Cranberry Apple Pie with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream
The combination of apples and cranberries in this Cranberry Apple Pie with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream will make a delicious compliment to the sweeter offerings at your holiday table. Subtlety tart and absolutely delicious.
Life is so fast. Especially this time of year. I always have big plans that NEXT year I’ll be more on top of things but somehow that never happens. Time really flies doesn’t it? I honestly expected to share this pie for Thanksgiving but I didn’t make it until after Thanksgiving Day and it is so beautiful with those red cranberries that I decided it looked more like a Christmas pie anyhow and so now it is!
This month my Progressive Eats crew is all about Holiday recipes. Some remembered fondly from years past but in my case something new and wonderful. The lovely Liz from the site That Skinny Chick Can Bake is our hostess this month; she made us do it and I’m glad she did!
I did just chuckle though…wondering why life seems to never have enough time while sharing the pie that took me hours to make because I wanted to decorate it with some adorable pie crust cutters I recently bought from Williams-Sonoma. I might be the main reason it gets crazy huh?
Still, it was fun. If you’re on Instagram, there are a couple of people who make the most amazing pie crust decorations. I thought it seemed creative so I got my cutters and made my dough and I was all set to spend the time to do something while maybe not extraordinary, at least a bit out of the ordinary.
My plans were quickly modified when the boys up the street showed up. I need help getting all the boxes of Christmas decorations from the basement (no matter what else I can do…the long term affects of a broken leg always rear up when I’m trying to carry a bunch of stuff up the stairs!); they are always such willing helpers and as a reward I promised them some pie crust cookies.
I had finished cutting out the shapes when they arrived in my kitchen and I was left just to decorate. And I love how it turned out BUT, I didn’t really do my thing. I let the boys make a decision and we piled some leaves in the center and then I rushed; a failing I have when someone is around. I was telling a friend that I always do that when someone is waiting on me; whether they urge me to or not…I rush.
I’m best left to my creative ventures when I’m alone, when my perfectionism is not so clearly on display for someone else to see and I can spend as much time as I want in search of it. It’s the same if someone wants to watch me shoot photos…I could easily take a hundred shots to capture three good photos but if someone is waiting…I’m done at twenty or twenty-five. I know this is all on me and it is time to teach me a new trick…and not do it.
So I’ll practice more making my own design some other day (expect more pies) and not call the boys until cookies are baked and it will be all good. In the meantime, I sure loved my favorite crust with this pie. Combining tart cranberries with tart apples and some orange in the perfect pie crust was nirvana.
The combination of tart and sweet was so perfect and unexpected. I admit, I love pecan pie but it needs a slice of this pie next to it to balance what can sometimes feel like tooth aching sweetness. Besides what can beat a red pie over the holidays? How perfect is that?
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. Each recipe in our menu this month features an Old Fashioned Holiday Recipe, and our host is Liz who blogs at That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats it’s a virtual party. A theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out. Come along and see all of the delicious holiday dishes!
Old Fashioned Holiday Recipes
Appetizers
- Arepa de Huevo: Fried Corn Cake & Egg Sandwich – Mother Would Know
Cocktails
- White Chocolate Eggnog Martini – The Redhead Baker
Bread
- Homemade Crescent Rolls – Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Side Dishes
- Green Bean Casserole from Scratch – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Creamy Cheesy Potatoes – The Heritage Cook
Desserts
- Chocolate Truffle Mousse – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Cranberry Apple Pie with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream – Creative Culinary (You’re Here!)
PIN IT! ‘Cranberry Apple Holiday Pie with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream’

Cranberry Apple Pie with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream
Ingredients
- Two Pie Crusts chilled - homemade or store-bought
For the Filling
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 3 large firm, tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier
- 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen, divided
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ tsp orange oil or 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel zest
- 1 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- ⅓ cup orange juice
For the Whipped Cream
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 oz Grand Marnier optional
Instructions
- For the Pie Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Roll out one of the two pie crusts; keeping the 2nd in the refrigerator until the pie is filled and ready to be topped. Lightly grease a 9" pie plate and fit the pie dough into the prepared plate and crimp the edges.
- For the Filling
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat; add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Add the chopped apples and saute for 5 minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool. Sprinkle with the Grand Marnier and mix it into the apples.
- Measure out 1/2 cup of cranberries and set aside. Chop the remaining 1 & 1/2 cups of cranberries in a processor until chunky. In a medium saucepan, cook both the chopped and whole cranberries with the sugar, orange oil or peel, flour and orange juice over medium heat until the mixture simmers and is slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and cool.
- To Assemble the Pie
- Place the cooled apples on top of the dough and spread in an even layer.
- Pour the cooled cranberry mixture over the apples.
- Use the other half of the dough to make a lattice crust or decorate with cookie shapes and place it on top of the filling. Seal and crimp the edges. (To make a lattice crust; take a peek at this post.)
- Bake the pie for 40 to 45 minutes (check after 20 minutes and cover the edges with a pie shield or foil if necessary to prevent burning), until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling in the center. Remove from the oven and cool before slicing.
- Make the Whipped Cream
- Chill your bowl and beater for at least 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Pour the whipping cream and Grand Marnier into the bowl and beat at medium high speed until the cream starts to thicken.
- Add the powdered sugar and increase speed to high and whip until firm peaks form. Dollop on pie slices and serve.
The fruity desserts look really good, along with the cake-like desserts I think are fantastic.
I made this for bunko night and it was a hit! I followed the recipe and it came out golden and moist. The whipped cream with the Grand Marnier is tasty on its own and also works well with this perfect bread pudding for fall!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to let me knoww! I always put a bit of liqueur or booze in my whipped creams, just a touch makes a huge difference.
So lovely, Barb, and the perfect holiday dessert! But then again, ALL your desserts are out of this world!
Thank you! I have always loved making desserts and it’s been perfect to move onto a street with so many young men who are eager eaters; makes ALL the difference!
Wow, wonderful looking dish! I’m back from vacation, and this is a wonderful welcome home recipe. 🙂
Hope you had a great time…and of course I made this just for you. 🙂
This pie has everything I crave at this time of year, a bit of sweetness, cranberries and Grand Marnier! It’s a winner for sure. I’ve never done cut-out decorations but I would be game to try – maybe I won’t even wait until next year:)
A friend and her daughter came over the other day and she wanted to try them so bad…so I let her decorate a chocolate pecan pie I was making. I only had enough dough for the crust so I pulled out a Pillsbury pie dough for her to use for the decorations. I’ll probably do that each time now…that dough was SO much easier to work with without the real butter. The butter dough probably tastes better but I had to constantly put it in and out of the fridge during the decorating to keep it cold and not ruin it. But it is fun..you must try it!
I agree, the color is perfect for Christmas! A gorgeous creation. And much as I love a slice of pecan pie, I’d have to have a half slice of BOTH on my plate!
I think those two are the perfect combination!
Your pie is gorgeous and I’m sure everyone enjoyed it! I loved reading your story too.
Thanks Karen…I’m lucky to have so many willing ‘eaters’ on call when I have a dessert; they usually don’t complain which is nice too. 🙂
I think your pie is absolutely beautiful Barb and can’t imagine it any prettier. The absolute perfect way to finish our holiday meal! What lucky neighborhood boys to be able to sample your incredible treats!
They are so cute…always so eager to help me with something and sort of like a break from mom and dad. They were off all last week; I imagine mom and dad enjoyed the time too. 🙂
This sounds so yummy good for my next dinner.