Winter Fruit Crisp Topping (Printer-friendly)

Seasonal winter fruits baked with a buttery oat topping, ideal for warming desserts.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit Filling

01 - 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 large pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
03 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
04 - ½ cup dried apricots, chopped
05 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

→ Crisp Topping

10 - ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
11 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
12 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
13 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 - ¼ teaspoon salt
15 - ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
16 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish or similar casserole.
02 - In a large bowl, combine apples, pears, cranberries, dried apricots, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour; toss until fruit is evenly coated.
03 - Transfer the fruit mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
04 - In a separate bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Incorporate cold butter using fingers or a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Stir in nuts if using.
05 - Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the fruit layer.
06 - Bake for 40 minutes until topping turns golden brown and fruit is bubbling.
07 - Allow to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It turns whatever fruit you have on hand into something that feels special and intentional.
  • The tart cranberries and sweet dried apricots create a brightness you don't expect from a winter dessert.
  • You can prep it in the afternoon and bake it right before dinner, filling your home with the kind of smell that makes people linger at the table.
02 -
  • If you skip peeling the pears, the skins turn chewy and weird, so don't talk yourself out of that step even if it feels tedious.
  • Cold butter is non-negotiable for the topping, if it's soft, you'll get a greasy mess instead of those crispy crumbs.
  • Don't overbake it or the fruit will turn to jam and lose all its texture.
03 -
  • Add a pinch of cardamom to the topping for a warmth that feels unexpected and luxurious.
  • If your fruit is especially tart, taste the mixture before baking and adjust the sugar so it's balanced.
  • Use a glass baking dish if you have one, so you can see when the fruit juices are bubbling properly.

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