Apple Cranberry Crisp

I love apple cranberry crisp. It's not as sweet as other crisps and it's pretty. Even after the baking has melded the apples and cranberries into a predominantly cranberry-colored goo, it's pretty.

I like to add cloves to mine, which is not something I've ever seen in any recipe, but which I learned from a friend years ago. The combination of sweet apples, tart cranberries and aromatic cloves makes it, for me, indescribably delicious.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
5 large crisp tart apples, sliced (I don't peel them-- peel is good for you!)
2 cups fresh cranberries (actually I often just dump in a whole bag)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
juice from half a lemon

Preheat the oven to 350F and butter a large casserole dish.

Make the topping  by mixing the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves in a bowl. Add the butter and use a pastry blender or fork to combine until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

Toss the apples and cranberries with the granulated sugar, lemon juice and remaining cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl and pour into the casserole dish. Crumble topping evenly over fruit. Bake until apples are tender, about an hour.

Comments

[Manggy]

I'll try cloves in my next apple recipe (not a lot to do with a whole bottle...). Unfortunately we don't get fresh or frozen cranberries here.. Oh well.

[Sophie]

Looks good! Mmm, I wish I had some right now.

[Karyn]

Mmmmm, I love crisps.

I also am a peel-lover. I draw the line at orange peels (excepting the zest), but carrots, potatoes, and winter squash? Um, I eat the skins. I only peel when I'm cooking for other people. I once had a friend who couldn't stand apple peels - I thought it was the strangest food phobia ever.

[Adele]

Mmm. It does look pretty. I have a friend who loves apple desserts - I'll keep this in mind for the next time she comes to dinner.

[Zenchef]

Yummy! That looks good!
I like the idea of clove with the apples and cranberries. Nice touch!

[Ann]

Manggy and zenchef, the cloves are key. I don't know why we don't see them used more often. In fact I was just thinking the other day that I may substitute them in other recipes calling for cinnamon and see what happens. :-)

[anna]

This sounds delicious! I'll have to try it...and soon...I have had massive cravings for baked fruit desserts lately. I blame Thanksgiving and apple pie.

[anna]

I made this today - it's perfect - you win!!