Description
This Apple, Cranberry, and Pear Crisp is a delightful American dessert featuring a harmonious blend of tart cranberries, sweet apples, and juicy pears topped with a crunchy oat and pecan crumble. Perfectly spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, this crisp offers the ideal balance of fruitiness and warmth, baked to golden perfection in a cast iron skillet. Serve it warm with whipped cream or ice cream for a comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit:
- 2 apples, peeled and diced
- 2 pears, peeled and diced
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cardamom
Topping:
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter, diced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Skillet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly coat a 10-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Prepare the Fruit Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the peeled and diced apples, pears, and rinsed fresh cranberries. Add the white sugar and toss everything together so the fruit is evenly coated.
- Mix the Syrup and Spices: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and cardamom until well blended. This mixture will add flavor and help thicken the fruit as it bakes.
- Combine Fruit and Syrup Mixture: Pour the syrup-spice mixture over the fruit and toss gently until all the pieces are evenly coated. Transfer this fruit mixture into the prepared cast iron skillet.
- Make the Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the quick-cooking oats, flour, chopped pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add the diced unsalted butter and use your fingers to rub the ingredients together until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles coarse crumbs.
- Apply the Topping: Sprinkle the crumbly oat topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the skillet, covering the fruit completely for a delicious crust.
- Bake the Crisp: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the fruit is bubbling and the oat topping has turned a golden brown color.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the crisp from the oven and allow it to cool for about 15 minutes. Serve warm, plain or topped with whipped cream or ice cream as desired. Enjoy this comforting dessert!
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, dice the fruit into similar-sized pieces.
- If fresh cranberries are not available, frozen cranberries can be used; just thaw and drain excess liquid before using.
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the pecans lightly before adding them to the topping.
- You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar for a different taste and health benefits.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free oats and flour alternatives.
- Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: apple crisp, cranberry crisp, pear crisp, fall dessert, fruit crisp, easy dessert, oatmeal topping, American dessert
