This Cherry Crisp recipe is your passport to a sublime dessert experience, offering a delightful balance of tart cherries and a buttery, crunchy topping that’s incredibly easy to whip up. It’s a remarkably versatile and straightforward way to create a comforting, crowd-pleasing treat, perfect for weeknight indulgence or special gatherings.
Key Ingredients for Cherry Crisp
For the Cherry Filling:
- 6 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) cherries, pitted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to your sweetness preference and cherry tartness)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch (for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, but recommended)
For the Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned, not instant)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
How to Make Cherry Crisp
This Cherry Crisp is a triumph of simplicity, delivering an intensely fruity and satisfying dessert without fuss. The warm, bubbling cherry filling contrasts beautifully with the golden, crisp topping, creating a texture and flavor sensation that’s remarkably addictive. With a short preparation time, it’s incredibly achievable for any home baker.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat Your Oven and Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish with butter or cooking spray. This prevents the cherries from sticking and ensures easy serving.
Prepare the Cherry Filling: In a large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, granulated sugar, flour (or cornstarch), lemon juice, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using). Toss gently to ensure the cherries are evenly coated with the sugar and thickener. If using fresh cherries, they will release their juices during baking. If using thawed frozen cherries, ensure they are well-drained before proceeding.
Pour the Cherry Filling into the Baking Dish: Transfer the cherry mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Make sure all the cherries are in a single layer as much as possible to ensure even cooking.
Prepare the Crisp Topping: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, packed light brown sugar, and salt. This dry mixture forms the base of your delicious crisp topping.
Cut in the Cold Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or two forks, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. It’s crucial for the butter to be cold; this creates the signature crispy texture.
Distribute the Crisp Topping: Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the cherry filling in the baking dish. Ensure the entire surface of the cherries is covered. Don’t press down; leave it crumbly for optimal crispiness.
Bake the Cherry Crisp: Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips) and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges. The exact baking time might vary depending on your oven and the juiciness of your cherries.
Cool Slightly Before Serving: Once baked, carefully remove the cherry crisp from the oven. Let it cool for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly, making it easier to serve and preventing you from burning your tongue on the molten cherry goodness!
Serve and Enjoy: Serve your warm Cherry Crisp on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of créme anglaise.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Crisp
You’ll adore this Cherry Crisp for its bursting fruity flavor and delightfully crisp, oat-filled topping. It’s an absolute winner because it captures that irresistible sweet-tart contrast that cherries are known for, elevated by a rustic, buttery crumble that’s far more forgiving than a traditional pie crust. Making this at home is incredibly cost-effective, using simple pantry staples to create a dessert that rivals any bakery’s finest, proving that gourmet taste doesn’t have to break the bank. The combination of tender cherries with that irresistible crunch is pure comfort.
Forget the fuss of pie dough; this Cherry Crisp offers all the indulgence with a fraction of the effort. It’s the perfect dessert when you crave something sweet, warm, and deeply satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Imagine that first warm spoonful – the burst of cherry, the yielding crumb topping, the optional creamy addition… pure bliss. Don’t wait for a special occasion to treat yourself; whip up this easy Cherry Crisp this week and discover your new go-to dessert!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Properly storing your delicious Cherry Crisp ensures you can enjoy its wonderful flavors for days to come.
Refrigeration: Once the Cherry Crisp has cooled completely, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also transfer individual or larger portions into airtight containers. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: To reheat, place a portion of the Cherry Crisp in a small oven-safe dish and warm it in a preheated oven at around 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and the topping is crisp again. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, though the topping may be softer.
Freezing: For longer storage, allow the Cherry Crisp to cool completely. You can freeze the entire dish or individual portions. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, or place in airtight freezer-safe containers. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as described above.
Final Thoughts
This Cherry Crisp is a testament to simple pleasures, offering a deeply satisfying dessert experience that’s both comforting and incredibly flavorful. We encourage you to gather your ingredients and give this delightful recipe a try; it’s a perfect way to bring a touch of homemade joy to your table.
Cherry Crisp
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish with butter or cooking spray. This prevents the cherries from sticking and ensures easy serving.
- In a large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, granulated sugar, flour (or cornstarch), lemon juice, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using). Toss gently to ensure the cherries are evenly coated with the sugar and thickener. If using fresh cherries, they will release their juices during baking. If using thawed frozen cherries, ensure they are well-drained before proceeding.6 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) cherries, pitted, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Transfer the cherry mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Make sure all the cherries are in a single layer as much as possible to ensure even cooking.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, packed light brown sugar, and salt. This dry mixture forms the base of your delicious crisp topping.1 cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or two forks, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. It’s crucial for the butter to be cold; this creates the signature crispy texture.1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the cherry filling in the baking dish. Ensure the entire surface of the cherries is covered. Don’t press down; leave it crumbly for optimal crispiness.
- Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips) and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges. The exact baking time might vary depending on your oven and the juiciness of your cherries.
- Once baked, carefully remove the cherry crisp from the oven. Let it cool for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly, making it easier to serve and preventing you from burning your tongue on the molten cherry goodness!
- Serve your warm Cherry Crisp on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of créme anglaise.