Writing in the SACP's on-line Umsebenzi yesterday, Cronin apologised for earlier suggesting in jest that Malema was interested in the nationalisation of the mines only because of his "obsession with bling".
Angered by Cronin's attack, Malema then called the SACP leader a "white political messiah", saying the youth league did not need his permission to think.
Yesterday, Cronin wrote: "It was a silly comment and I apologise. I had not realised that Comrade Malema had such a delicate skin.
"It is here where I made my own misstep. I was trying to introduce a touch of polemical spice into what can sometimes be a dry topic ..."
ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu said the league "accepts the apology".
Shivambu went on to describe Cronin as "one of the best intellectuals produced by the revolutionary movement in South Africa".
Cronin also tried to play down the fight, saying that his organisation agreed with most of Malema's arguments on the nationalisation of the mines.
"The SACP certainly wants to pursue the discussion around the ownership and control of the economy with the ANCYL, and with the rest of our alliance. Hopefully, Comrade Malema, in his busy schedule, will find time to be part of this discussion some time before June next year," he said.
On Sunday, Malema told The Times that he did not have time to meet the Young Communist League to discuss "a non-issue", and that he would "slot them into my busy schedule some time in June next year".
The league committed itself to "engaging with all progressive forces to consolidate the most coherent, developmental and helpful model of the nationalisation of mines, which will benefit all people. We are also ready to meet and engage with the leadership of the SACP any time before June next year."
There was, however, one parting sting from Cronin, who said he had "no interest in Comrade Malema's personalised diatribes".
"They only serve to distract from what are important positive and constructive points that the ANCYL collectively, at least, has been making on the topic of nationalisation.
"Let's rather focus on what I take to be the substantive matters that Malema imagines he is raising in his response to me."
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Friend Of Reason