Cranberry Apple Pie ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Prepare your Thanksgiving table because this cranberry apple pie is the best addition to the dinner lineup! It’s delightfully juicy and the best combination of tart and sweet!

To be completely honest, I think that pie is the best part of Thanksgiving. I don’t make it nearly enough throughout the year! If you need more tasty pies for the holidays, you’ve got to try making this Dutch apple pie, coconut cream pie, or delicious cherry pie! Everyone will want a slice.

A slice of cranberry apple pie on a stoneware plate.

Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe

Apple pie is one of my all-time favorite pies, and to be honest, I didn’t think it could get any better. That’s where cranberries come in! I LOVE cranberries because they add such a mouthwatering tart flavor to whatever you’re making. They’re also great for using in so many different holiday desserts! (Hello cranberry orange cheesecake!)

But really, there’s a reason that cran-apple is a thing. It’s a holy combination! This cranberry apple pie is everything you could want from a holiday dessert. It’s sweet, tart, and juicy all inside a buttery, golden crust! Trust me, it’s going to be a hit at the dinner table. Serve it as-is or a la mode! In my opinion, pie is always better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Ingredients for Cranberry Apple Pie

Here’s everything you need to make this gorgeous pie! It’s one of my favorites to make because it tastes just as good as it looks. You’re going to love it! Note: all measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Double Crust Pie Crust: You technically need 2 crusts, one for the bottom and one for the lattice on top. For the holidays, I always like to make my crust from scratch because it just tastes so much better! It’s easy, too! Find my full recipe here.
Apples: I used Granny Smith here to really bring out the tart flavor of the pie, but you can use your favorite variety! If you like a sweeter apple, go for Gala or Honeycrisp.
Cranberries: I used fresh cranberries, but frozen cranberries work as well! Fresh cranberries can sometimes be tricky to find.
Orange Zest: A must-add for holiday desserts! I love the pop of citrus flavor it gives the cranberry apple pie.
Sugar: Regular white sugar works great to sweeten up the filling.
All-Purpose Flour and Cornstarch: You’ve got to add both because they help the fruit filling solidify.
Spices: It wouldn’t be a holiday dessert without the spice, now would it? Time to break out the spice rack! Here I used a blend of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger for that classic fall flavor. It complements the apple and cranberry so well!

4-photo collage of pie filling being mixed together and added to a pie crust.

Let’s Make Pie!

Homemade pies can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never made one before! Follow these quick and easy steps and you’ll be baking like a pro. This cranberry apple pie is too good! You’ve got to give it a try this holiday season.

Preheat Oven, Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 400℉ and prepare your pie pan by lining it with one of your crusts. Roll the crust out until it is even in thickness and large enough to place inside the pie dish with little excess to trim off.
Fruit Mixture: In a medium saucepan add your prepared apples, cranberries, and sugar. Then bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly.
Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together your flour, cornstarch and all your spices. Whisk thoroughly.
Combine: Pour your flour mixture into your apple and cranberry mixture and whisk constantly to incorporate all the flour, be sure no lumps remain. Cook: Continue to cook the filling until it thickens, about 5-8 minutes, stirring continually.
Add to Crust: Afterward pour your filling into your pie crust and spread it evenly. Then cover filling with your second pie crust, be sure to cut a few slits in the top to vent. This is where I like to be creative and decorate the crust!
Bake: Place your pie pan on a large baking sheet to catch any filling that might spill out. Bake at 375℉ for 10 minutes, then cover your crust with a crust shield to prevent browning and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow cranberry apple pie to cool for at least 3 hours before serving.

Tips and Tricks

If you want to make a bakery-worthy pie for the holidays, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind! This cranberry apple pie recipe is one you’ll want to come back to every year.

Thaw and Drain Cranberries: If you are using frozen cranberries, allow them to thaw to room temperature and remove any excess juice before mixing with the apples and orange zest.
Make a Pie Crust Shield: If you don’t have a pie crust shield, you can fashion one using tin foil, it just needs to cover the edges and wrap around the pie to prevent the edges from getting too dark,
Don’t Let Filling Get Too Thick: Filling should thicken up quite a bit while cooking, but remember it will completely set and thicken once the pie is cooled so don’t let it get too thick in the pot.

A slice of cranberry apple pie being served with a cake spatula.

Storing Leftovers

The best part about making homemade pies is munching on them throughout the week. You’ve got to treat yourself!

At Room Temperature: Store tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for 2 days.
In the Refrigerator: Cranberry apple pie will last for about 5 days covered in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.

Top-down view of a slice of pie with a bite taken out of it.