Cranberry apple pie is a festive twist on a classic dessert. Cranberries and raisins are baked with sweet apples and spices in a sweet glazed homemade pie crust.

baked cranberry apple pie on a red napkin surrounded by sliced apples, cranberries and cinnamon sticks

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Cranberries are synonymous with the holidays. Apple pies make me think of fall. I love how this recipe combines the two. It’s a festive apple pie!

The tart cranberries really balance the sweetness of the apples, but it’s not overpowering. A lattice crust gives the pie a rustic quality, but don’t let yourself get intimidated. Pie lattice is alot easier than you think, and I link to an entire post below that will show you exactly how to do it.

Table of Contents hide

1 What are the best apples to use for apple pie?

2 Rehydrate your raisins

3 Prepare the cranberry apple pie filling

4 Make the Lattice Pie Crust

5 Chill the Pie

6 Make the Pie Crust Glaze

7 Baking the Pie

8 Storing Leftover Pie

9 Can you freeze cranberry apple pie?

10 Additional Resources:

11 More Cranberry Recipes:

12 Lattice Cranberry Apple Pie

What are the best apples to use for apple pie?

Would you believe there are hundreds of apple varieties out there? But not all apples are created equal. Differences in taste and texture make some apples ideal for baking over others.

I used Fuju apples for this recipe, but there are other varieties you can choose from. Check out my post 5 Best Apples for Baking for other ideas.

Fuji apples in a blue and white colander

Rehydrate your raisins

Before baking, I soaked ½ cup of raisins in two tablespoons of bourbon to rehydrate them. Rehydrating the raisins plumps them up and gives them less chewy texture. Bourbon gives the pie an extra depth of flavor and the alcohol cooks off during baking, so no worries about getting intoxicated. If you would rather not use spirits, I recommend rehydrating the raisins in juice or even water. Allow the raisins to sit for 20 minutes.

pouring bourbon over raisins to rehydrate them

Prepare the cranberry apple pie filling

Peel four large baking apples, remove the core, then cut them into thin ¼-inch slices. In a large mixing bowl, toss apple slices with one tablespoon of lemon juice. The lemon juice prevents the apples from turning brown.

Next, combine ¾ cup of fresh or frozen cranberries with ¼ cup of sugar in a food processor. If using frozen cranberries, you may need to let them thaw slightly. Pulse the cranberries and sugar a few times until cranberries are coarsely chopped and combined with the sugar.

Before and after of cranberries in a food processor

Add the cranberry mixture to the apples, along with one tablespoon of cornstarch, two teaspoons of lemon peel, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ cup of sugar and the raisins. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined, then allow the mixture to stand for an additional 15 minutes.

filling ingredients combined in a large glass mixing bowl

While you’re waiting, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place an oven rack into the bottom third of your oven.

Make the Lattice Pie Crust

You will need two pie crusts for this recipe. You can use either a homemade pie crust or store bought crust. If making homemade, Check out my 5 Tips for Making the Best Flaky Homemade Pie Crust from Scratch.

Make sure the pie crusts are well-chilled before you start cutting. It will be easier to work with and will ensure a more flaky crust. Roll the pie crust out on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/8-inch thick and will cover the bottom and edges of a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the edges of the crust to within 1- inch beyond the edge of the dish. Pour filling into the prepared pie crust.

unbaked pie crust filled with apples and cranberries

Roll the second pie crust dough out into a 1/8-inch thick circle. Cut dough into 1/4-inch wide strips. I like to use a pizza wheel and a ruler or tape measure as a guide to ensure I get strips that are uniform in size. Read my Step-by-Step Guide to Lattice Pie Crust to find out exactly how I made my lattice design.

Once you have arranged the strips over the filling in a lattice pattern, trim the edges to match the edges of the bottom crust. I like to carefully roll the edges to the edge or the pie plate, then seal edges of crust using my thumb or the tines of a fork.

unbaked pie topped with a finished lattice crust

Chill the Pie

Once you’ve assembled the pie, I advise that you put it in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill. This gives the butter in the crust time to firm up, which will give you a flakier crust.

Make the Pie Crust Glaze

For the glaze, combine two teaspoons of white granulated sugar with 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon, one large egg and one tablespoon of 2% milk or heavy whipping cream. Whisk everything together until combined. The gently brush the glaze over the top of the pie.

Baking the Pie

Place the pie on a foil lined baking sheet to catch any drips during baking. Start off baking the pie at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 40-45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. This allows the butter in the crust to melt and create flaky air pockets, but not cause the pie to bake too quickly and burn.

If you notice the crust is still beginning to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil and continue baking. Allow pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Storing Leftover Pie

A leftover baked pie should be covered and placed in the refrigerator within two hours. Eat within four days. I recommend reheating the pie in a preheated 350-degree oven for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but the crust will be a little soggy.

Can you freeze cranberry apple pie?

For an unbaked pie, leave off the glaze for now. Carefully wrap the entire pie, plate and all, in three layers plastic wrap. Make sure the entire pie is covered and sealed. Next, gently slide the pie into a gallon sized freezer bag and seal. Be sure to place the pie somewhere flat in your freezer where it won’t get knocked around and damage the crust. Don’t worry about thawing the pie before baking. Simply apply the glaze and follow the baking instructions.

For a baked pie, you will follow the same instructions above, only bake it at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until the pie is warmed through.

Be sure to eat a frozen pie within four months for the best flavor.

baked cranberry apple pie with a slice cut out

Additional Resources:

More Cranberry Recipes:

Lattice Cranberry Apple Pie

Cranberry apple pie is a festive twist on a classic dessert. Cranberries and raisins are baked with sweet apples and spices in a sweet glazed homemade pie crust.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 50

Cook Time: 1 10

Cooling time: 30

Total Time: 1 45

Servings: people

Calories: 296kcal

Author: Lisa B.

Ingredients

For the pie:

2 pie crusts
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 medium baking apples such as Fuji (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons bourbon
3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar divided
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the glaze:

2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg
1 tablespoon 2% milk or heavy whipping cream

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice. Set aside.
In a smaller, separate bowl, combine raisins and bourbon. Allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Combine cranberries and ¼ cup sugar in a food processor. Pulse a few times until cranberries are coarsely chopped and combined with the sugar. Add mixture to the apples, along with the cornstarch, lemon peel, cinnamon, remaining sugar and raisins. Stir until thoroughly combined, then allow mixture to stand for an additional 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place oven rack into the bottom third of your oven.
If you have not already rolled out our pastry, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/8-inch thick and will cover the bottom and edges of a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the edges of the crust to within ½- inch beyond the edge of the dish.
Pour filling into the prepared pie crust.
Roll remaining pie dough out into a 1/8-inch thick circle. Cut dough into ½-inch to ¾-inch wide strips. Arrange strips over the filling in a lattice pattern. Trim edges to within ½-inch of the pie plate to match the edges of the bottom crust. Seal edges of crust using your thumb or the tines of a fork.
Bake pie at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Then reduce temperature to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 40-45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Allow pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

A leftover baked pie should be covered and placed in the refrigerator within two hours. Eat within four days. I recommend reheating the pie in a preheated 350-degree oven for 5-10 minutes.

To freeze:

For an unbaked pie, leave off the glaze. Carefully wrap the entire pie, plate and all, in three layers plastic wrap. Make sure the entire pie is covered and sealed. Next, gently slide the pie into a gallon sized freezer bag and seal. Be sure to place the pie somewhere flat in your freezer where it won’t get knocked around and damage the crust. Don’t worry about thawing the pie before baking. Simply apply the glaze and follow the baking instructions.