This apple cranberry crumble recipe includes tangy Granny Smith apples and cranberries that cook down perfectly tender under a salty sweet, crunchy oat topping. I adapted this recipe from a paper recipe from an old magazine and upgraded it to include salt for a more balanced flavor in the filling and oat topping. You could even add lemon juice and zest if you like a citrus note, or add vanilla in the filling to bring out the sweetness even further.
I started making apple cranberry crumble, or apple crisp, every year for Friendsgiving in college. It is always a hit, especially when eaten warm with vanilla ice cream. But it is such an easy, quick dessert that I have started making it regularly for other holidays, or even just for my husband and I on a weeknight. It would be very easy to halve this recipe if you are making it for yourself and want just a few servings.
What do you need to make apple cranberry crumble?
Apple cranberry crumble comes together so quickly and only requires a few simple ingredients that you probably already have. You can even omit or swap cranberries for another berry. I haven’t tried it, but I bet you could even use dried cranberries.
- Granny Smith apples
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Flour
- Brown Sugar
- Granulated Sugar
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Oats
- Salt
Should I make crumble in the microwave or oven?
The original recipe calls for cooking this apple cranberry crumble in the microwave on high for 12-14 minutes, which makes it great for potlucks where you may not have access to an oven but still want to serve your dessert warm.
The microwave method works fine, but I have found baking the crumble in the oven makes the salty sweet oat topping even more crunchy. So if you like more of a crunch to your crumble, I would suggest baking it in the oven at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes, depending on the size of your dish.
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Tips:
I baked mine in 8-ounce ramekins for easier single serving, but I typically bake in a casserole dish or large heatproof bowl if I am making it in the microwave.
Make sure you cut your apples on the smaller side. This crumble is best if the apple pieces are all similar in size and cooked all the way through.
📖 Recipe
Apple Cranberry Crumble
Ingredients
Topping
- ½ cup flour (68g)
- ½ cup light brown sugar (112g) packed
- ⅓ cup butter (77g) chilled and cut in ¼-inch cubes
- ¾ cup old fashioned or quick oats (85g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Filling
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples (1 ½ lbs)
- 1 ½ cups cranberries (150g) fresh or frozen
- ½ cup granulated sugar (110g)
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. This recipe can also be made using the microwave* (see notes).
Make the filling
- Core and peel apples. Cut in half, turn halves on their flat sides and slice ¼-inch thick slices. Cut those in half. Repeat until all apples have been pared.
- Combine apples, cranberries, sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon and salt in a bowl (use a microwave-safe 2 quart baking dish if cooking in the microwave).
Make the topping
- In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup flour and brown sugar. Whisk well. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and mix well.
Assemble
- Spoon filling into oven-safe ramekins or a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes (or longer for a larger dish) in the oven.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before topping with vanilla ice cream and serving.
