Paraben Free Ginger-Cardamom Cherry Oat Crisp
Warm, bubbling cherries perfumed with fresh ginger and cardamom, blanketed under a golden, crunchy oat-and-almond topping — this crisp is the kind of dessert that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible. Parabens are synthetic preservatives that sneak into far more packaged foods than most people realize, so building a dessert entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients is a genuinely smart move. Every component here — fresh or frozen cherries, rolled oats, almond flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup — is exactly what it sounds like, with no hidden additives or preservative blends to second-guess. The arrowroot starch thickens the filling into a glossy, jammy sauce that clings to every bite, while the sliced almonds give the topping an extra layer of satisfying crunch. Fresh ginger does real heavy lifting in this recipe, cutting through the sweetness of the cherries with a bright, slightly spicy warmth that pairs beautifully with the floral cardamom. It comes together in one baking dish with minimal prep, and that ten-minute rest after it comes out of the oven is genuinely worth the wait — the filling tightens up into something almost pie-like. Serve it as-is or with a scoop of your favorite coconut cream for a dessert that feels indulgent without any of the ingredient anxiety.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the filling
- 5 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries (about 1 ¾ lb), thawed and drained if frozen
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
For the topping
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup raw sliced almonds
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch baking dish with a small amount of coconut oil.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cherries, 2 tbsp maple syrup, grated ginger, 1/2 tsp cardamom, and arrowroot starch. Stir until the cherries are evenly coated, then transfer to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
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