Holiday Baking: Individual Apple-Cranberry Crisps

November 19, 2012 27 Comments

I absolutely love cranberries.  Each fall, when those clear plastic bags of berries start showing up in the produce section, my heart begins to race.  Finally.  Finally.  They are here.

The past few years, I’ve been trying to experiment more with these fresh berries, harnessing their tartness and bringing out their bright, robust flavor.  This Apple-Cranberry Crisp is my latest success.

Yes, I said “success.”

This dessert deserves some diva-attitude … not modesty.

Fresh, ruby-red cranberries.  Perfectly ripe honeycrisp apples.  Butter (don’t you roll your eyes at that butter … this is dessert).  And, Whisky.

Yup, whisky.

The result is a fantastic, perfectly balanced bite of rich and sweet … and bright tartness to keep the butter and apples from becoming cloying.

Since these desserts are baked in 4 oz jars, they are the perfect little, “guilt-free” taste after dinner.

Or, for breakfast the next day.  Whatever makes your Mama-Heart happy.

Apple-Cranberry Crisps (Baked in Jars)

Ingredients

Fruit Mixture

  1. 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
  2. 2 Large Honeycrisp Aples, peeled and chopped
  3. 1 Cup Very Firmly Packed Light Brown Sugar
  4. 1/2 Cup Whiskey (or Bourbon)
  5. 2 Cups Fresh Cranberries

Topping

  1. 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
  2. 3/4 Cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
  3. 1/2 Cup Firmly Packed Light Brown Sugar
  4. 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
  5. 6 tablespoons cold butter, divided into a two 3-tablespoon portions

12 4-oz (cleaned and dried) canning jars, with lids

Directions

To Make the Fruit Mixture

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the lids from the clean jars and place the jars on a baking sheet.
  3. In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter and cook it until it just begins to brown (2 minutes).
  4. Add the chopped apples, cranberries, and brown sugar, stirring to combine the butter and ingredients.
  5. Next, pour in the whiskey and bring to a slow boil and simmer till the apples have softened and the cranberries have split, stirring occasionally.
  6. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then divide the fruit evenly into the twelve jars, filling roughly 3/4 of the jar. (You will probably have liquid leftover; you can reserve it to make a syrup topping, if desired)**

To Make the Topping

  1. Combine the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar and cinnamon, stirring to mix.
  2. Cut in three tablespoons of the butter (or use a food processor to speed this step up) until the topping mixture is coarse and crumbly.
  3. Fill the tops of each jar with 2-3 tablespoons of the flour mixture.
  4. Cut the reserved three tablespoons of butter into twelve pieces and place each piece on top of the flour mixture within each jar.
  5. Place the baking sheet of jars into your oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit mixture is bubbly.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving — the dessert will “sink” into the jars as it cools and retracts.
  7. Top with ice cream and serve.

*Optional:

  1. While the desserts bake, reduce (over low heat) the reserved fruit liquid in the skillet to make a simple syrup.
  2. Spoon over the ice-cream.
NOTES
The fruit component of this dessert can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time; after cooking and filling the jars, allow them to cool to the touch and then seal with the lids.  Store in the fridge (they are stackable to they take up very little room).
When ready to bake for serving, remove the lids, top with the flour mixture and butter pieces, and then bake as directed.  They will still get good and bubbly in the oven!

Copyright © http://followinginmyshoes.com
Recipe by Rachel Lacy.

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About Rachel Lacy

Rachel Lacy is the author of Following In My Shoes, where she blogs about Mommyhood, Family-Friendly Recipes and Bento Lunches, and Life in Texas. She is a lover of all things Coffee and Nutella. Connect with Rachel Lacy on Google+ and stop by the Following In My Shoes Facebook page.

Comments

  1. Jennifer The Quirky Momma says:
    November 20, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Looks like a recipe from Heaven! Fruit, sugar and booze–the staples of holiday baking/cooking!

    Reply
  2. Michelle | Creative Food says:
    November 20, 2012 at 10:14 am

    This looks delicious!!! I love cranberries and I love apples– so I can’t wait to try this!! YUMMY!

    Reply
  3. Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says:
    November 20, 2012 at 10:58 am

    I love pumpkin, but I have been feeling pumpkined out lately. So yay for an apple recipe! Now is it still guilt-free if I have two of them? Because I think I might need two…

    Reply
  4. Penelope says:
    November 20, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    I’ve never made this, but it’s a great time of year when apples are in season, thanks for the idea and recipe!

    Reply
  5. Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy says:
    November 20, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Sounds yummy! But do you think it would taste the same without the whiskey? We don’t allow alcohol in the house.

    Reply
  6. Mom Foodie says:
    November 20, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    These are perfect for the holidays, just screw a cap on and send them home with guests.

    Reply
  7. Jenn says:
    November 20, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    Honeycrisp apples are the only kind I like. This looks amazing!

    Reply
  8. Tricia Nightowlmama says:
    November 20, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    oh now that looks like a tasty treat I bet they are really good

    Reply
  9. Notorious Spinks says:
    November 21, 2012 at 1:35 am

    Not rolling my eyes at the Butttaaaaaa or the Whiskayyyyy! LOL! My kind of cook.

    Reply
  10. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says:
    November 21, 2012 at 9:53 am

    I’m a rum girl, but I could pick up one of those tiny bottles and do this. Sounds amazing!!! And looks just as amazing!

    Reply
  11. Anne - Mommy Has to Work says:
    November 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    A wonderful dessert! Yumm!

    Reply
  12. Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says:
    November 21, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    This sounds awesome!

    Reply
  13. HilLesha says:
    November 21, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Looks good!

    Reply
  14. Marcie W. says:
    November 21, 2012 at 4:35 pm

    These sounds divine and I love the individual portion idea as well.

    Reply
  15. Colleen says:
    November 22, 2012 at 10:33 am

    Yum looks wonderful.

    Reply
  16. Maryann says:
    November 23, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    that looks super yummy, wish we could make them.

    Reply
  17. Leilani says:
    November 24, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Yum! your food photos always make my mouth water.

    Reply
  18. Jenn @therebelchick says:
    November 24, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    These look REALLY good! I love anything mini or in individual servings!

    Reply
  19. Toni says:
    November 24, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    I love this idea. This is a great little gift idea too!

    Reply
  20. Kathleen says:
    November 24, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    These look delicious. I love cranberry.

    Reply
  21. Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says:
    November 26, 2012 at 12:40 am

    Looks very tasty!

    Reply
  22. Stefani says:
    November 26, 2012 at 1:32 am

    That dessert looks delicious.

    Reply
  23. Emily @FamilyNLifeLV says:
    November 26, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Those are adorable!!

    Reply
  24. Sheilacakes says:
    April 13, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    I love this idea. Looks delish!

    Reply

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