Skip to main content

Winter Fruit Crisp

Quick and easy treat with warm buttery oats, sweetened with brown sugar.
Kid friendly
Plate of baked sliced apples with a sweet granola topping.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Makes: 8 Bars (4 inches x 2 inches)
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

4 cups diced apples or pears
 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
 cup margarine or butter, softened or melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh fruits under running water before preparing.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
  4. Arrange fruit in the dish. Mix remaining ingredients and sprinkle over fruit.
  5. Bake until topping is golden brown and fruit is tender, about 30 minutes.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Use any fresh, frozen or drained canned fruit that you have on hand.
  • Add ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cut apricots).
  • Try plain or vanilla yogurt as a topping and sprinkle with cinnamon. 

 

Comments

I made this recipe again today using pears and the change in recipe to 1/3 cup of brown sugar, and it was a hit! Super quick recipe and great way to use some pears that were a little too ripe to eat raw. 

We noticed that cooks and tasters have shared that less brown sugar allows the natural sweetness of the fruit to shine. The recipe has been changed to reduce brown sugar in half, from 2/3 cup to 1/3 cup. Thanks for your comments!

Food Hero team

This was a super delicious recipe for an easy homemade dessert! I used 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar and it came out with just the right amount of sweetness, even on top of some yogurt. I used 4 medium apples total, two Gala and two Granny Smith. I also melted the butter in the microwave which made mixing the ingredients a lot easier. 

This was great simple recipe! I made the recipe with a variety of apples and served the dish at a food bank. A few people commented the recipe could have used half the amount of brown sugar as the apples were pretty sweet! I did have to slightly melt the butter and then mix with the dry ingredients to get the butter to mix in. 10/10! 

Should you use a combination of pears and apples, or just pick one or the other?

Hi Lydia, we have not tried this recipe with a combination of apple and pear, but I imagine it would be just fine. Let us know what you decided and your thoughts! 

The Food Hero Team

This was such an easy and comforting treat to make at the end of the long week. I made a few notes that I think would be helpful for all you future crisp-makers! 4 cups of apples/pears translated to one large Honeycrisp apple and three small/medium green pears for me. I had to improvise with my sugar with what I had in my pantry. Instead of ⅔ cup sugar, I used ⅓ cup of coconut sugar and lightly drizzled honey over top of crisp before putting in the oven. The sweetness was not compromised in the end! Instead of ⅓ cup margarine, I used ⅓ cup of regular butter -- I diced the butter and mixed it with all the other ingredients to distribute evenly. I ended up with some drier spots, but all the moisture from the fruits substantially made up for it. Perhaps massaging the butter in more (or semi-melting it) could work, too. I went through my cupboards and decided to add a 1/4 cup of raisins and sprinkled chia seeds over top before putting in oven (this added nice taste and crunch).

This is my favorite go-to recipe for a quick dessert! I usually use Granny Smith apples. My husband loves it!

Great recipe!  Super fast to make, I am sure no-fail, used up 4 apples I didn't want to go bad, and everyone loved it!  Next time I hope to try pears...and add in some more spices, maybe ground cloves.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Mexican Adobo Sauce
Medium bowl of thick, red adobo sauce served with tacos.

Mexican Adobo Sauce

Mexican adobo sauce is an all-purpose marinade made of dried hot peppers, spices and vinegar. This sauce gives big flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Thanks to the OSU Latin Heritage Work Group for this tasty recipe.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
25 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Stovetop Bulgur
Bowl of soft, cooked bulgur.

Stovetop Bulgur

Nutrient-rich whole grain with a light and nutty flavor and a chewy texture.
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Vegetable and Rice Skillet Meal
Plate of rice and bean mix with vegetables.

Vegetable and Rice Skillet Meal

Warm spices of cumin, turmeric and ginger combined with hearty potatoes and fresh veggies.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Fish and Spinach Bake
Fish filet on a spinach bed with a layer of tomato and green onion.

Fish and Spinach Bake

Healthy baked fish with fresh and frozen veggies and cajun spices.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 Servings
Honey Mustard Green Beans
Bowl of green beans coated with sauce.

Honey Mustard Green Beans

Green beans tossed in a blend of mustard, honey, and vinegar. A great side dish!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Fruit Smoothie 2 (with milk)
Thick pink smoothie in a glass with a straw.

Fruit Smoothie 2 (with milk)

A delicious homemade fruit-flavored shake for breakfast, snack or on the go!
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.