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    Home » Gluten-Free Desserts » Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    Published: Oct 2, 2021 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 7 Comments

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    Pinterest Pin for Gluten-free Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    This gluten-free recipe for the best Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp with Pecan Oat Topping has sugar-free options. Tender apples, tart cranberries and a sweet crunchy topping make this a stellar dessert.

    a cast iron skillet with cranberry apple crisp

    Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp, Skillet Cranberry Apple Crumble, whatever you choose to call it, it's delicious. I hope you'll make this recipe today!

    It's sweet (but not too sweet) with tender apples and a crispy, crunchy topping made with wholesome rolled oats and pecans. Best of all, it's gluten-free and you can make it sugar-free, too.

    I adapted this recipe from America's Test Kitchen. I wanted a reliable stovetop apple crisp recipe to use as a basis for making substitutions for my family's special diets. Who better to trust than America's Test Kitchen?!

    I reduced the amount of sugar, added cranberries, substituted a gluten-free flour blend for wheat flour, and have given you the option to use a 0-calorie sweetener. The result? A healthy family-style cranberry apple dessert that's special enough for a dinner party, too.

    Let's make this gluten-free Cranberry Apple Crisp for today's dessert!

    🛒 Ingredients

    • gluten-free flour blend:  I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
    • pecans:  this crisp is delicious with hazelnuts, too.
    • oats:  old-fashioned rolled oats are best, but you can substitute quick-cooking oats
    • sugar:  light brown sugar or Lacanto Golden Monkfruit all natural sugar substitute
    • cinnamon: adds flavour and will make your kitchen smell wonderful!
    • salt: for a little balance of flavour
    • butter:  unsalted
    • apples: about 8 or 9 medium apples. A sweet variety is best.
    • cranberries: fresh. You could also substitute blackberries, blueberries or raspberries.
    • apple cider:  (soft, non-alcoholic) You can substitute unsweetened apple juice.
    • lemon juice: adds a bright, fresh note. Don't leave this out 😊
    a glass dessert bowl with cranberry apple crisp and ice cream

    🔪 Instructions

    1. You'll start by making the crisp topping. Mix together gluten-free flour, chopped pecans, rolled oats, sugar or sugar substitute, cinnamon, salt and melted butter.
    2. Peel, core and slice apples into wedges ½ inch thick.
    3. Next you'll heat apple cider (or apple juice) until it has been reduced by half, to concentrate the flavour. Add lemon juice to this mixture and set aside.
    4. And finally, you'll partially cook the apples in a skillet until slightly softened, add fresh cranberries, toss with the apple cider lemon mixture and top with the crisp topping.
    5. Bake at a high heat (450°F) for only 15 - 18 minutes and you'll have a superb, nutritious dessert ready to serve your family and friends.
    • Close up view of a bowl of Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp
      1. Combine ingredients for topping.
    • sliced apples
      2. Slice apples and cook with apple cider.
    • Apples and cranberries in a cast iron skillet
      3. Add cranberries.
    • Add crisp topping ingredients to apple cranberry crisp
      4. Top with crumble topping and bake.

    Why make apple crisp in a skillet?

    One of the problems with making apple crisp using the traditional oven baking method is the fruit cooks unevenly. Softening the apples in a skillet on the stovetop first prevents this problem. You'll have apples that are slightly browned and caramelized, heightening their flavour.

    👍🏼 Time-Saving Tip

    Double the recipe for the Pecan Oat Crisp Topping and store half in a zipper-lock bag in the freezer to make another crisp on a busy day.

    To calculate the ingredient amounts, click on the number of servings in the recipe card below. A little slider will appear. Move it to 16 to double the recipe. Next time you want a quick dessert, you'll be ahead of the game!

    Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp in a bowl beside a cast iron pan

    ❓Frequently asked questions

    Is it a crisp or a crumble? What's the difference?

    Crisps and crumbles are part of the same family of cooked fruit desserts that include cobblers, brown betties, grunts, pandowdies, and slumps. All involve cooking fruit with some type of crust (on top, on the bottom or both) or dumpling.
    They're popular desserts because they are simple to make, quicker to prepare than pie, but equally as delicious. Crisps and crumbles are unpretentious desserts that showcase fresh seasonal fruit like apples, berries, peaches and more.
    While the two terms are often used interchangeably, some people do make a distinction between the two. A crisp, like this Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp, includes a crunchy topping made with butter, flour, sugar, oats and sometimes nuts and spices.
    A crumble, on the other hand, is generally made with a streusel-like topping that rarely includes nuts or oats. However, often the two terms are used to refer to the same thing:  a wholesome, delicious dessert!

    What kind of apples are best to use in cranberry apple crisp?

    I used Honeycrisp apples in this recipe, but any sweet, crisp apple variety like Braeburn, Gala, or Fuji can be substituted. Stay away from Granny Smith apples this time; they're too tart when combined with fresh cranberries.

    Do I have to use a cast iron pan?

    No, any 12-inch ovenproof skillet will work. If your skillet is not oven-safe, prepare the recipe through step 4 (below), then transfer the apples to a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.

    🥶Storage and Freezing Instructions

    Store leftover crisp covered in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3 days.

    You can freeze this crisp unbaked if you'd like. I suggest preparing it in a baking dish instead of a skillet. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then follow the baking instructions.

    🗒 More fruit crisp recipes

    I've made more fruit crisps in my life than I could ever begin to count. You'll find several fruit crisp recipes here on Flavour and Savour.

    I usually make a crisp topping, flavour the filling with spices or liqueurs, and add a thickener like cornstarch to thicken the filling. I bake it in the oven for 45 minutes or longer.

    • Overhead view of a bowl of pear crisp with pecans and a scoop of ice cream.
      Pecan Pear Crisp (Gluten-Free)
    • Overhead view of a bowl of apple blackberry crumble with ice cream.
      Gluten-Free Apple Blackberry Crumble
    • Cherry Crisp with ice cream
      Cherry Crisp with Frozen Cherries
    • a bowl of apple crisp with ice cream and caramel sauce
      Apple Crisp with Salted Caramel Bourbon Sauce

    While I love these fruit crisp recipes and make them often, this gluten-free Cranberry Apple Crisp is definitely my new favourite!

    Enjoy everyone!

    When you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!

    📖 Recipe

    A serving of Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    This gluten-free recipe for Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp with Pecan Oat Topping has sugar-free options. Tender apples, tart cranberries and a sweet crispy topping makes this a stellar dessert.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 35 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 363.01kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    12 inch ovensafe skillet
    1 large bowl
    1 medium bowl
    kitchen scale

    Ingredients

    Pecan-Oat Crisp Topping

    • ¾ cup gluten-free flour blend ( I used Bob's Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
    • ¾ cup pecans finely chopped
    • ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats gluten-free, if necessary
    • ½ cup packed light brown sugar, or Lacanto Golden Monkfruit all natural sugar substitute
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

    Filling

    • 3 pounds apples peeled, cored, halved and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges (about 9 medium apples)
    • 2 tablespoon sugar or granulated sugar substitute
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
    • 1 cup apple cider, or unsweetened apple juice
    • 2 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ½ cup fresh cranberries

    Instructions

    Crisp Topping

    • Preheat oven to 450°F.
    • In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, pecans, oats, sugar (or sugar substitute), cinnamon and salt. Add melted butter and stir until mixture is moistened and crumbly. Set aside.
      Close up view of a bowl of Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp

    Filling

    • In a large bowl, toss apples with cinnamon and sugar or sugar substitute. Set aside.
    • Heat apple cider in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until reduced to ½ cup, about 5 - 7 minutes. Transfer apple cider to a measuring cup or small bowl and add 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
    • Heat butter in the same (empty) skillet over medium heat. Add apple mixture. It will seem like the pan is too full, but once the apples cook, they will reduce in size. Cook, turning the apples frequently until they begin to soften, about 12 - 14 minutes. Don't fully cook.
      Sliced apples in cast iron skillet
    • Add ½ cup fresh cranberries to the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the apple cider-lemon mixture until apples are fully coated.
      Apples and cranberries in a cast iron skillet
    • Sprinkle the topping mixture over the apples and cranberries, covering completely. If making ahead of time, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
      Add crisp topping ingredients to apple cranberry crisp
    • Place skillet on a baking sheet to prevent spills in the oven. Bake at 450°F for 15 to 20 minutes until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before serving. Delicious with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream or whipped coconut milk!

    Notes

    This Skillet Cranberry Apple Crisp is delicious served warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 363.01kcal | Carbohydrates: 42.47g | Protein: 3.66g | Fat: 22.25g | Saturated Fat: 9.8g | Cholesterol: 38.03mg | Sodium: 150.79mg | Potassium: 282.66mg | Fiber: 7.37g | Sugar: 21.64g | Vitamin A: 533.86IU | Vitamin C: 9.41mg | Calcium: 33.91mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mallory

      September 25, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for cozy fall dinners! A great recipe— thanks!

      Reply
    2. Leila

      September 24, 2022 at 5:00 am

      5 stars
      Love that this is allergen friendly!

      Reply
    3. Kim - The Puffy Biscuit

      November 01, 2019 at 3:30 am

      Love the apple and cranberry combination - two of my favourite flavours! I got my cast iron skillets with in the past year and I am always excited to cook new things in them. Pinning to try soon!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 01, 2019 at 9:36 am

        Thanks Kim! I use my cast iron pans ALL the time! Couldn't live without them!

        Reply
    4. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      October 30, 2019 at 4:35 am

      5 stars
      I just love desserts in a skillet! This one is so perfect for fall and would amazing with a big ol' scoop of vanilla ice cream! Can't wait to try 🙂 ! Pinned!

      Reply
    5. Jessica

      October 29, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      Mmm, that pecan and oat topping is so lovely with the cranberries and apples! Saving for the Fall season!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        October 29, 2019 at 3:02 pm

        Thanks Jessica!

        Reply

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    Elaine from Flavour and Savour

    Welcome! I'm Elaine

    Gluten-free Made Easy!

    I create delicious gluten-free recipes that everyone can make. I’m here to show you that gluten-free eating doesn’t have to be complicated! I’ll help you make healthy meals that you’ll want to share with family and friends. About Me!

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