Bake It Write

What do I love about this recipe?

It’s unique! Of course we all love Apple Crisp, but you have to admit, Cranberry Crisp made you look twice, no?

Its simplicity! Yes, you could add apples or pears or ginger or orange zest – and feel free to play – but I appreciate the recipe’s ease, and letting the cranberries shine.

It’s made in a sheet pan! Doesn’t that make you curious to try?!?

The topping! Let’s just be honest and call it what it is: Cookie Dough! The buttery, almost crackly, topping perfectly balances with the tart cranberries, and the shallow sheet pan it’s baked in creates the just-right filling-to-topping ratio, preventing the Crisp from skewing too tart. I wouldn’t say no to adding a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, either.

And, ahem, I’ve heard leftovers for breakfast are quite nice, too.

Sweet-Tart Cranberry Crisp (That’s Made in a Sheet Pan)

Print Recipe

The fun thing about this recipe is that it’s made in a sheet pan, creating the perfect filling-to-topping ratio of deliciousness!

Author: Sarah Marx Feldner
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: Serves 6-8
Category: Crisp
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Filling:

3 pounds cranberries (fresh or thawed frozen)
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 TB all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp fine-grain salt (like table or sea salt)

For the Topping:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp fine-grain salt (like table or sea salt)
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cubed, room temperature (20 TB)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the Filling. Spread the mixture into a rimmed, ungreased sheet pan (18×13-inches) and set aside.
To make the Topping, in a large bowl, mix together the flour, oats, sugar and salt. Rub in the butter with your hands until the mixture resembles cookie dough. Evenly distribute the topping on top of the cranberry filling.
Bake 30-40 minutes, until the cranberries are bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

To make clean up easier, because NO ONE likes to clean their oven, bake the Crisp on the middle rack and then line the rack underneath with aluminum foil, to catch any drips.
I first made this recipe with frozen cranberries that were not fully ripe (there were a lot of white cranberries in the mix). That made the Crisp a little too tart. Even for me. Be sure to use ripe cranberries in this recipe.
If using frozen cranberries, I’ll be honest and admit I don’t usually thaw them before getting started on the recipe.
Recipe barely adapted from the Food52 catalog featuring Emma Laperruque’s just-released cookbook, Big Little Recipes.

Keywords: fruit desserts, Thanksgiving desserts, Thanksgiving, cranberry, cranberries, crisp, fall recipes