Apple Cranberry Crisp

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 and 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 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.

My Apple Cranberry Crisp is healthier than most for a few reasons.  First of all, 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!  Second, 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.

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

4.58 from 7 votes

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Apple Cranberry Crisp

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

 

Bursting with fresh, sweet apples and tart cranberries, this dessert is a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10

Calories: 248 kcal

Author: The Foodie Physician

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 used white whole wheat)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 orange, zested and juiced
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup

Topping:

• ¾ cup flour (I used white whole wheat)
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup coconut palm 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

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Toss the apple slices, cranberries, flour, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and maple syrup together in a large bowl.
3. 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.
4. 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 Facts

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Amount Per Serving

Calories 248 Calories from Fat 71

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 7.9g 12%

Saturated Fat 3.9g 20%

Sodium 34mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 43.4g 14%

Dietary Fiber 5.7g 23%

Sugars 25.3g

Protein 3.1g 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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