Recipe for a Nutritious Cherry Crisp

This nutritious Cherry Crisp recipe is the ideal summertime dessert! Filled with luscious cherries and a hearty oat topping, this warm cherry crisp comes together effortlessly with just a handful of basic ingredients!

It’s officially cherry season, and what better way to take advantage of these gems than with this Nutritious Cherry Crisp recipe! Juicy cherries overflowing with sweetness all topped with a golden, crumbly crisp and scoops of vanilla ice cream make for the ultimate summer dessert. This cherry crisp is sweetened naturally with maple syrup, uses less butter than conventional crisps, and is topped with wholesome oats instead of refined flour for a healthier dessert that tastes fantastic!

Reasons to Love This

• Fast and simple – this healthy cherry crisp can be prepared and ready for baking in under 15 minutes with little effort.
• Healthier – cherries are loaded with fiber and antioxidants, while the crisp topping consists of wholesome oats, half the butter, and no refined sugars.
• Versatile – this fresh cherry crisp can easily be adapted to suit various dietary requirements, whether you need it to be gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan.
• Ideal for summer – this recipe yields a delicious sweet dessert or healthy breakfast that you can enjoy throughout the summer!

Necessary Ingredients

• cherries – the highlight of this recipe! I recommend using fresh cherries, but frozen cherries will work if that’s all you have. No canned varieties here! Both sweet and tart cherries are suitable.
• rolled oats – nutritious whole grain old-fashioned oats make this topping nice and crispy.
• oat flour – flour helps bind the topping together, and you can easily create oat flour at home by blending rolled oats in a food processor or blender. Almond flour is also a great alternative, but any flour will suffice.
• maple syrup – naturally sweetens the cherry filling and oat topping. You could use honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or another sweetener as a substitute.
• lemon juice – enhances flavor and balances sweetness. A bit of apple cider vinegar can also be used as a substitute.
• cornstarch – thickens the sauce to prevent it from becoming watery. You could also use arrowroot powder instead.
• pecans – chopped nuts add crunch to the topping and a protein boost, but feel free to omit if you’re avoiding nuts.
• coconut sugar – I prefer using coconut sugar in place of brown sugar as it adds an extra hint of sweetness to the oat topping.
• butter (or coconut oil) – I’ve made this cherry crisp for years, and both options work wonderfully! Coconut oil is more nutritious and suitable for a vegan or dairy-free diet, but in my view, butter provides the best flavor.
• vanilla + almond extract – enhances the flavor of this cherry crisp.
• cinnamon + salt – elevates the overall flavor of the dessert.

Steps to Create Cherry Crisp

1. Pit the cherries. Clean the cherries, remove stems and leaves, and pit them using a cherry pitter or a straw.
2. Prepare the cherry filling. Place the cherries into an 8×8 baking dish, 9×9 baking dish, or a cast iron skillet coated with non-stick spray, along with the maple syrup, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, and almond extract. Blend well until fully combined and cherries are entirely coated.
3. Create the crumble topping. In a small bowl, combine rolled oats, oat flour, pecans, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. Then add the butter (or solid coconut oil), and combine vigorously with a pastry cutter (or your hands) until the mixture resembles a pleasant crumble topping.
4. Assemble and bake. Evenly distribute the oat crumble over the cherry mixture and bake the cherry crisp at 350 degrees F for approximately 40 to 45 minutes. The top should be golden brown, and the cherries should be soft and tender. If the oat topping begins to brown too quickly, cover the baking dish with foil.
5. Serve and enjoy! Enjoy hot, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the best experience!

Suggestions, Hints, and Alternatives

• Frozen cherries are perfect – while fresh cherries are highly recommended during their season, frozen cherries will also work. Just thaw them slightly to ensure the filling doesn’t become too liquidy.
• Change the fruit – substitute cherries with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, or any other fresh fruit. Check out my apple crisp recipe too!
• Keep the topping crunchy – use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of quick oats, which often become mushy when baked.
• Substitute butter with coconut oil – if you choose to use coconut oil instead of butter, ensure it’s solid, not melted, for a crumbly topping that bakes beautifully.
• Prevent browning – there’s no need to cover the cherry crisp while baking, but feel free to cover it with foil if the oat topping begins to brown too rapidly.
• Make it gluten-free – opt for certified gluten-free oats and flour alternatives.
• Prepare it vegan – substitute coconut oil for butter and serve with your favorite dairy-free vanilla ice cream.
• Nut-free option – omit pecans or swap them with sunflower seeds or extra oats.

Serving Cherry Crisp

• Healthy breakfast – top warm cherry crisp with Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey for a fantastic morning meal.
• Dessert – serve it with a scoop of your preferred vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for a delicious after-dinner treat.
• Chocolate drizzle – melt some chocolate chips and drizzle over the cherry crisp for an extra indulgent touch!

Preparation and Storage

• To Prepare: You can make this recipe a day in advance by assembling the cherry crisp in the pan before baking and covering it with foil or plastic wrap. Store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake.
• To Store: This cherry crisp will keep for up to 4 to 5 days in the fridge in a sealed, airtight container. Reheat leftovers by placing the whole crisp back in the oven at 350 for 5 to 10 minutes or warm in the microwave.
• To Freeze: Leftover cherry crisp can also be frozen (either baked or unbaked) for up to 3 months. Just ensure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator before baking.

More Summer Treats

I hope you all relish this Nutritious Cherry Crisp recipe! If you enjoy it as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!