Apple Cranberry Crumb Pie

This recipe for Apple Cranberry Crumb Pie puts a twist on a classic American pie. Spiced flavors and crunchy cinnamon topping makes it one special dessert. Served warm, all it needs is some whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

An apple cranberry crumb pie on a pie stand with cranberries on top, scattered on the table and some apples in the background. - 3

I know a lot of people think apple pie is for Thanksgiving (and it is), but to me, this pie is Christmas on a plate. I have a Christmas candle that’s called ‘Red Apple Wreath’ which to me smells like Christmas. I burn is all December long, and when I bake this pie, the house is filled with the same warm scent and the taste is truly a comforting delight.

With a recipe that calls for six medium apples and a cup of fresh cranberries, this is a generously sized pie. It’s flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice mix, and fresh orange zest. To me, cranberry and orange make a wonderful flavor combination that just marries the rest of the flavors together – And the cinnamon crumb topping really is the ultimate finish.

This Cranberry Crumb Pie bakes up so beautiful, you can display it proudly on your Christmas dessert table as a centerpiece.

To make it, start with the crust. You can use store-bought, but I always recommend homemade. To make your own, you can see my post on How To Make Pie Crust . I make mine in a food processor keeping it really simple.

Take the prepared dough out of the fridge 10 minutes before rolling it out and lining a pie plate (or tart pan like mine) and place it back in the fridge to remain cold while you prepare the filling.

A part pan with the rolled out crust pressed into the pan - 4

To make the filling, mix the apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, spices, orange juice, and flour together in a large bowl. Set aside and prepare the crumb topping

A bowl with sliced apples and cranberries coated in the sugar and spices - 5

To prepare the topping, add all of the ingredients together until it has the appearance of large bread crumbs. You know it’s ready when you pinch it between two fingers and it stays together instead of crumbling apart.

flour, sugar, brown sugar and butter in a bowl - 6

flour mixture for the crumb topping mixed together resembling bread crumbs - 7

Two fingers pinching together the topping mixture - 8

Add the apple mixture over the dough in the pan.

A pie pan filled with apples and cranberries coated in a cinnamon spice and sugar mixture - 9

Take handfuls of the topping, squeeze together and crumble it over the apple mixture until you have used all the crumb mixture.

The crumb topping piled high on top of the apple cranberry filling - 10

Bake for 1 hour (checking after 30 minutes to see if the topping is getting too brown – if so, cover with foil before baking for the remaining time).

apple cranberry crumb pie cooling on a wire rack - 11

Allow to cool 45 -60 minutes before serving.

apple cranberry crumb pie with a piece cut out of it showing the fruit filling - 12

Serve and enjoy every last bite.

A slice of apple cranberry crumb pie on a red glass plate with a fork next to it - 13

Baking tip:

To keep the crust from shrinking in the pan, keep the dough in the fridge any time you are not working with it. So for example – After you roll it out and place it into the pan, put it back in the refrigerator and leave it while you’re preparing filling and crumb topping.

More Great Recipes

Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake
Cranberry Cake
Caramel Apple Pie
Apple Brown Betty

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Ingredients

▢ 1 package rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust ((1 crust) see notes for homemade recipe )

For the filling:

▢ 6 Medium Cooking Apples ((About 2 1/4 lbs) sliced )
▢ 1 tablespoon orange juice (fresh squeezed)
▢ 1 teaspoon orange zest (grated)
▢ 1 cup cranberries (fresh)
▢ 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
▢ ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
▢ 3 tablespoons flour
▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
▢ ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
▢ ½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice ((UK Mixed Spice))

For The Topping:

▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
▢ ½ cup brown sugar (packed )
▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
▢ 8 tablespoons butter (chilled and cubed)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Let the pie crust stand at room temperature according to package directions. Unroll pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Place into the plate without stretching it. Crimp the edges. Place in the fridge while you prepare the filling and topping.

For the filling:

After slicing the apples, coat in the fresh-squeezed orange juice. Mix in the cranberries and orange zest, followed by the melted butter. Set aside.
In a small bowl mix together the sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pie spice. Sprinkle over the fruit mixture and stir to coat. Set aside.

For the topping.

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and mix until it resembles large breadcrumbs (see photo in post).

To assemble the pie:

Remove the crust from the refrigerator and fill with the apple mixture.
Using large handfuls, squeeze the topping together and then crumble onto the fruit filling until all of the topping mixture is used.
Bake one hour (checking after 30 – 40 minutes to see if the topping is too brown – if so, cover with foil for the remainder of the bake).
Let cool on a wire rack 45 minutes before serving

Tips

Nutrition