Cranberry-Apple Casserole

5.0

(3)

3 Reviews

This simple casserole can pass as a fruity side or dessert at holiday meals. You decide.

By Amber Love Bond

Published on November 22, 2022

Cranberry-Apple Casserole — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Active Time:

10 mins

There’s no shortage of delicious dishes around the table at Thanksgiving. While the turkey tends to get a ton of focus, in my eyes the sides are the true star of the show.

Every year, no matter where I am or who I’m celebrating with, I always volunteer to make sure the mashed potatoes are perfect—and I bring a casserole that confuses everyone when it’s time to set out the food. Is it a side or is it a dessert?

The good news is you can’t go wrong either way. This fresh fruit-filled Cranberry-Apple Casserole offers a sweet kick that makes it dessert worthy, but the burst of savory tartness from the cranberries also make it a delightful side next to your coveted turkey.

This quick and simple recipe calls for just a few ingredients—we’re using cinnamon-and-spice instant oatmeal packets, so there’s no need to measure spices—and it can be put together in under 10 minutes. If you’re planning to prep early, this casserole is just as good if made the night before.

All you’ve got to do is coat chopped apples and fresh cranberries in a little flour and some sugar, then you whip up an easy crumble using more flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, pecans, and melted butter. Assemble in a casserole dish, bake, and enjoy.

It’s an easy recipe to double (or even triple) for a crowd and makes for an equally delicious treat when reheated the next day, cold out of the fridge, or as a surprise ingredient in a leftovers sandwich.

Ingredients

3 cups apples, peeled and chopped
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
1 cup sugar
3 pkgs. cinnamon and spice instant oatmeal (such as Quaker)
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix apples and cranberries with 2 tablespoons flour until coated. (For best results, do this in a gallon-size zip-top bag.) Add in sugar, and continue to mix until evenly coated. Pour the flour- and sugar-coated fruit into an 11- x 7-inch casserole dish.
In a separate bowl, mix oatmeal, remaining flour, pecans, brown sugar, and melted butter until it resembles a crumble. Spoon the crumble over the fruit. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.