Winter Fruit Crisp (Printer-friendly)
A comforting, golden-topped dessert featuring a medley of seasonal winter fruits under a crunchy oat and nut streusel.
# What You Need:
→ Fruit Filling
01 - 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
02 - 2 large pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
04 - 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
05 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
→ Crisp Topping
10 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
11 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
15 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
16 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, pears, cranberries, chopped dried apricots, brown sugar, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and all-purpose flour. Toss the mixture thoroughly to ensure all fruit is evenly coated.
03 - Pour the prepared fruit mixture into the buttered 9-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the old-fashioned rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans), ground cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the butter into the mixture until coarse, crumbly bits form.
05 - Evenly sprinkle the prepared crisp topping over the fruit layer in the baking dish. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is beautifully golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges.
06 - Allow the winter fruit crisp to cool slightly before serving. It is best enjoyed warm, optionally accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It's surprisingly forgiving, so don't worry if your fruit slices aren't perfect; they all taste amazing once baked.
- The way the sweet and tart notes from the fruit mingle with that buttery, crunchy streusel? Absolutely irresistible, especially on a cold day.
02 -
- Always use cold butter for the topping; if it's too warm, your crisp won't achieve that perfect crumbly texture.
- Don't overcrowd your baking dish, as the fruit releases liquid and needs space to bubble up without spilling over.
03 -
- For an extra layer of flavor in the topping, lightly toast your chopped nuts in a dry pan for a few minutes before adding them to the streusel mixture.
- If you're making this ahead, you can assemble the fruit and topping separately, store them covered in the fridge, and then combine and bake just before serving for ultimate freshness.