Jump to Recipe

This Apple Cranberry Crisp is a perfect dessert to make when fresh cranberries are in season, and it’s gluten-free and doesn’t have added sugar! And this recipe made with apples and fresh cranberries is sweetened with Monkfruit Sweetener, so it’s lower in carbs than most desserts using these ingredients.

PIN Apple Cranberry Crisp to try it later!

Apple Cranberry Crisp shown in baking dish with napkin

Apple Cranberry Crisp is a fun recipe to make with fresh cranberries, and this is a classic apple cranberry dessert that doesn’t have added sugar! The inspiration for the recipe was a huge bag of cranberries I bought to make my favorite Thanksgiving condiment! And I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the combination of fresh cranberries with apples in this recipe.

I had to make it a couple of times to get the recipe just right, and I might have even loved testing it a little too much (apple crisp for lunch, mmmm.) I’ve never been that much of a fresh cranberry fan before this, so even if you also think cranberries are not really your thing, be open minded about this recipe!

All my testers thought this Apple Cranberry Crisp was absolutely delicious for a low-sugar and gluten-free dessert. And this recipe can easily be vegan if you use coconut oil instead of butter. I hope you’ll try it soon!

What ingredients do you need?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

Can you make Apple Cranberry Crisp with frozen cranberries?

I think frozen cranberries would work for this recipe, but I would let them thaw on the counter before you use them in the recipe.

How Did I Make Apple Cranberry Crisp lower in carbs?

I used Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) for this recipe, and when I served it to dinner guests who are used to sugar-sweetened baked goods, it was definitely a hit. You can any low-carb sweetener you prefer. Of course this recipe has natural sugar from the apples and the cranberries so it can’t be sugar-free, but I thought this pretty low in sugar for a dessert made with these two ingredients.

How low in carbs is this Apple Cranberry Crisp that doesn’t have added sugar?

This cranberry and apple dessert made with Monkfruit Sweetener has about 21 net carbs per serving.

recipe step photos for Apple Cranberry Crisp

How to make Apple Cranberry Crisp:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Make the crisp topping first. Combine oatmeal, almond flour, and Monkfruit Sweetener (or sweetener of your choice.) 
  2. Then stir in the melted butter (or coconut oil) and the vanilla.
  3. I used Honeycrisp apples, which added to the flavor.
  4. I used an inexpensive Apple Corer and Slicer (affiliate link), which makes cutting up the apples a lot quicker.
  5. I kept the skin on and cut the apple slices into chunks. Combine apple pieces, cranberries, sweetener, and cinnamon.
  6. Spread the mixture out into a gratin dish that you’ve sprayed with non-stick spray.
  7. Spread the crisp topping over the fruit, using a rubber scraper.
  8. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until the mixture is cooked through and bubbly.
  9. Serve Apple Cranberry Crisp hot (with ice cream or whipped cream if you’re feeling indulgent.)
  10. And as you can tell, we had to try some right away after we took the photos, and this was so tasty!

Apple Cranberry Crisp in baking dish with some eaten

Want Sugar-Free Holiday Desserts?

Cranberry Apple Crisp finished crisp in baking dish
Yield: 6 servings

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Low-Sugar and Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Crisp is made with my favorite Golden Monkfruit Sweetener, and this is great for a lower-sugar treat made with apples.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Crisp Topping

  • 2/3 cup Gluten-Free Rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup Almond Flour
  • 4 T Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (See notes)
  • 2 1/2 T butter, melted (see notes)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

Ingredients for Apple/Cranberry Filling

  • 4 apples, cored, sliced, and cut into chunks but not peeled (see notes)
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 4 T Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (see notes)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven or toasted oven to 400F/200C.
  • Spray a medium-sized gratin dish with non-stick spray.
  • Combine the oatmeal, Almond Flour (affiliate link) and Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice in a small bowl to make the crisp topping.
  • Melt the butter (or coconut oil or trans-fat free margarine) and mix into the oatmeal mixture, then add the vanilla and combine again.
  • Cut up the apples, leaving the peel on.  (I used an Apple Corer and Slicer (affiliate link) to cut out the core, and then cut the slices into chunks.)
  • Combine the apple pieces, cranberries, Stevia, Swerve, and cinnamon in a bowl and then spread it into an even layer in the gratin dish.
  • Spread the crisp topping over the fruit, using a rubber scraper to spread it completely over the top.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes, or until the fruit is bubbling hot and the crisp topping is starting to brown.
  • Serve hot.  (This is delicious with a little bit of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you’re feeling indulgent.)
  • Apple Cranberry Crisp will keep in the fridge for several days and can be reheated in the microwave.

    • Notes

    I would use Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) for this recipe, but use any sweetener of your choice.

    If you don't want to use butter use melted coconut oil or trans-fat free margarine.

    Honeycrisp apples are preferred for this recipe.

    Recipe created by Kalyn with inspiration from Low-Sugar Flourless Apple Crisp.

    Nutrition Information

    Yield

    6

    Serving Size

    1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 173Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 13mgSodium 41mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 5gSugar 16gProtein 2g

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

    © Kalyn Denny
    Category: Desserts and Baking
    square image of Cranberry Apple Crisp in baking dish

    Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
    The Apple Cranberry Crisp is not be low enough in carbs for strict low-carb diets, but this is definitely lower in carbs than traditional apple crisp recipes.  If you’re making this for a low carb diet or for the original South Beach Diet, it’s important to use an approved sweetener, since the apples and cranberries have natural sugar. I’m guessing this is probably a “once-in-a-while treat” for Phase 2 for South Beach Dieters. 

    Find More Recipes Like This One:
    Use Dessert Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

    Historical Notes for this Recipe:
    This recipe for Apple Cranberry Crisp with fresh cranberries and apples baked with a crisp topping was posted in 2013. It was last updated with more information in 2025.

    Pinterest image of Apple Cranberry Crisp

    Share This: