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Cranberry Apple Pie

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Cranberry Apple Pie is my new favorite fruit pie. A tender flaky lattice topped pie crust is loaded with fresh cranberries, apples, sugar and spices.

A truly mouth-watering scrumptious dessert everyone will enjoy this Holiday Season…plus it’s so purty!

Whole Cranberry Apple Pie

I know exactly what you are thinking. You’re thinking…”I can’t make a pie like that!” Can you play with play dough? Then you can make this pie!

It’s SO much easier than it looks! Plus you know me…I’m going to give you easy handy baking shortcuts!

Slice of Cranberry Apple Pie

I made this pie last year for Thanksgiving. It’s SO good! Super excited to share it with y’all.  The cranberries and apples blend together to create the most flavorful filling with hints of warm savory Fall spices.

The filling is over the moon spectacular! You’ll be swooning. (Well, it’s Thanksgiving…you’re gonna be swooning from exhaustion any way! This just makes it more delightful!)

How To Make Cranberry Apple Pie

You will need pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches). The crust can be made from scratch OR you can purchase already made pie crust. It’s totally up to you.

If you’d like my tender flaky pie crust recipe I have step-by-step instructions and a video.

Peel and Slice 4 cups of Granny Smith Apples. Place in a large bowl. Add 2 cups of fresh or frozen, thawed, cranberries. Add 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 6 Tablespoons of cornstarch.

Mix together carefully and pour into bottom of pie crust. Dot two tablespoons of butter on top of pie filling.

Cranberry Apple Pie Filling

Trim edges off the pie crust by going around the outer edge of the pie plate.

TIP for Pie Edge: Fold the crust edge inwards toward the pie filling and press down. Flute the edges of the crust with your fingers by pinching, with your thumb and pointer finger on your left hand, along the outside edge, and pressing inward, toward the pinch of your fingers, with your pointer finger on the other hand.  This will give you a nice edge to your crust.

Bottom crust with pie filling

Roll your top pastry crust out about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. You’ll want it thicker so that holds together as you weave your lattice together.

Use a pizza cutter, or a very sharp knife, cut pie pastry top into 1 inch strips. These will be the strips used for creating the lattice top.

Top pie crust strips for lattice crust

Lay 5–6 strips across the pie in one direction. Trim strips to line up with the inside of the pie crust.

Lattice Top for Pie

Weave another 5 strips over and under the first 5–6 strips. Again trim inside to the inside edge of the crust. (I’d like to be this pie crust and trim a few inches off of me that easily! Just saying’…)

Top crust lattice work

Now comes the Play dough part! (I know your inner child was just waiting for this!)

Cranberry Apple pie really isn’t as hard to make as it looks. This is NOT going to turn into one of those “Pinterest” “nailed it” photos. You are going to be the master of your pie crust!

How To Do Decorative Pie Crust

Use the remaining pie dough pieces, combine them, and roll them out.  To make the details on the pie use small shaped cutters, leaves, acorns, apples, etc. and cut out enough to go around the edge of the pie crust.  A sharp paring knife is perfect for making leaf intents and acorn patterns. (Isn’t this fun…I told you…just like playing with play dough!)

Take the remaining crust and roll into “vines” or as my granddaughter calls them…”snakes”.

Leaves and acorns being cut out of pie crust.

Along the edge of the lattice and fluted pie edge, using a pastry brush, brush milk along the crust.

WHY: This helps the cut-outs stick to the pie dough.

Pastry Pie Crust brushed with milk

Place cut-outs along the inside edges of the crust. (See it’s just like nursery school play dough time! Don’t eat that dough! Lol)

Placing dough leaves and acorns around the edges

Start out with leaves… and cover the edges of the lattice strips.  (It’s like putting the kids in front of you in the family Christmas picture! Covers all the flaws! I suddenly realize… I need 10 children!) 

Next fill in the spaces with another cut out…apples, acorns, etc. Use the “snakes” or “vines” to twist around the cut-outs. Tuck them gently under the leaves.

Place a few leaves and acorns, or apples, in the center of the pie. Carefully brush entire top of crust with milk. Make sure that every thing is brushed with milk.

WHY: This allows the crust to turn a beautiful golden brown. Yes you can use egg wash for a shinning crust…I prefer milk.

Finishing touches on Pie Crust

Sprinkle top with sugar.  Place the pie on a cookie sheet. 

TIP: Placing the pie on a cookie sheet prevents it from bubbling over to the bottom of the oven and burning…making your house stink! Plus there’s that oven clean up! UGH!

Place pie in a preheated 350° oven. 

Cranberry Apple Pie brushed with milk and sprinkled with sugar

Bake for 55–65 minutes.

TIP: Check the pie at 45 minutes. If the top of the crust is golden brown… place a foil tent over the top of the crust to keep it from burning. You’ll have a perfect pie crust every time if you use this method.

Continue to bake until filling is slightly bubbling up through the lattice.

This is my golden rule for the perfect fruit pie filling. Ooey-gooey beautiful bubbling filling coming up through the slits and openings is a must.

Allow pie to “set” and filling has cooled.  The longer it cools, the firmer the filling will be. Although it’s really great served warm!

Pie filling bubbling up through the crust.

Isn’t that a beautiful pie with beautiful filling? It tastes as good as it looks my friends! (If they’re not doing the “licking to mop up every crumb with their finger”… your friends and family have dead taste buds! D.E.A.D. and you need to be questioning your relationships with them! Lol

Slice of Pie

What makes this pie so tasty is that it’s not overly sweet, and it’s not overly tart. It takes traditional apple pie to an entirely new level. Your guests will be swooning over this pie and requesting it for every Holiday.

Serve this delicious pie with vanilla ice cream or with a tasty cup of hot apple cider. If you’re like me…all you’ll need is a fork!

Plate? Well…I guess if ya want one!

If you love this recipe you might also enjoy these other Fall Dessert Recipes

Cranberry Apple Pie

Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram this Holiday Season for all my latest recipes! I’m going to have some fantastic recipes this year!

Happy Nesting!

Norines Photo and signature
Yield: 10 servings

Cranberry Apple Pie

Cranberry Apple Pie

A delicious traditional apple pie with added cranberries makes for a spectacular Holiday Dessert!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 cups sliced peeled tart apples
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • Sugar for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, cranberries, sugar, spices, and corn starch.
  2. Line a 9-in. deep dish pie plate with bottom pastry. Trim crust to outer edge of the pie plate. Fold crust over and flute to create a pretty edge.
  3. Add filling. Dot with 2 Tablespoons of butter.
  4. You can just cover with top crust and cut slits to vent OR for lattice crust...
  5. Roll the remaining pie crust on a flour surface about 1/8 -1/4 inch thick. Using a sharp knife or pizza roller, cut into 1 inch thick slices.
  6. Lay 5-6 strips across the top of the pie with 1/2 inch space in-between. Trim strips to lay just inside the edge of the crust. Weave another 5 strips crosswise, weaving up and under the original strips. Switching every other strip. Trim strips again.
  7. Take remaining pie dough and roll out 1/4 inch thick. Using small shape cutters, cut out leaves, acorns, etc. Brush strips and edge with milk using a pastry brush.
  8. Starting with leaf cut-outs place at the edge of every strip. Fill remaining spaces with other cut outs. Roll scraps into long "vines" and weave in and around cut-outs.
  9. Brush entire pie with milk. Sprinkle with sugar.
  10. Place pie on baking sheet.
  11. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 55-65 minutes. At 45 minutes check crust. If golden brown tent with foil. Continue baking until filling is bubbling.
  12. Allow to cool.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 3gSugar: 39gProtein: 1g

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Athena

Saturday 18th of November 2023

I’ve been making cranberry apple pies in the fall for years and this recipe one of my favorite thus far! I do always add a little vanilla extract and orange zest, it’s my little addition to any of my fall pies. It was perfect, I really loved how it turned out and I definitely recommend this recipe!

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Monday 20th of November 2023

Hi Athena! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us all. Love the addition of vanilla and orange zest! I'm going to try that as well this week when I make this pie for the Holiday! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and come back soon! Norine

Sheryl

Sunday 25th of December 2022

I made this for Christmas dinner with half sugar and half stevia. I added 1 teaspoon of cinnamon as well as 1 teaspoon of cardamom. It was was perfect!

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Thursday 29th of December 2022

Hi Sheryl! Isn't this pie divine?!! I love your changes to fit your lifestyle. I'm a huge cardamom fan so I'll be adding that next time I whip up this pie! Hope you have a wonderful New Year! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. Come Back Soon! Norine

McKenna

Tuesday 15th of November 2022

I just came across your recipe and I’m a novice pie baker so i’m excited to try this out! I know that orange and cranberry pair well so do you think a little orange zest would work with this recipe or no because of the apples?

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Friday 18th of November 2022

Hi McKenna! I'm a huge fan of Orange Zest! I would add about 1 Tablespoon to this recipe and it will work beautifully even with the apples! Great idea! Hope you love this pie as much as I do. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Norine

101 Best Thanksgiving Recipes - The Farm Girl Gabs®

Wednesday 18th of November 2020

[…] Cranberry Apple Pie – Norine’s Nest […]

Brenda

Sunday 15th of November 2020

Wondering where you found your mini fall cutters. So cute.

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Wednesday 18th of November 2020

Hi Brenda! I found mine on Amazon and I've found others at TJ Maxx. Hope this helps. I love playing with pie crust and making the pies as pretty as possible for Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Nesting! Norine

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