apple pear cranberry crispI love a cozy apple crisp. They're so easy to whip up, and they bake so bubbly, golden, and delicious. This is exactly the dessert I'm in the mood for right now -- especially with that little scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

I think apple crisp is even better with some tangy cranberries thrown in. It's just as easy to make, but the cranberries add some bright color and a bit of exciting contrast to sweet, mellow apples. Here's a great Barefoot Contessa recipe for an apple cranberry crisp that'll warm you to your bones on a crisp fall afternoon. This Food Network recipe throws in some pears into the mix, too -- because why not? Pears make it even more delicious!

Apple, Pear, and Cranberry Crisp via Food Network

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds ripe Bosc pears (4 pears)
  • 2 pounds firm Macoun apples (6 apples)
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the topping:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Peel and core the pears and apples and cut them into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and toss with the cranberries, zests, juices, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch baking dish.

For the topping:

Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely.

Place the baking dish on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.

 

Image via Joyosity/Flickr