Easy Cherry Crisp

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This was the first recipe I made from Grandma Doris’s recipe box. I have made it many times since then. I absolutely love it because it’s delicious yet so simple. My mom remembers enjoying this particular recipe as a kid.

Oh so easy

It’s the perfect recipe when you’re in the mood for dessert but you’re short on time. It’s literally a can of pie filling with a 5-ingredient crisp topping.

I also love any recipe that includes shelf-stable ingredients because you can create something using what you have on hand. Perfect for when you can’t get to the store, you are cooking for company on short notice, or you’re suddenly in the mood for something sweet. This recipe checks all the boxes for me.

The recipe

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Add one can of cherry pie filling to a lightly greased 8×8-inch baking dish.

For the crisp, combine the following ingredients:

• 1 stick melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Pour the combined crisp ingredients over the cherry pie filling. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until crisp is golden brown.

A few words on pie filling

My Grandma scribbled this recipe on a tiny scrap of paper. There are no measurements listed on the size of can to use or which brand so I had to do a little experimenting.

A standard size can of pie filling is 20-21 ounces. In a 8×8 pan it won’t look like much, but it is a rich dessert once you get the topping added so I find that one can is enough. I prefer a brand sweetened with sugar (instead of high fructose corn syrup), like Lucky Leaf Premium Fruit Filling & Topping Cherry.

Serving suggestions

My mom said that Grandma would serve this with vanilla ice cream. That’s my recommendation too. And/or a nice dollop of whipped cream! It’s best served a little warm.

Tips

• Gluten-Free: The flour and oats in this recipe can be substituted for gluten-free varieties. Oats are naturally gluten-free. However, buy certified gluten-free oats if you are cooking for someone with a sensitivity.
• Substitutions: You can substitute other fruit pie fillings for a different dessert. My family enjoys apple, and I think any berry filling would be great with this crisp topping too.