Cherry Apple Crisp is the delicious summery dessert you didn't know you needed in your life. From the sweet and tangy fruit filling to the browned butter oat crisp on top, every scoop is fabulous and bursting with flavor.
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Cherry Apple Crisp is one of those feel-good desserts that hits all the right notes, tart, sweet, buttery, and just the right amount of crunchy. It's perfect for summer and early fall when cherries and apples overlap in season, making it a naturally frugal choice for a crowd-pleasing treat.
The browned butter in the oat topping adds a rich, nutty flavor that brings out the caramel notes in the apples and the juicy depth of the cherries.
This cherry apple crisp is also a great way to stretch your pantry staples into something impressive. No special equipment or fancy ingredients, just good, simple food done well. It reminds me a bit of my Red White and Blueberry Muffins, where browned butter works its magic again.
And if you're loving the cozy apple vibes, my Caramel Apple Cider Sourdough Bread is another fantastic seasonal bake to try. Whether you're ending a summer BBQ or prepping for fall baking season, this Cherry Apple Crisp is the kind of comforting dessert you'll want to make on repeat.
Want more fruity bakes? Don't miss my Mixed Berry Pie Filling, a great base for pies and crisps, especially if you're not using cherries!
Jump to:
- 💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 🛒 Ingredients
- 🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- 💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
- 🥄 Instructions for Cherry Apple Crisp
- 👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- 🍒 Cherry Pitting Tip (with a Straw)
- ❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
- 🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
- ❓ Cherry Apple Crisp FAQs
- 🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Browned butter = depth of flavor: The nutty, toasted notes from browned butter elevate this crisp far above the basic oat topping.
- Budget-friendly & seasonal: Uses pantry staples and seasonal fruits for maximum flavor without breaking the bank.
- Big fruit energy: Cherries and apples combine for the perfect sweet-tart filling that holds up beautifully when baked.
🛒 Ingredients
- Cherries: Juicy, fresh cherries bring vibrant color and a punch of tangy sweetness. If you have leftover cherries, try our Sugar Free Cherry Pie Filling.
- Granny Smith Apples: Their tart bite and firm texture hold up well in baking and balance the cherries.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: Give the topping its classic crumbly texture and toasty finish.
- Browned Butter: Adds nutty, complex flavor to the crisp and helps it bake golden and crisp.
- Toasted Pecans: Add crunch and depth (or swap out if you're nut-free, see below!).
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Pecans: If you're nut-free, skip them entirely and replace with ¼ cup more oats + ¼ cup more flour. For extra texture, try crushed pretzels or toasted coconut.
Apples: No Granny Smith? Try Honeycrisp or Pink Lady for a sweeter profile.
Cherries: Frozen cherries can be used, just thaw and drain well to avoid excess liquid.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy apples and cherries in season for the lowest prices.
Use frozen cherries instead of fresh if they're out of season or on sale.
Stretch servings by topping with ice cream or yogurt so smaller scoops still feel satisfying.
🥄 Instructions for Cherry Apple Crisp
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x9 inch or medium oval baking dish. Set aside.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. (Image 1). Cook until golden with nutty aroma and brown bits on the bottom, 4-6 minutes. (Image 2). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Step 3: Add pitted and halved cherries to a bowl with your sliced apples. (Image 3). Add in the sugars, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanillla, cinnamon, and salt. (Image 4).
Step 4: Mix the filling ingredients until well mixed. (Image 5).
Step 5: Pour into your prepared baking dish. (Image 6).
Step 6: Add your flour, oats, pecans, sugars, cinnamon and salt to a mixing bowl. (Image 7). Mix well to combine. (Image 8).
Step 7: Pour in the cooled brown butter (Image 9) and mix with a fork until clumps form. (Image 10).
Step 8: Sprinkle topping over fruit. (Image 11). Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
Step 9: Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving so filling can thicken. (Image 12). Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Watch the butter. It can go from golden to burnt fast. Stir continuously and pull off heat once it smells nutty.
- Don't skip the lemon juice. It enhances the fruit and helps the filling balance out.
- Let it cool. If you dig in too soon, the filling will be runny. Give it time to set.
- Bake on a sheet pan. If your dish is full, place it on a rimmed pan to catch any overflow.
🍒 Cherry Pitting Tip (with a Straw)
No cherry pitter? No problem! Grab a sturdy straw (like a reusable or metal one) and push it straight through the cherry where the stem was. The pit will pop out the other side.
It's a cheap, easy way to pit a big bowl of cherries, just be prepared for a little juice splash! Do it over a bowl or sink for easy cleanup.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Fridge: Store your cherry apple crisp covered in a container for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Microwave individual servings 30-45 seconds or warm whole dish in a 300°F oven 10-15 min.
Make Ahead: Assemble and refrigerate (unbaked) for up to 24 hrs. Add 5-10 minutes to bake time if chilled.
Freezer: Freeze fully baked and cooled cherry apple crisp up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then rewarm before serving.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This cherry apple crisp is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even sweetened Greek yogurt for a lighter option. It also pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or tea, making it a cozy choice for both dessert and brunch.
Another great option is to serve it up after a hearty meal.
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❓ Cherry Apple Crisp FAQs
Absolutely! Apples and cherries are a perfect match. Apples (especially tart varieties like Granny Smith) balance the sweet, juicy flavor of cherries, creating a well-rounded, vibrant fruit filling. Together, they offer a great contrast of texture and flavor, soft, tart apples and plump, sweet cherries.
Both are baked fruit desserts with a streusel-style topping, but the main difference lies in the texture of the topping. A crisp usually contains oats, which toast during baking to create a crunchier finish. A crumble typically skips the oats and has a denser, more biscuit-like topping. This Cherry Apple Crisp uses oats for that classic crisp texture.
Cherries pair beautifully with apples, peaches, berries (especially blueberries and raspberries), plums, and even citrus like oranges or lemon. They also complement rich flavors like chocolate or almond.
Yes! You can freeze it before or after baking. To freeze unbaked, assemble everything in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly, and freeze up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding 10-15 extra minutes. To freeze leftovers, let them cool completely, wrap well, and reheat in the oven to re-crisp the topping.
Yes. Once fully cooled, store your cherry crisp in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days. This helps prevent spoilage and keeps the fruit fresh. For best results, reheat in the oven so the topping stays crisp.
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📖 Recipe
Cherry Apple Crisp
Equipment
- 9x9 baking dish
Ingredients
Fruit Filling
- 1 pound fresh cherries, pitted and halved, about 2 ½ cups - ($2.97)
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick - ($2.67)
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed - ($0.05)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar - ($0.03)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch - ($0.09)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon - ($0.02)
- 1 pinch salt - ($0.01)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice - ($0.05)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract - ($0.02)
Brown Butter Pecan Crisp Topping
- ½ cup unsalted butter - ($0.99)
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour - ($0.11)
- ⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats - ($0.18)
- ½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped - ($1.73)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed - ($0.06)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar - ($0.03)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon - ($0.04)
- 1 pinch salt - ($0.01)
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or medium oval baking dish.
- Brown the butter. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown bits form and the butter smells nutty, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Mix the fruit filling. In a large bowl, combine the cherries, apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla. Toss gently until evenly coated. Spread into the prepared baking dish.
- Make the topping. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the slightly cooled brown butter over the mixture and stir until clumps form.
- Assemble and bake. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the fruit. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling.
- Cool. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the filling to thicken.
Notes
- Nut-free option. Omit pecans and add ¼ cup additional flour and ¼ cup oats.
- Make ahead. Assemble and refrigerate unbaked up to 24 hours. Add 5 to 10 minutes to bake time if chilled.
- Storage. Refrigerate leftovers, covered, for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
- Freezing. Freeze baked and cooled crisp tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and rewarm.
- Serving. Best served warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or sweetened Greek yogurt.
Nutritional Information
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Nicole Durham says
A delicious summer favorite made with vibrant fruit and flavorful topping.