Sweet Bites: Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp

Good and good for you, this Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp can be made with vegan and/or gluten-free ingredients. Sweet!

Since January 1st, many of us have attempted to stick with good-for-you resolutions, be it diet, fitness, quality time with loved ones, better work habits, whatever. I’m here to say it’s important, it’s worthwhile, but it ain’t easy. Right about now, a month into the new year, I am tempted to abandon it all and sink back into the familiar cocoon of my bad habits with a hunk of chocolate cake. Maybe you too?

Don’t do it! Hold on, my friend. Change is possible, especially when you keep the end goal firmly in mind. Lose weight for your good health? Gain strength so you can move mountains or at least run up and down one? Organize your work life for improved productivity and less stress? Worth the effort.

But surely a small reward in recognition of your willpower so far is in order, right? Yes.

The Occasion: When you crave a sweet treat that won’t undermine your hard work this Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp is just the ticket. It’s fruit! And fruit is our friend.
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This rustic, homespun dessert is perfect for a family meal and maybe even for company. We served a large Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp as part of a dessert buffet (on a warming tray with a big bowl of Cinnamon Whipped Cream available alongside). Not the prettiest dessert on the table, but man oh man, was it good!

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The Playlist: In memory of the recently departed Dolores O’Riordan whose distinctive, crystal clear voice fronted many great songs by Irish rock band The Cranberries, please enjoy an acoustic version of their hit Dreams. 

The Recipe: We used Gena Hamshaw’s recipe from The Full Helping as the basis for our crisp, making only a few modifications per notes in the comments and tips from similar recipes. This website is great for newbies to a plant-based lifestyle as well as vegan veterans. For our dessert buffet, a vegan, gluten-free option was exactly what we wanted, but in my version (below) I have included notes for those who prefer a “regular” recipe.  

What Makes It Special? Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp is simple to prepare, can be made ahead, and is easily scalable to feed a crowd or just a hungry twosome. Super special!

Serve With: We offered cinnamon whipped cream on the side. 

​Vanilla ice cream is a classic go-with for any flavor of fruit crisp.

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Pro tip: The leftovers are perfect for breakfast – think granola + fruit. Add yogurt for a breakfast parfait!

​Note: Normally I would insert pictures here documenting the crisp-making process. Sadly, due to an overload of party planning details taking up space in my brain at the time I took no usable photos. Sorry! 

The Verdict: Yum yum yum. Nom nom nom. Yes, it’s dessert, yes, there’s some sugar in it, but all things considered, this is a satisfying treat which – consumed in moderation – will not negate your hard work for self-improvement.

​And if diet and fitness goals are not on your mind, even better, this dessert is still a wonderful example of tasty, fresh, clean-eating comfort food. Enjoy!

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Apple-Pear-Cranberry Crisp
Recipe source: The Full Helping with only a few modifications indicated below
 
Note: This recipe may be prepared using vegan, gluten-free, or “regular” ingredients. Notes are included throughout where relevant choices can be made.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Fruit Filling:

• 1½ pounds peeled and cubed apples
• 1½ pounds peeled and cubed pears
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup sugar (cane sugar, brown sugar, sucanat, demerara sugar, and coconut sugar are all great options)
• ¼ cup flour (Use oat flour, gluten-free all-purpose flour, or GF whole wheat pastry flour if desired)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash cloves

For the Topping:

• 1⅓ cups flour (Use oat flour, gluten-free all-purpose flour, or GF whole wheat pastry flour if desired)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ¾ cup brown sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold butter (Use Earth Balance, cut into small pieces, or ½ cup solid coconut oil [just keep it at a temperature lower than room temperature to keep it solid] if you want to make a vegan version)
• 2 tablespoons cold water

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly oil a 9 x 13 rectangular baking dish or a 2¼ quart oval baking gratin.
• To prepare the filling, toss all filling ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Transfer them to the baking dish.
• Place the flour, oats, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium sized mixing bowl and whisk them together.
• Add the butter (or Earth Balance or coconut oil) and use your fingers to work it into the dry ingredients, crumbling it until the butter (or Earth Balance or oil) is in very small pieces and the consistency of the mixture is even. Add two tablespoons of ice water. Keep crumbling the mixture together until large crumbs are forming.
• Sprinkle this mixture over the crisp filling in the baking dish.
• At this point, you can cover the unbaked crisp with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days prior to baking, if desired. Bring it to room temperature before proceeding with the next step.
• Transfer the baking dish to your oven. Bake for 25-40 minutes (this will vary based on your oven, so start checking at 25 minutes), or until the filling is bubbly and the topping is slightly browned.
• Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, yogurt, or on its own.