Apple strawberry crisp is delicious and a must-try! The combination of sweet and tart from the fruit and the buttery crunch of the topping makes it the perfect dessert. We’ve also included modifications to make this recipe healthy enough for breakfast.
You will love Apple Strawberry Crisp
Fruit crisps are an easy dessert any time of year. A classic apple crisp is wonderful in the fall when apples are at their peak. In the summer, when berries and stone fruits are in season, peaches, plums, and mixed berries also make delicious fruit crisps. Here in Ontario, strawberries are ready to be picked in late June and early July. This recipe combines seasonal strawberries with apples which are always available and a staple on many families’ grocery lists. If you bought too many apples, this recipe is a great way to use some of them up and reduce waste. The combination of the tartness of the apples makes for a fantastic contrast to the sweetness of the strawberries. Both fruits hold up really well when baked and as the strawberries soften they become almost jam-like and have a wonderful texture.
Crisps are an excellent way to use up fruit that is nearing the end of its freshness or has natural imperfections. Food waste in Canada is a big problem. The National Zero Waste Food Council found that 63% of the food being thrown out by Canadians could have been eaten in 2022. That is almost 2.3 million tonnes of edible food! (1) The potent greenhouse gas, methane, is produced when food decays in landfills, contributing to global warming. That isn’t the only concern with food waste though. There is a carbon footprint to consider when we throw away food. It takes a lot of resources like water, pesticides, fertilizers, gas, and electricity to produce, package, and transport the food we buy at the grocery store. Any way that we can cut down on food waste also helps to save money too!
Looking for more reasons to try apple strawberry crisp?
Fruit crisps not only taste great but they are higher in fibre than other desserts like cakes and brownies. While they are still somewhat indulgent, especially when topped with ice cream, they do offer some nutritional value from the fruit and oats and because of the fibre content, you may need a smaller portion to feel satisfied.
This recipe is lower in sugar than many other fruit crisp recipes and uses only ⅓ cup of brown sugar in the oat topping and 1 tbsp of granulated sugar in the fruit allowing the natural sweetness of the strawberries and apples to shine through. You can even reduce the brown sugar to 1/4 cup without noticing a huge difference in the sweetness. If you want this as a breakfast option, the sugar reduction might be a good option.
What do you need to make apple strawberry crisp?
Apples – Sliced apples make up the base of this fruit crisp, adding a mildly tart flavour and a slightly firm texture in each bite. You can remove the peel if you prefer, but I like to keep it on to add extra fibre and to save on time. You can use any type of apple that you have available. Apples contain many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and they contain plenty of fibre to help promote good heart and gut health.
Strawberries – Two cups of sliced strawberries help this recipe burst with juicy sweetness. If you make this when strawberries aren’t in season, frozen, sliced strawberries are a great substitute for fresh. Frozen fruit is harvested and frozen at peak ripeness, meaning they retain much of their nutritional value. An added bonus of choosing frozen fruit during the off-season is that they cost less than fresh, and they often taste better too! Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and they contain soluble and insoluble fibre to help reduce blood sugar spikes and maintain a healthy gut.
Granulated Sugar – Also known as white sugar, granulated sugar is processed into fine crystals that make them ideal for baking. The finer the crystal, the more easily it dissolves for a smooth final product. If you want to cut back on the sugar content of this recipe, you can reduce it to 1-2 teaspoons of granulated sugar in the apple mixture.
Cornstarch – Cornstarch helps the juices from the fruit in this recipe have a thicker and gooey consistency after baking. This recipe can be made with and without cornstarch so if you don’t have it, feel free to leave it out. If you choose to omit it, the sauce created by the heated fruit will be of a thinner consistency, but just as delicious!
Cinnamon – Cinnamon adds a warm and cozy flavour to baked goods. It is one of the most versatile spices in your pantry because it is at home in both sweet and savoury dishes. In this recipe, it adds depth of flavour to the fruit base and the oat topping.
Lemon – The acid in lemon juice helps keep the apples from browning and enhances their tart flavouring. Lemons are also a great source of vitamin C. If you want to increase the zippy flavour of lemon, you can add the zest from the lemon rind to the apple mixture.
Rolled Oats – Oats are classic in a crisp topping and provide some fibre as a bonus. Rolled oats work best in this recipe. If you use quick cooking or instant oats, the texture may change and become gummy. Oats are rich in beta-glucan, which is a soluble fibre that helps to remove cholesterol from the body, stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion, and helps you feel fuller for longer. Oats also contain resistant starch that passes through your digestive system until it reaches your colon where it feeds the good, helpful bacteria found there.
Brown Sugar – Brown sugar is a combination of white sugar and molasses. The molasses give the sugar a rich brown colour. You can reduce the brown sugar to ¼ cup if you prefer less sugar. The sugar-reduced version would make an excellent breakfast with a dollop of Greek yogurt!
All-purpose Flour – Flour helps to hold the crisp topping together. You could substitute whole wheat flour for a breakfast option with a bit more fibre.
Flaxseeds (optional) – Flaxseeds add a bit of texture and nutty flavour to the crisp topping and are an easy to sneak in some healthy fats and extra nutrients. Flaxseeds are a source of plant-based protein, fibre, omega-3 fats, vitamin B1, and minerals such as copper. All that in a tiny seed! You can increase the amount of flaxseeds to 2 tbsp or omit them. 1-2 tbsp of hemp hearts or chia seeds can also be added for some healthy fat or even some walnuts or almonds.
Butter or Canola Oil – Both melted butter or oil work well in this recipe. For a vegan version, use oil or a plant-based butter. Neutral flavoured oil like canola or avocado would both work. Butter contributes to a rich flavour in the crisp topping. You could also use half butter-half oil to still get some of that rich buttery flavour everyone loves.
Salt – A small amount of salt is added to the crisp topping to enhance the taste and bring out all the flavours. How much is a “pinch” of salt? It is the small amount that you can hold between your pointer finger and thumb when you gently pinch or about 1/16th of a teaspoon.
How long will apple strawberry crisp last?
Once it has cooled, you can store the crisp in the refrigerator to enjoy for 3-4 days.
The crisp needs to cool for at least 30 minutes for the liquid from the fruit to set. An hour is ideal. The crisp is best served warm, especially if you are serving it with vanilla ice cream. It reheats well in the oven or you can also just microwave a serving for a quick and easy breakfast.
What temperature should I serve it at?
The crisp needs to cool for at least 30 minutes for the liquid from the fruit to set. An hour is ideal. The crisp is best served warm, especially if you are serving it with vanilla ice cream. It reheats well in the oven or you can also just microwave a serving for a quick and easy breakfast.
What can I serve with it?
Fruit crisps go well with vanilla ice cream, especially when warm. If you are eating it for breakfast, add a dollop of plain or vanilla yogurt. If you want to get fancy with a garnish, some fresh mint would pair nicely as well.
Variations
Swap out the melted butter for equal parts of canola oil to make this dish vegan.
Add a ¼ cup of slivered almonds, walnuts or pecans to the topping for extra texture and nutty flavor. Adding 1/4 tsp of almond extract would also enhance the flavors from the nuts.
Use 2 cups of frozen, sliced strawberries to enjoy this recipe when strawberries are not in season. In the fall, you could also use this topping for a simple apple crisp. Use about 4 cups of sliced apples and toss them with 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and a little nutmeg. A combination of apples and pears would also be delicious.
Looking to add a bit more tartness to your apple strawberry crisp? Grate your lemon rind before you squeeze out the juice and add it to your apple mixture.
Apple Strawberry Crisp
Equipment
- 1 8 x 8 baking pan or 9 inch pie plate
Ingredients
Apple Strawberry Filling
- 3 large apples (washed, cored and sliced, option to peel)
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp corn starch (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar (option to reduce to 1/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp flax seeds optional
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/4 cup melted butter or neutral oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch glass pie plate or 8 x 8 baking dish.
- To make the crisp topping, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. It should resemble coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine the apples with the sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
- Place the apple mixture in the greased baking dish. then layer the sliced strawberries evenly over the apple mixture.
- Top fruit with the crisp oat mixture, distributing it evenly over the fruit.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve it on its own warm, with vanilla ice cream for dessert or Greek yogurt for breakfast.
Notes
Looking for more great recipes with strawberries?
Try my Italian-inspired Strawberry Ricotta Cake that is bursting with juicy, sweet strawberries.
This Very Berry French Toast is a decadent breakfast for a special occasion or to just brighten up a regular Sunday morning.
Resources:
- National Zero Waste Council. (n.d.). Food waste in the home. [Website]. Love food, hate waste Canada. Retrieved from https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/about/food-waste/#:~:text=In%202022%20the%20National%20Zero,more%20than%20%241%2C300%20per%20year!
- Dietitians of Canada. (2018). Diabetes and the health benefits of fibre. [Website]. Unlock Food. Retrieved from https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Diabetes-Prevention/Diabetes-and-the-health-benefits-of-fibre.aspx
One Response
Such a great recipe!