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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cranberry Apple Crumble

dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
November 22, 2016

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Cranberry Apple Crumble – A warm dessert made with seasonal flavors of cranberry and apple and topped with crunchy brown sugar crumbles. The only thing that can make this dessert even better is a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Cranberry Apple Crumble  topped with vanilla ice creamApple pie. It’s a staple almost all year long. When 4th of July comes around, everyone and their mom is making an apple pie. What’s more American than a apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream?!

And here we are in fall and, again, apple pies are steeling the show. Almost every Thanksgiving we’ve ever had required an apple pie. Which explains why apple pie was the first pie I ever made.

Now, 15 years after my first pie attempt, and I’ve become so annoyed with making pie. There are soooo many steps: make dough, chill dough, roll out dough, make filling, make pretty top crust, bake. It’s just too much, especially during this busy time of year. But the stress doesn’t end there…now you gotta slice it.

The first slice I cut NEVER comes out pretty. I usually keep the first slice for myself to save the embarrassment when I hand over a gloop of apple pie filling with the crust in shambles. This is also the exact reason why I love making hand pies like this one and this one.

Spoonful of Cranberry Apple Crumble in front of a full pan Dish of cranberry apple crumble with vanilla ice cream Three plates of cranberry apple crumble, one with ice cream

All of this leads me to today’s discussion. Today I want to talk about one of my favorite alternatives to traditional apple pie: apple crumbles. What is an apple crumble? It’s just like an apple crisp, but the topping is just buttery, cinnamon brown sugar and contains no nuts or oats. I don’t need all that extra healthy stuff distracting me.

It’s the same balance of carbs and fruit that you crave in a pie but with so much less effort since it takes 1/2 the time to make and is scoopable, thus no messy slicing! Hallelujah!

The version I’m sharing today is a cranberry apple crumble. Yummm. I have been embracing cranberries a lot more this year. And I am so glad I did! They pair so beautifully with apples so adding them to this crumble was a no-brainer. Plus, the festive flavors (and colors!) make this crumble the perfect dessert for all your holidays meals.

Prepared apples and cranberries in a casserole dish Top view of cranberry apple crumble with vanilla ice cream Half a pan of cranberry apple crumble

The apples and cranberries release tons of juices when cooking. When those juices mix with the sugars and flour, they thicken up to make a creamy, custard-like filling that can only be made better with the crispy, crunchy topping of brown sugar and cinnamon. Oh and don’t forget the ice cream on top!

Before you get to baking, here are a few tips that will help you along the way:

  1. Make sure to slice the apples, not dice them. I think it makes for a better balance of the apple to cranberry ratio when you serve it.
  2. You can use either frozen or fresh cranberries. Do not use dried cranberries. You won’t get any juices from those and thus no thick, custard-like filling. It will be dry and boring. Yuck!
  3. Let the crumb mixture chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes so it can harden up. I like to do this step before I core and peel the apples so it has plenty of time to chill. If the crumb mixture doesn’t get a chance to chill, it will melt into one big crust when it’s baked.
  4. I recommend granny smith apples for this crumble since they hold their texture very well. Other apples with too much water will get mushy and won’t taste so great. So do your research if you want to use another kind of apple to make sure they will hold up well when cooked.

I hope you consider this new treat for your Thanksgiving table this week! If not, I will also accept consideration for your holiday meals later this season 😉

What other alternatives to pie do you love during this time of year? Let me know in the comments below!

Here are all the kitchen tools and serveware that I used in this post. For each item that is sold, I receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands that support CPA!

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zoomed in shot of Cranberry Apple Crumble with ice cream
Print Recipe

Cranberry Apple Crumble

A warm dessert made with seasonal flavors and topped with crunchy brown sugar crumbles. The only thing that can make this dessert even better is a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For the crumb topping:
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted, melted
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
For the filling:
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange zest
  • 3 lbs granny smith apples cored, peeled, and sliced
  • 2 cups whole cranberries fresh or frozen
  • vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)

Instructions

For crumble topping:
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish (or equivalent capacity) with butter or cooking spray.
  • Mix sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a medium bowl with a spoon or spatula. Add melted butter and combine. Add flour, 1/3 cup at a time until all combined. The mixture will resemble a paste. Don't worry, we will make it look like crumbs after it chills. Place in refrigerator to chill until you need it.
For the filling and assembly:
  • Add flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest to a large bowl. Stir or whisk so the mixture is combined. Add apples and cranberries. Toss with a large spoon so that they are evenly coated in the mixture. Place into greased baking dish.
  • Grab chilled crumb mixture from the refrigerator. Scoop a handful of the mixture from the bowl. Using both hands, crumble mixture evenly over the apple-cranberry mixture. Crumbs should be the size of peas but don't worry if they are some bigger and smaller than that. The topping actually looks better when the size of the crumbs are uneven. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.
  • Place crumble into a preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. You'll know it's done when the apples and cranberries are bubbling through the crumbs and the topping is deep, golden brown.
  • Let mixture cool for 10 minutes. Scoop into dessert bowls or small plates and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (if desired). Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Cranberry Apple Crumble  photo collage

More recipes you’ll enjoy:

Glazed Cherry Hand Pies

basket of glazed cherry hand pies

Blueberry Crumb Bars

stack of blueberry crumb bars

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

pan of Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

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67 Comments

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Comments

  1. yourgirlfriend says

    April 7, 2025 at 10:40 am

    These are incredibly tasty. My family loved every single bite.

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  5. Danielle says

    December 5, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    Every time I see a new apple crumb recipe – I get incredibly excited because there is just hardly anything better, isn’t it? Fantastic recipe that I am really looking forward to.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      December 8, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      Yay! I am so glad you think so. Let me know how it turns out!!

      Reply
  6. Kristen says

    November 26, 2019 at 3:09 pm

    I’ve made this recipe before and it turned out great! I plan on making it again this year for Thanksgiving. How do you think it would hold up if I baked it most of the way through the day before Thanksgiving, then finished the baking the day of that way it was nice and warm when serving?

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      December 3, 2019 at 10:33 am

      Ahh so sorry I am getting to this after Thanksgiving! I think your plan is great. I hoped it worked out well for you!!

      Reply
      • Kristen says

        December 3, 2019 at 12:27 pm

        It worked out well! Thank you!

        Reply
  7. Jen says

    November 11, 2018 at 4:06 pm

    Do you have nutrition info like how many cal fat etc and can you use almond flour to make it gluten free?

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 19, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Sorry I don’t have nutritional info. And I think almond flour could work but I have never tried it so it’s hard to say for sure. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!

      Reply
  8. David @ The Pie Addict says

    December 7, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    Sharon, made this last night and it turned out amazing. Such a simple recipe and well written instructions made this a wonderful baking experience. The tartness of the cranberries and sweetened apples coupled with the crumble was right on the money. I wrote up my experience on my blog directing readers here if they want to learn how to whip this together! Nicely done!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      December 9, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      Thanks so much for the stellar review, David! Honored to be featured on you blog. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Rebecca says

    November 21, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    My 18yr baby girl/senior HS asked me to make “Apple cranberry crisp Like I used to” for “her maybe last ever Thanksgiving (yea, she gets that from me). I had a recipe that was my go to from Apple Pie to Waterzooi cookbook by the American Woman’s Club Brussels (@1997)… My daughter’s oat “intolerance” has increased and I just stopped making it. It was unfair to make it for parties if she couldn’t have. THANK YOU THANK YOU.

    Reply
  10. Shannon says

    December 23, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    How many apples does 3 lbs usually end up being? My husband went to the grocery store for me today and came home with 8 apples. I have cranberries to use up and this recipe sounds perfect to make for something extra for Christmas 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      December 24, 2016 at 3:12 am

      Yay! I am excited for you to try this. 3 lbs is about 4 medium- sized apples or 4 cups of sliced apples. Let me know how you like it!!

      Reply
      • Shannon says

        December 29, 2016 at 12:08 pm

        Everyone really loved this on Christmas Day. It was a great addition and perfect for the holidays. The filling was so yummy and I loved the crust part too. It’s good the next day reheated too. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll make this again!

        Reply
        • Sharon says

          December 29, 2016 at 4:08 pm

          I am so happy to hear this Shannon! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. The recipe works great with other fruit too. I can’t wait to try with peaches and blueberries in the summer!

          Reply
          • Shannon says

            December 29, 2016 at 7:00 pm

            I’m allergic to peaches but blueberries sound great! I’ll definitely be trying that.

  11. Jazz says

    November 26, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    Another perfect dessert, Sharon. And those plates are the cutest!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 9:29 pm

      Aw thanks Jazz! You’re so sweet. And the plates are from Macy’s!!

      Reply
  12. Kristin Cook says

    November 24, 2016 at 7:15 am

    Oh my goodness! This looks fabulous! I wish I had seen this before Thanksgiving day! This would be the perfect dessert!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 9:01 pm

      Aw man! But you hardly need an excuse to make this amazing dessert 😉

      Reply
  13. Shannon says

    November 23, 2016 at 11:47 am

    This looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 9:00 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  14. kara says

    November 23, 2016 at 11:02 am

    this looks heavenly! pinning for later 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  15. Laura Roth says

    November 23, 2016 at 12:27 am

    These look sooo yummy! I was eyeing the cranberries at the store today, but I kept walking because I didn’t know what to do with them other than cranberry sauce (which I already have for T-day). Can’t wait to make these!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Yay! Glad you have a reason to use them now!

      Reply
  16. Heather @Boston Girl Bakes says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    Wow this looks absolutely scrumptious! Love the idea of using cranberries to an apple crumble!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 27, 2016 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks Heather! The cranberries worked perfectly!

      Reply
  17. Dominique @ Ohbeehave says

    November 22, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    Yum! I love apple crumble! Your comment about not wanting to distract yourself with the healthy stuff is hilarious!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:19 pm

      Hahaha thank you! I try to be funny. Glad it worked!

      Reply
    • Rebecca says

      November 21, 2017 at 8:15 pm

      hee hee! I was thrilled with this. this is healthy for our home because we have nut and oat allergies.

      Reply
  18. Melissa Berry says

    November 22, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    I literally laughed out loud at “I don’t need all that healthy stuff distracting me.” Haha. Well said. Pinned!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      Haha thanks so much! I love when people get my humor!

      Reply
  19. Chrissy says

    November 22, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    Mmh, this looks delicious! I will definitely have to try this! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      You are so welcome! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  20. Sarah Prince says

    November 22, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Oh this is my new favorite website! Do you have any gluten free recipes? Yum!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:16 pm

      Aw thank you! All my soups and drinks are GF but sadly not many of the desserts are, except the candy ones (caramels and chocolate turtles). I do also have this sweet potato recipe and rice recipe that are amazing and GF. Let me know if there’s anything else you like and I can tell you how to make it GF. Thanks for your question!

      Reply
  21. Ana says

    November 22, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I am seriously drooling over here! Totally gonna bookmark this and make it! Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:11 pm

      Haha awesome! Drool away!

      Reply
  22. Kristine-Bites of Flavor says

    November 22, 2016 at 11:01 am

    I love apples and cranberries mixed together. Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:11 pm

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  23. Ayanna says

    November 22, 2016 at 10:38 am

    This looks delicious! I do not have the patience to make apple pie and I don’t really like crumbles with oats, so this recipe was made just for me. Pinned and will have to make soon!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:55 pm

      Aww that’s so awesome to hear! I love when I speak the same language as my readers! I hope you love the recipe 🙂

      Reply
    • Rebecca says

      November 21, 2017 at 8:12 pm

      i’m sharing on FB . My daughter is allergic to oats and a good recipe is really hard to find

      Reply
  24. Rachel says

    November 22, 2016 at 9:54 am

    OMG I’m drooling! How perfect for the holidays!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:54 pm

      Thank you!! I completely agree 🙂

      Reply
  25. GiGi Eats says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:45 am

    Oh my jeeze! This can crumble into my mouth – ANY time!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:54 pm

      Hahaha love that!

      Reply
  26. kristina @ love & zest says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:38 am

    this recipe looks so good but omg my mouth is watering seeing those cinnamon rolls!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Haha thank you!

      Reply
  27. Dannii says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:34 am

    I love apple crumble, and what a great idea to add cranberries too. A comforting winter dessert.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Yes, the cranberries work so well in this crumble!

      Reply
  28. candy says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:21 am

    This is a new type of crumble I have never made. Adding cranberries sounds pretty good.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      That’s awesome! I am glad to have introduced you!

      Reply
  29. Francesca says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:07 am

    Yum!!!! This looks delicious, perfect for the holidays! I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  30. Platter Talk says

    November 22, 2016 at 7:41 am

    A beautiful, delicious looking cranberry dessert!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:51 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  31. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

    November 22, 2016 at 7:19 am

    Sweet and utterly comforting food! Perfection. I prefer the consistancy of crumble to pie.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:50 pm

      Me too 😉

      Reply
  32. Sarah says

    November 22, 2016 at 6:59 am

    This looks and sounds absolutely AMAZING! I love the cranberry-apple combo this time of the year!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 22, 2016 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks so much! It’s so perfect for this season, right?!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Peach Raspberry Cobbler says:
    June 29, 2017 at 5:23 am

    […] cakey crust instead of a crunchy one (I talk about the distinction between crumbles and crisps in this post). But delicious all the […]

    Reply
  2. Cranberry Lime Mojitos says:
    May 11, 2017 at 4:43 am

    […] I knew I had to make a mojito. To continue with my love of cranberry (as seen in these cookies and this fruity crumble), I decided to make the cranberry lime […]

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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