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Desserts | December 2, 2021

Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie

Of all the pies I make at holiday time, Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie is our family favorite. It’s fresh, tart and sweet. We love the hint of almond flavor with the combination of apples and cranberries. There’s a reason why almost everyone in our family declares this their all time favorite pie!

Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie

Nothing compares to this Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie! It has been on our Thanksgiving menu for over 25 years and continues to be on the top most requested recipes I make at holiday time. We also make this pie every Christmas as well!

Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie

I learned how to make Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie from my friend Carolee years ago. She brought this pie to a Recipe Club dinner back in the early 90’s and we have loved it since. The fresh cranberries (not dried) gives this pie an added tartness which pairs perfectly with the sweet cinnamon and sugared apples!

Slice of apple pie

How to avoid runny filling in apple pie

The use of fresh cranberries increases the amount of liquid created in the pie when baked. I use a half cup of flour in the filling to allow the juices to set up when mixed with the sugar. This ingredient is essential when making a Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie to avoid a runny or watery filling! In my traditional apple pie, I use 1/4 cup of flour to thicken the juices from the apples.

Fresh Apple Pie with Cranberries

How to bake a fresh apple pie

This apple pie recipe is different from most because the apples are not cooked on the stovetop before baking. I like to bake the apples in the pie crust. I believe this results in the freshest tasting pie!

The apples will settle in the pie as they bake (and shrink). To avoid a sunken center in your pie, make sure to mound the apples in the center of the pie so they gradually slope down toward the rim of the pie plate. The apples will usually settle about 2-3 inches while baking!

No runny filling in apple pie

Why use an egg wash on apple pie?

Coating the top crust with an egg wash will not only give the crust a slightly shiny appearance and a little crunch, but it will also help the top crust to hold its shape while baking! You may use the whole egg for your egg wash or just the egg white, beaten. Remember to only use a small amount of egg wash on the top crust. One egg will coat three pies! If dealing with an egg allergy, the pie crust may simply be left without any additional topping or brushed with cream, or sprinkled with sugar.

How to make a Fresh Apple and Cranberry Pie

  • Preheat the oven and set rack on lowest setting
  • Prepare the crust as directed, set aside or in refrigerator
  • Cut up apples, add rest of filling ingredients
  • Place the apple and cranberry filling in the bottom crust
  • Top the apples with butter and place top crust on pie
  • Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar, cut slits in top of pie
  • Bake pie and let cool for at least 2 hours before serving

For more tips on making apple pie, read this post! For additional detailed tips on making flaky pie crust, refer to this post.

Slice of fresh pie

This post originally published in November 2009 has been updated with additional content and new photos December 2021

5 from 14 votes
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Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie

A sweet and tart fresh apple pie! This combination is sure to become your new family favorite pie!

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple pie, cranberries, holiday recipe, pie, pie crust
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
cool time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author Si Foster, A Bountiful Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 7-8 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and sliced about 8 cups sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries washed
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional but highly recommended)
  • juice from 1/2 of a lemon about 2 tablespoons-no need for this if using Granny Smith apples
  • dash salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons butter, cut into small cubes about 8 total pieces
  • Crust:
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup solid shortening such as Crisco I use 1/2 cup Butter flavor and 1/2 cup Regular (white) Crisco
  • 1/2 cup cold water (an additional tabelspoon or two may be needed)
  • 1 egg, beaten +granulated sugar for top of crust

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place rack on lowest shelf in oven.

For crust:

  1. Place flour and salt in medium sized bowl.
  2. Cut in shortening with pastry cutter.

  3. Add cold water all at once, fold with fork, just until all of the flour mixture is moistened. You may need to add a bit more water if baking in a dry climate.

  4. Gather the dough together in a ball. Split the dough in to two parts.

  5. Generously flour a clean surface and rolling pin. Roll out one half of dough to about 1/8 inch thickness into a circle. Continue to place flour under crust when rolling to prevent sticking to surface.

  6. Fold dough in half. Lift onto a 9.5" pie plate. Open and shape to pan. Roll out the other half of dough, and set aside, or place in refrigerator while making filling.

For filling, assembly and baking:

  1. Place sliced apples in large bowl and mix with cranberries. Add remaining filling ingredients and mix until apples are well coated.

  2. Fill bottom crust with apple cranberry mixture. Mound the apple mixture in the center of the pie. Dot top of filling with 1-2 tablespoons of butter.

  3. Place other half of rolled out dough on top of filling in pie plate.
  4. Gather the pie dough around the edge of the pie, fold under to form a seal to keep all juices from escaping while baking.

  5. Crimp and decorate edges and make slits on top of pie for steam to escape.

  6. Brush with egg wash if desired, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.

  7. Place pie onto foil-lined cookie sheet (important, this usually bubbles over a bit).

  8. Bake for about 90 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if pie is getting too brown about half way through baking. Bake until pie is bubbly and golden.

  9. Remove from oven, let cool for at least 2 hours before cutting, 3 hours is best!

Recipe Notes

Generally, I use a 9.5 inch pie plate that is about 1.5 inches deep (not considered deep dish). 

I am a huge fan of using Pyrex glass pie plates for baking pie.One of the biggest problems (especially beginner pie makers) experience is an under done bottom crust! The glass pie plate solves this problem because you can take a quick peek at the bottom crust to see if it is golden. Nothing is worse than making a pie and having the bottom crust turn out doughy!

 

72 thoughts on “Fresh Apple Cranberry Pie

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  1. My Mom gave me this recipe from you a few years ago and we have loved it. Thanks for all the great recipes you post. BTW, I think my Dad's favorite activity of all time is "Pie Night"–we had Thanksgiving early last year becuase of Katharine's Wedding and so he had to miss Pie Night–it nearly killed him.

    So–here's a little entry for your things you are grateful for. For me, this year I have been most grateful for my children. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being with them. I love how they make me feel. I love the way they stretch me and help me to grow. Love being a Mom.

  2. Oh how I LOVE pie! I could eat it 24/7! I'm grateful for my family. I can't wait to have my two oldest son's home from college for a few days. Once their home you can be sure to hear them and their siblings all laughing together as they share their silly stories.

  3. Such wonderful information–thank you! What I am most thankful for at this time of year: The depth and breadth of experience the previous 10 months have given me. I love the idea that maybe I'm doing a little better THIS November than last November. That's one of the points of Earthlife 101 afterall–to learn from our exeperiences!

  4. Such wonderful information–thank you! What I am most thankful for at this time of year: The depth and breadth of experience the previous 10 months have given me. I love the idea that maybe I'm doing a little better THIS November than last November. That's one of the points of Earthlife 101 afterall–to learn from our exeperiences!

  5. I am thankful for blogs like yours so I can learn how to cook. I was too busy playing sports while growing and missed all that time in the kitchen with my Mom.

    C.D.

  6. This pie sounds delish! I'll be trying it along with the chocolate truffle cake I tasted at R.S.
    I'm most thankful to be getting a new grandchild. Seeing my grandchildren always make me happy and grateful!

  7. I am grateful for everything I have. Especially wonderful friends like you who bring me yummy food. I am also very grateful that I live in such a wonderful area and have so many great people to help out in raising my children.

  8. This year I am thankful for my children to share this Thanksgiving and Christmas season with– they make holidays so much fun!

  9. I Love Love Love thie giggles I hear in the house when my girls are actually getting along.(one who is 3 and one who is 1) We are housebound with cold weather and forced to make things in our home "fun". Building forts, making music with pots and pans. It is the best!

  10. Love your blog! The photos are to-die-for!

    I just got back from a viewing, and I didn't think I'd be as choked up as I was, and (although it's terribly cliched) I was reminded of how grateful I am for my family and husband…they've gotten me through a tough year and always lend an ear (and humor me when I go crazy!).

    On a light note, I'm thankful it's Friday!!!

  11. I am loving your blog! I've made 2 of the cookie recipes and a salad…delicious! Looking forward to trying more.

    I'm thankful Abby and Brooke can experience China together 🙂

  12. I am blessed and thankful to be a missionary mom. Even though you miss them during the holidays, the old saying "you wouldn't want them anywhere else" truly applies! Thanks for all your delicious recipes. Keep them coming!!!

  13. This pie is my absolute favorite, too. I am thankful for Si, for pie night, and for a holiday that brings my whole family (well, almost) home to eat good food and just be together. It's a happy, wonderful time.

  14. I LOVE your blog! You have the most wonderful recipes. This one sounds particularly fabulous. I am going to have to try it. Thanks for all the work you go to sharing your fabulous recipes.

  15. I am so thankful this year for my Young Womens leaders. Those who give their time, money, materials and love for the pure service of others makes me smile. My leaders inspire me to become the virtuous, amazing mothers, friends, and role models they are to me and those around them. They mold me into who I am and who I wish to become.

  16. I am thankful and grateful for each day of my life.I had given my nine brothers and sisters a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner this year along with their children and grandchildren.I have three wonderful adult children an adopted child and in the process of adopting two foster children who have gone up for adoption who have been in my care for the last six years.I am from Canada and it was a beautiful sunny Thanksgiving weekend,after having a little light snowfall a week ago. I love baking ,cooling and reading and sharing recipes especially pie recipes.Happy Canadian/American Thanksgiving to one and all.

  17. Hi, I made this yesterday as a trial run for Thanksgiving. It was delicious, but so runny! Any ideas to thicken it up? I followed the recipe exact…? Maybe more flour? A friend recommended a tsp. of tapioca pudding to thicken. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I make it for the big day. 🙂

    1. Did you use the 1/2 cup of flour in the filling? It is almost impossible to have this pie turn out runny with the flour included!

  18. This year im so grateful for the birth of our daughter. Her sweet little spirit has brought the spirit into our home. Im so excited to have her with us this year for the holidays!

    1. That is so exciting, Elva! There’s nothing more special the first holiday with a new baby. Thanks for sharing,
      xo
      Si

  19. 5 stars
    Thank you for the sharing of so many wonderful recipes. I am most grateful for this upcoming holiday season as it may be the last we have with some dear family members. Blessings to you.

    1. You’re very welcome, Robin. That’s what makes the holidays so special. I love spending time with family and sharing recipes. Thanks for your comment and for reading ABK!
      xo
      Si

  20. I want to make this pie for Thanksgiving this year l, but I am allergic to almond so I couldn’t use the extract. Will it still be ok? Is there a substitute to use?

      1. Almond extract ~ I’m guessing you meant a different flavoring since she said she’s allergic to Almond extract. Wonderful recipes ~ love watching you on Brooke Walker’s show Happy Thanksgiving ~ so grateful for The Gospel of Jesus Christ, Family & our free country.

  21. I want to try this pie recipe after seeing so many glowing reviews on your Instagram stories. My favorite apple pie has a top crumb mixture instead of a top crust. Do you think that I could just use that on this pie? Have you ever tried a crumb topping with this pie, or do you think that using a top pie crust is vital to how the flavor and texture turns out?

    1. Hi Jennifer, I haven’t tried a crumble on this pie before, but I think it would turn out great. It’s just whether you prefer a crumble or top pie crust, I’ve always used a top pie crust. Hope this helps and thanks for asking!
      xo
      Si

  22. 5 stars
    I have been following you on Instagram for over a year and I love your posts and your recipes. I had always wanted to make this pie for quite some time and I finally did for my in-laws Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit! Everyone loved it and it was super delicious and heavenly! I just had my holiday work party today and my coworkers said you better bring that pie you made on Thanksgiving so I did. Again, it was a complete HIT and everyone loved it! It was the best dessert to end a wonderful work party and to kick off the holiday season. This recipe is definitely good for the soul. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    -Chris N

  23. 5 stars
    Love this pie! WI has awesome fresh cranberries and apples and it made for a delicious pie. 10/10 would make again.

  24. This is my favorite pie! I buy extra cranberries in the fall and freeze them so I can make it for my birthday in June each year.

  25. 5 stars
    My husband & I enjoyed your apple cranberry pie so much that we took it to get together with some of our good friends. We appreciate you putting together this wonderful blog. Thank you!

  26. 5 stars
    I made this pie yesterday and it was AMAZING! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I haven’t made very many pies but the instructions were easy to follow and it turned out great! This will be a staple at my pie nights in the future.

  27. I made this today for my husband’s birthday – he requested it over cake! It really is SO good. The tricky part is Fresh Cranberries are NOWHERE to be found at the end of February. Luckily, after searching all the local grocery stores, I found some frozen ones at Natural Grocer that worked just as well.

    1. I agree Michelle, cranberries are so hard to find this time of year, but I’m so glad you found them and enjoyed this recipe, you’re husband has good taste! 🙂 Thank you for sharing,
      xo
      Si

  28. 5 stars
    I took this class years ago and won this pie. Our Favorite pie ever since! We make it every year! (Because it’s always requested! ) The crust is easy and it turns out perfect, tall, and delicious every time.

  29. 5 stars
    THIS RECIPE WAS A SMASH FOR THANKSGIVING!!! Everyone loved it and there wasn’t a crumb left!

    A FIVE STAR WINNER!

  30. 5 stars
    This is one of the best pies I’ve ever made and one of the best loved. I made it for Thanksgiving and people loved it so much I am making it again for Christmas!

    Have a Blessed Christmas and thanks so much for the recipe!!

  31. 5 stars
    This is the most delicious apple pie I’ve ever had. The cranberries gave it wonderful color and flavor and I’ve made it three times and it was perfect every time. Thanks so much, Si.

  32. 5 stars
    Hello! My wife has been following you for a while and discovered your apple cranberry pie recipe. We were a bit skeptical at first but it has become a family favorite! I’m honestly obsessed. I no longer ask for a cake or brownies for my birthday, but an apple cranberry pie instead. The obsession is spreading throughout the extended family as well. We recently started an apple cranberry pie night once a month with my parents. It’s a great excuse to spend some time together while we all enjoy a delicious snack. Just messaged to say thank you!

  33. I’ve been eyeing this recipe for ages and I think I’m going to try it! What do you think about a crumb topping (like a Dutch apple pie) instead of a pie crust on top? Do you know if it would turn out well? Thanks for your amazing recipes!!!

  34. Our pie was delicious but the filing was very mushy. I went back to read the recipe and I think we followed the directions exactly. Has this every happened to you? I wonder if I left it in the oven too long?

    1. Hey Jill! Depending on what type of Apple is used, the apples will cook up more firm or a bit softer. I typically use Granny Smith apples, which tend to be more firm. If the apples were cooked too much to your liking, reduce the cooked time by about 10 minutes make sure the bottom crust is browned before removing the pie from the oven! Happy Baking!
      XO,
      Si

    1. Hey Susan, The apples will cook up more firm or a bit softer, Depending on what type of apple is used. If you want a more firm filling I recommend using Granny Smith apples. Let me know when you make this again! Thanks for reading ABK!
      XO,
      Si

  35. 5 stars
    Our new favorite pie. I made it for Thanksgiving this last year. It will forever be on our Thanksgiving table until I die. Maybe the best pie I have ever had. SO DANG DELICIOUS!!!! Although your raspberry pie is pretty delicious as well.

  36. 5 stars
    This Apple Cranberry pie is absolutely delicious! I made it for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! The crust was easy to make and with the Crisco shortenings (used the combo like suggested) it was very forgiving with the additional flour needed to roll out the crusts. I served it with cinnamon ice cream. This recipe is a keeper!

    1. Hi Mary!
      I love hearing this. The crusts are often the hardest part of the pie; I’m so glad it turned out delicious. The cinnamon ice cream probably added a delicious flavor too!
      XO,
      Si