.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, old fashioned oats, and brown sugar together in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter until combined.

Layer the crumble topping on top of the fruit base in an even layer. 

Bake the cranberry apple crumble uncovered for 55 minutes. 

Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly and serve warm. 

Substitutions in Cranberry Apple Crumble

Frozen cranberries can be used instead of fresh cranberries in this recipe and even cranberry sauce can be used. 

Dark brown sugar can be swapped out for light brown sugar. It will have a less molasses flavor but a good substitution. 

Variations in Apple Crumble

The apples that are used in a recipe will alter the sweetness or tartness of the overall dish. For more sweetness, honeycrisp apples and gala apples are great choices.

Granny Smith apples are tart but also have sweetness and are a great choice in this apple cranberry crumble recipe if you want a dessert that is a little more tart. 

Adding a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg to the buttery oat crumble will create warm flavors throughout the dessert.

To make this dessert gluten-free, swap out the all-purpose flour for almond flour or coconut flour. 

How to Store Fruit Crisp

After making this easy apple cranberry crisp, allow it to cool completely when storing leftovers.  If wrapped with plastic wrap while warm, it will make the crumble topping soggy and it will lose it's crunch.

So, allow it to cool to room temperature before wrapping it in plastic wrap or storing it in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When ready to eat, heat in the microwave before enjoying for best flavor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of apples should I use for cranberry apple crumble?

For classic apple desserts, choosing apples that hold up their shape is ideal.  Granny Smith apples and Jonagold apples are excellent choices but can be quite tart.

Honey crisp apples and pink lady apples are great sweet apples to use in sweet dishes and create a nice balance with the tartness of the cranberries. 

How can I make a gluten-free cranberry apple crumble?

You can make cranberry apple crisp recipe using almond flour or coconut flour instead of the all-purpose flour. Make sure to use certified gluten free oats when making a gluten-free version. 

What toppings can I add to enhance the flavor of my cranberry apple crumble?

Adding chopped nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds to the top of the crumble topping not only adds a nutty flavor to this dessert but also adds a nice crunch for texture. 

Can I use frozen cranberries for making a crumble?

It's very easy to use frozen cranberries in place of fresh cranberries when making this crumble recipe.  Because frozen cranberries may hold more liquid, they may release a bit more juice in the dish when baking versus using fresh cranberries. 

RELATED

This crumble recipe is a good Christmas morning breakfast. This Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake is another great choice as a holiday breakfast.