Healthy Apple Cranberry Crisp

Name: Healthy Apple Cranberry Crisp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 6 cups peeled and thinly sliced baking apples such as Fuji, Honey Crisp, Jonagold or Granny Smith ((1.25 lbs or 4 medium apples)); 2 cups frozen cranberries, defrosted; 3 tablespoons flour (I use white whole wheat flour); 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or light brown sugar; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 1 orange, zested and juiced; ⅓ cup pure maple syrup; ¾ cup flour (I use white whole wheat); 1/3 cup rolled oats; 1/3 cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (can use coconut oil); ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Published: Dec 21, 2016 · Last Updated: Nov 17, 2022 by Dr. Sonali Ruder · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases · 21 Comments

Healthy Apple Cranberry Crisp

Here's why my Apple Cranberry Crisp is healthier than traditional recipes:

Higher fruit to topping ratio. Fruit pies typically have a lot of pie crust and a little fruit. With a fruit crisp, I use a lot of fruit in the filling and just enough topping to add richness. Apples and cranberries are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants so pile them in!

Less sugar. I find that many crisp recipes have too much sugar. However, if you use fruit that's in season (like apples at this time of year), you won't need to add too much additional sugar. If cranberries aren't in season, you can always find them in the freezer section of the grocery store. I like to use pure maple syrup to sweeten the filling. I add just a touch of brown sugar along with cinnamon and orange zest for an extra hit of flavor.

Whole grains. I use a combination of white whole wheat flour and whole grain oats in the topping to incorporate healthy whole grains into the recipe. Chopped nuts add texture as well as heart-healthy fats, protein, fiber and other nutrients.

Less butter. I use just enough butter (or coconut oil) to ensure a crumbly consistency.

Doctor's Tips

This Healthy Apple Cranberry Crisp is packed with nutritious ingredients!

Apples are a nutritious ingredient that are packed with vitamins and minerals. Apples have both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Oats are another gut-friendly, nutritious ingredient. They’re rich in soluble fiber, like apples, and have many health benefits. These include helping to lower your cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and keeping things running smoothly in your intestinal tract.
Cranberries contain many vitamins and minerals and are packed with antioxidants.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Collage of steps 1-4 how to make apple cranberry crisp.

Step 1- Peel and slice the apples. Defrost the cranberries if using frozen berries. Toss the apples, cranberries, flour, sugar, cinnamon, orange juice, zest, and maple syrup together in a large bowl.

Step 2- To make the topping, mix the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter (or coconut oil) together in a bowl until a crumbly topping forms. Add the nuts and mix until just combined.

Step 3- Spray a 13x9-inch rectangular or 15-inch oval baking dish with cooking spray and pour the fruit filling into the dish. Spread the topping evenly over the fruit. Place the dish on a baking sheet (to catch any drippings) and bake in the oven until it is bubbly and the apples are tender, 55-60 minutes.

Step 4- Cool 10 minutes before serving (the filling will thicken as it cools). Top with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Chef's Tips

This healthy apple cranberry crisp is also delicious for breakfast topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt.
You can prepare the apple cranberry crisp a day in advance, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to 3 months.

Apple cranberry crisp in white serving dish

Recipe FAQs

Can you make this healthy apple cranberry crisp in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the apple cranberry crisp a day in advance, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to 3 months. Allow the frozen crisp to defrost in the fridge overnight before baking.

Recipe

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