I love fruit crisps. They are truly one of my favorite desserts. They are also one of the easiest to turn into a “healthier” dessert, because they are mostly fruit to begin with. This Holiday Apple Crisp has apples, pears, and cranberries. The pears add extra sweetness and the cranberries add a festive burst of color. The fruit is tossed with pure maple syrup, arrowroot powder, cinnamon, and lemon juice and baked until it’s nice and soft. Then, it’s topped with a brown sugar, oat, and pecan mixture and baked again until the topping is golden brown and crunchy. You can eat this crisp as is, or serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream. Also, spotlight on cranberries for a minute: these beautiful berries are filled with Vitamins C & E. Most people already know that cranberries can help ward off Urinary Tract Infections, but did you also know they can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help slow tumor growth? So amazing. Feel good about eating this crisp for dessert- not only is it delicious, but it’s good for you too!
Note: This recipe can be made vegan by using vegan butter and gluten free by using certified gluten free oats and gluten free flour.
Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 60 minutes
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
For the filing: 4 medium apples, cored and cubed 2 firm pears, cored and cubed 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup fresh cranberries ¼ cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons sugar (coconut or granulated) 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
For the topping:
⅔ cup rolled oats (or gluten free oats)
¼ cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons flour (use your favorite gluten free flour, if desired) 3 tablespoons butter (use vegan, if desired) ¼ cup pecans, chopped
Dash of salt
Directions: Lightly grease an 8 x 8 inch square baking dish or 1.5 qt casserole dish or spray with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350°F. To make the filling add the cubed apples and pears to a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix very well. Add to the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the fruits have softened, stirring once halfway through. Meanwhile, prepare the topping by mixing all topping ingredients together with your fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
Remove the dish from the oven and stir the fruit well. Top with the oat crumble and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving warm.
Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 220 Fat: 7g Carbs: 42g Protein: 7g Sodium: 4mg Sugar: 26g
*Nutrition information is based on the products I used personally in this recipe. Different products may yield slightly different information.
Source: Savory Nothings: Skinny Holiday Fruit Crisp
