If you love those cozy fall desserts that make the whole kitchen smell amazing, this sheet pan cranberry apple cobbler needs to be on your list. It’s packed with tart fresh cranberries and sweet-tart Granny Smith apples, all tossed with brown sugar, orange juice, and fresh orange zest. Then the fruit gets topped with a buttery cobbler topping and a crunchy brown sugar pecan mixture.
And because it’s made on a sheet pan, you get plenty of golden, crispy topping in every serving. That’s always a good thing in our book!
This is such a great dessert for Thanksgiving, holiday dinners, Sunday suppers, or anytime you have a bag of cranberries waiting in the fridge.
For more fall-inspired desserts, try our cranberry crumble or apple fritters next!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tart cranberries balance the sweetness of the apples.
- Orange zest and juice add bright citrus flavor.
- The cobbler topping gets golden and crispy.
- Brown sugar and pecans add a buttery crunch.
- A sheet pan gives you plenty of fruit and topping in every bite.
- It’s easy enough for a weeknight dessert.
- It’s perfect for fall and holiday gatherings.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients and their amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Granny Smith Apples: Bring a crisp, tart flavor that balances the sweeter ingredients and adds a tender, fruity bite once baked.
- Fresh Cranberries: Give the filling its bold tartness and beautiful color. They also add a nice contrast to the sweeter apple and topping.
- Orange Juice & Zest: Add a bright citrus flavor that really lifts the cranberries and keeps the fruit layer from feeling too heavy.
- Granulated & Brown Sugar: Sweeten the naturally tart fruit, with brown sugar adding a deeper, almost caramel-like note.
- Butter: Adds richness to both the cobbler topping and pecan crumble while helping them turn golden and crisp.
- Pecans: Add a toasted, nutty crunch that gives the soft fruit and tender cobbler topping some great texture.
Variations
- Add More Citrus: For a stronger orange flavor, add extra orange zest to the fruit mixture or add a splash of orange extract.
- Use Different Apples: Granny Smith apples add a nice tartness, but Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Braeburn apples would also work.
- Swap the Pecans: Try chopped walnuts, almonds, or even hazelnuts in the brown sugar topping.
- Add Warm Spices: A little cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger would be delicious with the apples, cranberries, and orange.
- Add Pears: Replace one or two of the apples with ripe pears for a slightly sweeter fruit filling.
How to Make Sheet Pan Cranberry Apple Cobbler
1: Mix the cranberry-apple filling ingredients and set aside while you prepare the rest of the cobbler.
2: Whisk the dry cobbler batter ingredients. Melt cubed butter in boiling water, then mix it into the dry ingredients until combined. Set aside.
3: Mix the brown sugar pecan topping ingredients until crumbly.
4: Spread the cranberry filling in a prepared baking sheet.
5: Top with the cobbler batter and sprinkle on the brown sugar pecan mixture.
6: Bake until the filling is bubbly and the top is golden brown and crispy. Cool slightly and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Don’t skip the orange zest. It adds a bright flavor that works especially well with tart cranberries.
- Cut the apples evenly. Keeping the apple pieces around the same size helps them cook at the same rate.
- Stir the fruit gently. Cranberries can break easily, so you don’t need to aggressively mix the filling.
- Don’t overwork the cobbler topping. Mix everything together just until combined, then stop. You don’t want a tough topping.
- Watch the edges. The pecan topping can brown quickly, so start checking the cobbler toward the end of the baking time.
- Let it rest before serving. The fruit filling will be extremely hot and will thicken slightly as it cools.
Sheet Pan Cranberry Apple Cobbler FAQs
Sheet pan cranberry apple cobbler is a cozy fruit dessert made with tart cranberries, sweet-tart apples, orange juice and zest, a buttery cobbler topping, and a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. Baking it on a sheet pan creates plenty of golden, crispy topping.
Granny Smith apples are best because they are firm and tart, which balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and cobbler topping. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious apples are also good.
Yes. Frozen cranberries can be substituted for fresh cranberries, and they can be used straight from the freezer. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger make a great addition to the fruit filling for additional warm, cozy flavor.
The cobbler topping should be golden brown and crispy, and the fruit should be visibly bubbling around the edges.
Yes. Bake the cobbler ahead of time, allow it to cool, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. Reheat it in the oven for the best topping texture.
Allow the cobbler to cool completely. Place in a airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
Yes. The cobbler can be frozen. However, the topping may lose some of its crispness after thawing. Reheating it in the oven can help bring back some of its texture.
Reheating it in the oven is best. It helps restore some of the crispness to the topping. Individual portions can be warmed in the microwave.
Serve This Sheet Pan Cobbler With:
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Sheet Pan Cranberry Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
Cranberry Apple Filling
- 5 Granny Smith apples peeled, sliced into ½-inch slices, then each slice into chunks
- 24 ounce fresh cranberries rinsed
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
- Zest from 1 orange
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Cobbler Topping
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter cut into small pieces
- ⅓ cup boiling water
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup pecans chopped
- ¼ cup butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Cranberry Apple Filling
- In a large bowl, add cranberries and apple chunks.
- Sprinkle sugar, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cornstarch over the fruit. Stir gently and let sit for 10 minutes..Set aside and let sit while you make the toppings.
Cobbler Topping
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt.
- Now, add in the cut butter and boiling water.
- Mix together until fully combined. Set aside.
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- In a small bowl, stir together the light brown sugar, flour, and chopped pecans.
- Pour in melted butter and mix until fully combined.
Assembling the Cobbler
- Pour the apple and cranberry filling mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and top with the cobbler topping.
- Next, sprinkle the brown sugar pecan topping on top of the cobbler topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the topping is golden and crispy.
Notes
- Don’t skip the orange zest. It adds a bright flavor that works especially well with tart cranberries.
- Cut the apples evenly. Keeping the apple pieces around the same size helps them cook at the same rate.
- Stir the fruit gently. Cranberries can break easily, so you don’t need to aggressively mix the filling.
- Don’t overwork the cobbler topping. Mix it until everything is combined, then stop. You don’t want a tough topping.
- Watch the edges. The pecan topping can brown quickly, so start checking the cobbler toward the end of the baking time.
- Let it rest before serving. The fruit filling will be extremely hot and will thicken slightly as it cools.
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