Recipe for a Nutritious Cherry Crisp

This nutritious Cherry Crisp recipe is the perfect summertime treat! Overflowing with ripe cherries and a delightful oat topping, this warm cherry crisp effortlessly comes together with just a handful of straightforward ingredients!

It’s officially the season for cherries, and what better way to utilize these gems than with this Nutritious Cherry Crisp recipe! Succulent cherries brimming with flavor 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, utilizes less butter than classic recipes, and incorporates wholesome oats instead of refined flour for a healthier treat that tastes fantastic!

Why You’ll Adore This

• Quick and effortless – this nutritious cherry crisp can be prepped and ready to bake in under 15 minutes with minimal effort.
• Health-conscious – cherries are loaded with fiber and antioxidants while the crisp topping consists of wholesome oats, half the usual amount of butter, and no refined sugars.
• Adjustable – this fresh cherry crisp can easily be modified for various dietary preferences whether you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan.
• Ideal for summer – this recipe creates a mouth-watering sweet dessert or healthy breakfast to relish all summer!

Essential Ingredients

• cherries – the highlight of this recipe! Fresh cherries are recommended for this crisp, but you can opt for frozen if necessary. No canned cherries here! Both sweet and tart varieties will work.
• rolled oats – wholesome whole grain old-fashioned oats give this topping its delightful crunch.
• oat flour – flour helps bind the topping together and you can easily create your own oat flour by blending rolled oats in a food processor or blender. Almond flour is also a great choice, but any flour will suffice.
• maple syrup – naturally sweetens the cherry crisp, used in both the filling and the topping. Honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or other sweeteners can be substitutes.
• lemon juice – enhances flavor and balances sweetness. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a substitute.
• cornstarch – thickens the sauce and helps prevent it from becoming watery. Arrowroot powder can be used instead of cornstarch.
• pecans – chopped nuts add extra 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, which adds a bit of additional sweetness to the oat topping.
• butter (or coconut oil) – I’ve made this cherry crisp for years and both options work wonderfully! Coconut oil has added nutritional benefits and is great for vegan or dairy-free diets, but butter offers unbeatable flavor.
• vanilla + almond extract – enhances the flavor profile of this cherry crisp.
• cinnamon + salt – elevates the overall taste of the cherry crisp.

Steps to Create Cherry Crisp

1. Pit the cherries. Rinse the cherries, detach the stems and leaves, and use a cherry pitter or a straw to remove the pits.
2. Prepare the cherry filling. Place the cherries in an 8×8 baking dish, 9×9 baking dish, or greased cast iron skillet along with maple syrup, corn starch, lemon juice, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir well until everything is combined and cherries are fully coated.
3. Prepare the crumble topping. In a small bowl, combine rolled oats, oat flour, pecans, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. Add the butter (or solid coconut oil) and mix thoroughly with a pastry cutter (or your hands) until the mixture has a crumbly consistency.
4. Assemble and bake.  Evenly distribute the oat crumble over the cherry mixture and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 40 to 45 minutes. The crisp should be golden and the cherries soft and tender. If the topping browns too quickly, cover the dish with foil.
5. Serve and enjoy! Serve hot, ideally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Helpful Tips, Tricks, and Alternatives

• Frozen cherries work well – while fresh cherries are recommended in this recipe, especially when in season, frozen cherries can be a suitable substitute. Just allow the frozen cherries to thaw slightly to avoid a watery filling.
• Swap the fruit – replace cherries with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, or other fresh fruits. Check out my apple crisp recipe for inspiration!
• Keep the topping crunchy – ensure you use old-fashioned rolled oats rather than quick cooking oats, as the latter can become mushy when baked.
• Swap butter for coconut oil – when using coconut oil instead of butter, ensure it’s solid, not melted, to achieve a good crumbly topping.
• To prevent over-browning – you do not need to cover this cherry crisp during baking, but if the topping begins to brown too rapidly, cover with foil until the cherries soften.
• Make it gluten-free – simply use certified gluten-free oats and gluten-free oat flour or other gluten-free flours.
• Make it vegan – use coconut oil in place of butter and top with your preferred dairy-free vanilla ice cream.
• Nut-free option – leave out the pecans or substitute with sunflower seeds or additional oats.

Serving Suggestions for Cherry Crisp

• Healthy breakfast – dress this warm cherry crisp with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey for a wonderful morning meal.
• Dessert – enjoy it with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for a delicious after-dinner treat.
• Chocolate drizzle – melt a few tablespoons of chocolate chips and drizzle over the cherry crisp for an extra touch of luxury!

Preparation and Storage

• To Prep: You can easily prepare this recipe a day ahead by assembling the cherry crisp in the baking pan and covering it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake.
• To Store: This cherry crisp will stay fresh for up to 4 to 5 days when covered and stored in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge. Reheat leftovers by putting 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 be sure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator before baking.

Additional Summer Desserts

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 using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!