Bursting with fresh, sweet apples and tart, ruby cranberries, my Game of Thrones-inspired Apple Cranberry Crisp is not only a feast for the eyes but also a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
Can you believe that it’s less than 2 weeks away from the New Year’s Eve? I honestly don’t know where the time goes! To celebrate the end of 2016, this month’s Recipe Redux theme is a fun little game called Grab a Book & Cook. We were challenged to grab our nearest cookbook and make a healthier version of the recipe on page 201, 16 or 216- or any combination of the number ”2016.”
So I grabbed my newest cookbook off the shelf and got to work! The truth is that I have quite an eclectic collection of cookbooks. You may be surprised when I tell you which book I chose… A Feast of Ice & Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook. That’s right, the secret’s out- I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan! Our good friends Jarone and Roxy actually gifted this book to me after they visited earlier this year. Best gift ever!
In case you’ve never heard of Game of Thrones (seriously, is that even possible?!), it’s a hit television show on HBO that’s based on a series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin. Written by two superfans of the show, the cookbook has more than 100 recipes covering a wide range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. “From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.”
The @FoodiePhysician's #GameofThrones inspired Apple Cranberry Crisp is a guaranteed crowd pleaser! #TheRecipeReduxClick To Tweet
The recipes have been refined for modern cooking and the authors have suggested substitutions for some of the more fantastical ingredients that you may not have in your cupboard like live doves or dragon eggs! To my delight, the recipe on page 16 was a relatively simple dish- Medieval Applecakes, which is referenced in the Game of Thrones book in relation to one of my favorite characters, Jon Snow. The original recipe yields a donut-like treat stuffed with a warm, nutty apple filling. I decided to simplify things by keeping the apples but skipping the homemade dough- after all, during the holidays, simple is best!
My Apple Cranberry Crisp is the perfect dessert for your holiday or New Year’s Eve party. Bursting with fresh, sweet apples and tart cranberries, it’s not only lovely to look at, it can also feed a crowd! I love making fruit crisps because they are so much easier to make than pies and tarts and everyone devours them! You simply spread the fruit filling in a baking dish, top it with a simple, crumbly topping and bake it in the oven until bubbly and golden brown.
Why my apple cranberry crisp is healthier than traditional recipes
- I use a higher fruit to topping ratio. Apples and cranberries are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants so pile them in!
- I use less sugar. I find that many crisp recipes have too much sugar but 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 with just a touch of sugar and a bit of cinnamon and orange zest for an extra hit of flavor.
- I use a combination of white whole wheat flour and oats in the topping to incorporate whole grains into the recipe. Chopped nuts add texture as well as heart-healthy fats, protein, fiber and other nutrients.
- I use just enough butter or coconut oil to ensure a crumbly consistency.
When you take the crisp out of the oven, let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. The filling will thicken as it cools. It’s delicious alone or topped with ice cream or whipped cream. The leftovers are also perfect the next morning topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!
What are your favorite dishes to feed a crowd?
Do you have any special New Year’s Eve plans?
Leave a comment below and let me know!
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Ingredients
Filling:
- 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)
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
Topping:
- ¾ cup flour (I use white whole wheat)
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter or coconut oil, cut into small pieces
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Toss the apple slices, cranberries, flour, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and maple syrup together in a large bowl.
- To make the topping, mix the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter together in a stand mixer until the mixture is crumbly and sticks together in small clumps. Alternatively, you can use your hands to break the butter up and mix everything together in a bowl. Add the nuts and mix until just combined.
- Spray a 13x9-inch rectangular or 15-inch oval baking dish with cooking spray and pour the apple mixture 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. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Nutrition
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What a scrumptious dessert! This would be perfect on a cold evening – but I bet it’d also make a perfect summer dessert cooled down with a scoop of ice cream 😉
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…The One Thing EVERYONE Needs to Know About Success
Yesssss. I love that this was inspired by Game of Thrones! It looks absolutely amazing, and looks like an awesome + super festive dish! That mix of apples + cranberries sounds awesome! :]
How funny that Game of Thrones has a cookbook! Haha! This is totally my kind of dessert and I of course love the combo of the apples and cranberries with some orange thrown in there! Looks delish!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious recently posted…By: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Glaze
Oh my gosh!! I googled this book straightaway and now I know what I want for Christmas!! Ahah
And the recipe is delish!
This looks so delicious Sonali! I cannot wait to try it! And I love that serving spoon! 🙂 Happy Holidays to you and your family!
wow this uses so much less sugar than I would think most do! I love the idea of that tart cranberry with the nice crisp apple, this is a fabulous way to get in some extra fruit to!!
amanda -runtothefinish recently posted…Running On Ice and Snow: Tips to Stay Upright
What a delicious dessert for my holiday parties!
This sounds amazing I like crisps so much better than pies. Plus, they’re perfect for ice cream. 😉
Love the choice of cookbook – so fun and the photos are STUNNING! Love me a warm fruit crisp this time of year 🙂
Sonali, I didn’t even know there was a game of thrones cookbook!! I’m amazon ordering it last minute as a gift for my husband. We love that show!
This dessert sounds amazing and I love how you styled the photo.
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian recently posted…Sautéed Spinach Crostini – Recipe Redux
What a beautiful combination here Sonali! I love the addition of the oil to help bind the crumble together too, smart cookie you are! I don’t have any NYE plans just yet (hoping for some big news that day lol), so for now, looking forward to hopefully having a new kitchen so I can get back in there and whip this up soon! Sending you a big hug and your family well wishes for a wonderful holiday!
Elizabeth Shaw recently posted…Comment on Tomato Soup Pasta with Spinach + A Glimpse Inside Fresh Italian Cooking by Elizabeth Shaw
Loveeee Game of Thrones and everything about this dish 🙂 I’m going to try a gluten free version!
This looks SO good Sonali!!! I cannot wait to whip this up over the holidays! YUM!
Chelsey recently posted…Warm Black Lentil and Root Vegetable Salad
This looks so delicious! Apple crisp is a favorite dessert of mine and I love cranberries. I wish I had a slice to have for breakfast tomorrow. I know it’s a dessert but I always save a piece for breakfast because it’s just fruit and oats so basically oatmeal right? It also goes so well with a cup of coffee!
What a great cookbook for fans! This apple cranberry crisp is perfect for the holiday dessert table! So easy to make gluten free too which I love!
Nope! I can’t even believe that 2017 is just days away! It’s going to be a crazy crazy year for us…so I’m going to soak in the tranquility of the end of 2016! 😉
My goodness – this looks and sounds incredible! I love the apple and cranberry combination.
Kat recently posted…Paleo Cranberry Bliss Cake [Vegan / Gluten-Free]
Did not know about the Game of Throne Cook book. I will definitely look out for it.
Can we substitute with seasonal fruits?
Thanks for the great delicious recipe.
Great article. This article is well written and I agree with everything you said. You just took apple crisp to a whole new level…I LOVE it! This looks amazing. I just want to dive right into this for breakfast. Peanut butter is the perfect addition and you really nailed this! I always think about eating crisps for breakfast when I have them in the house! This looks fantastic! Love the peanut butter!