Warm desserts that pair soft, tart fruit with buttery-crisp toppings are some of my favorite things to bake. They're perfect for using up seasonal fruit, easy to throw together and always comforting. Here you'll find a treat for every season -- from Apple Cranberry Oat Crumble to Southern Peach Cobbler.
This old-fashioned dessert of warm baked apples and tart cranberries with a crunchy oat streusel topping comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, Rustic Fruit Desserts by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson. It's easy to make, feeds a crowd and is perfect for cold winter nights. GET THE RECIPE
This pear crisp is a stand-out thanks to the addition of tart dried cherries, which are plumped up in an orange-scented caramel syrup before baking. GET THE RECIPE
You might have to wait until spring when fresh rhubarb hits the market, but this is one of the easiest and best desserts I know. Serve it warm out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. GET THE RECIPE
In this delicious and easy recipe, warm baked apples bubble away in their own syrupy juices beneath a buttery oat-pecan streusel topping. It's the perfect dessert for a cool winter night, and it's just as good for breakfast the next day. GET THE RECIPE
Okay -- this is actually a traditional Amish breakfast casserole, but it has a consistency similar to bread pudding. There are endless variations -- the recipe is easily adapted with whatever fruits and nuts you have on hand -- but this version filled with tart apples and plump raisins with a crunchy walnut topping is my favorite. The best part? It can be made ahead of time and reheated. GET THE RECIPE
Made from sweet yellow peaches, warm spices and a buttermilk biscuit topping, this cobbler is baked until the fruit is tender and bubbling and the topping is crisp and golden. No worries if fresh peaches aren't in season -- you can use canned. Just be sure to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of sweetened whipped cream on top. GET THE RECIPE