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This cherry apple crisp features a sweet, fruity filling made with ripe cherries and Honeycrisp apples. Flavored with a touch of cinnamon and almond extract, this delicious crisp recipe is the perfect summer dessert. If you love cherry-flavored desserts, then you’ll definitely also enjoy my cherry chocolate cookies and my old fashioned cherry bon bons!
Emily’s Recipe Notes:
- Flavor: Sweet apples blend perfectly with slightly tart cherries, complemented by warm cinnamon and a subtle hint of almond.
- Texture: A soft, juicy fruit filling topped with a crispy oat crumble that has the perfect crunchy texture when baked until golden brown!
- Difficulty: Very easy to make, perfect for beginners.
- Customizability: Use fresh or frozen cherries, and experiment with your favorite apple varieties. You can even adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Why We Love This Recipe: This crisp is a hit in our house. My husband is a huge apple pie and crisp fan, and with cherries in season right now, it’s the perfect mashup of his favorite flavors and delicious summer produce! Plus, it’s just so good with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top (dairy free of course)! We love that it’s vegan & dairy free, but you absolutely can’t tell!
Ingredients:
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Sweet Cherries:
I used fresh Bing Cherries in this recipe, but you can use your favorite variety. For example, if you love sour cherries or Rainier cherries, feel free to use them! You can also use frozen cherries- just let them come to room temperature and drain away any excess juice.
Apples:
I used Honeycrisp apples, but like the cherries, you can use your favorite type. Granny Smith Apples or Pink Lady Apples will work well too.
Sugar:
This recipe calls for light brown sugar to help sweeten the fruit mixture and to add a bit of a caramel flavor. You can use white sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar if you prefer.
Butter:
A touch of dairy-free butter adds richness to this fruit crisp. My favorite vegan butter brand is Violife Plant Butter! You can sub in coconut oil or regular butter if you prefer. I don’t recommend using coconut oil in the crisp topping.
Lemon:
This recipe doesn’t call for lemon juice or lemon zest, but you can add a few teaspoons of each for a bright flavor.
Old Fashioned Oats:
These are for the crisp topping. You can use instant oats if you prefer.
Helpful Equipment
Here are a few tools that will make creating this recipe extra easy:
- Large Mixing Bowl: For the filling and the crisp topping
- Pie Pan, Cast Iron Skillet, or Baking Dish: For baking
- Pastry Blender or Cutter: To create a crumbly texture for the crisp topping
- Cherry Pitter: This is optional- you can also cut the cherries in half and remove the pits without one
Step By Step Guide
*Ingredient Quantities are in the Recipe Card Below!*
Prep the fruit by removing the cherry pits and cutting them in half. Then, peel and dice the apples
In a large bowl, combine the fruit, sugar, cornstarch, flavorings and melted vegan butter. Toss until the fruit is evenly coated.
In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the crisp topping.
Cut in the cold vegan butter to form the crumble topping.
Transfer the fruit filling to the baking dish or pie pan.
Sprinkle on the crisp topping and bake until golden brown and the fruit is bubbling!
Serving Ideas & Storage
Once the apple cherry crisp has baked, let it cool slightly at room temperature.
It’s simple to make but big on flavor, combining the best of cherry cobbler and apple crisp in one dish.
For an extra treat, serve it warm with a scoop of your favorite dairy-free vanilla ice cream or a generous dollop of coconut whipped cream. The contrast of the warm, fruity crisp and the cold, creamy topping is irresistible. This recipe is definitely a go-to dessert for lazy summer evenings or casual get-togethers with friends.
It will stay fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Helpful Tips For The BEST Cherry Apple Crisp
- Choose Quality Fruit:
The heart of this dessert is the fruit, so select ripe, flavorful cherries and crisp apples. Don’t be afraid to taste-test before baking! - Customize the Flavors:
We love the balance of cinnamon, vanilla, and almond extract, but feel free to adjust to your taste. If you’re an almond fan, a little extra extract can really elevate the flavor profile. - Keep Your Vegan Butter Cold:
For that perfect crispy topping, use cold vegan butter when making the crumble. This helps create those delicious, crunchy bits that contrast beautifully with the soft fruit filling.
these create the best flavor & texture!
More Fruit Based Desserts
Easy Cherry Apple Crisp
Rate this RecipeIngredients
Filling
- 2 ½ cups fresh or frozen cherries, (350g) with pits removed
- 3 cups Honeycrisp apples, (325g) peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar, (25g) or up to ¼ cup if fruit is tart
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp pure almond extract, optional
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp salted dairy-free butter, melted- or butter of choice
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Crisp Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, (60g) – swap for oat flour if gluten-free
- 1 ¼ cup whole old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup salted dairy-free butter, cold- or butter of choice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup light brown sugar, (100g)
Instructions
Make the Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Wash and remove the pits from the cherries.2 ½ cups fresh or frozen cherries
- Peel and core the apples, then dice them into roughly ½-inch to ¾-inch cubes.3 cups Honeycrisp apples
- In a large bowl, combine the cherries, diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract and cornstarch. Pour the melted vegan butter on top. Toss until the fruit is evenly coated.2 tbsp light brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, ½ tsp pure almond extract, ¼ tsp salt, 2 tbsp salted dairy-free butter, 2 tbsp cornstarch
- Transfer the mixture to a greased pie dish, 10” cast iron pan or round baking dish.
Make the Topping and Bake
- In a medium bowl, add all of the crisp topping ingredients. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to rub the butter into the flour until you have a crumbly mixture with a few large chunks.½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 ¼ cup whole old fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup salted dairy-free butter, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ cup light brown sugar
- Then, crumble the topping evenly over the fruit in the baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.
Video
Recipe notes
- Cold Butter for the Crumble: Be sure that the vegan butter is cold when preparing the crisp topping. This helps create that buttery crispy texture we love.
- Adjusting Spices: Feel free to play around with the spices and flavorings. For example, if you love almond, add a bit extra to suit your personal taste.
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