There are a few homemade recipes that can’t be beat. When Fall rolls around and the days start getting dark, I start craving certain foods. A spiced fruit cobbler is right up on the list. I’m a big fan of drop biscuit cobblers and always make them in the summer. In the Fall, peach cobblers give way to apple ones. This old-fashioned apple cobbler comes together in one bowl and the smell alone is reason enough to make it.
An Autumn Staple
This Apple Cobbler combines Autumn’s most essential elements: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a handful of basic ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
As much as I love making apple pies, they take a considerable amount of time and effort to make. Even their easier counterpart, the rustic galette, needs to spend some time resting in the fridge before they’re ready to be rolled out.
Cobblers require very little time and effort – and zero waiting time. That qualifies them as very beginner friendly and an overall crowd-pleasing dessert.
The gooey apple filling is cooked with those classic warm spices and their wonderful smell invades your home in a way that feels like a hug. For that reason, it’s best served warm. When chilled, I recommend warming it up in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
It’s fantastic on its own, but made significantly better accompanied by a generous amount of vanilla custard. If you like your taste buds to be hit with a contrast of hot and cold, the classic vanilla ice cream is also a welcoming companion.
A classic vanilla custard is very easy to make. You’ll get it done before the cobbler comes out of the oven and it’s entirely worth the little extra effort.
Pre-Cooking the Apple Filling
The most laborious part of the process is preparing the filling. Pre-cooking the apples is an essential step in getting them to soften. If you skip this step the apples won’t get a chance to fully cook while in the oven.
Pre-cooking the apples doesn’t mean they’ll become mush after being baked. They’ll still retain their shape and texture, but it’s a much more pleasant result than having them being undercooked.
Just a few minutes on the stovetop is enough to produce a thick sauce and start softening the apples.
It’s also important to peel the apples for a more refined product. For recipes such as this, where the fruits will be cut and tuck away under a layer of batter as opposed to being exposed, I do a little trick that helps cut costs:
Take advantage of the discount rack! I often find great deals upon checking the discount rack. I don’t mind a couple bruised fruits and veggies here and there.
For this recipe, I used apples that aside from a couple bruises they were perfectly fine. Not a single one went to waste and they were a bargain. Doing that is also a great exercise in creativity. You never know what you’re going to find on the discount rack and you might end up with a couple of Chinese eggplants and no plans. Wonderful recipes start that way.
Substitutions
Cobblers are so simple, they’re sort of a blank canvas for baking. They can adapt for any season. In the summer, peach cobblers are a favorite. But there’s also fruits like strawberries and plums. And so many more.
Since it’s Fall and I was craving something cozy and spiced, apples were the obvious answer – apples for Fall? Groundbreaking – but feel free to try any fruits you see fit. From tangy cranberries to unexpected combinations.
Make new traditions
I sort of accidentally started a new tradition on this blog: connection each recipe to a movie. Well, I’ve only done it once, but every tradition has to start somewhere, right?
This week I rewatched one of my favorite movies, It’s Complicated. The movie is peak Nancy Meyers aesthetic and if you’re a woman of any age you’ve probably dreamed of a Nancy Meyers life at one point or another.
In It’s Complicated, Meryl Streep has the perfect house, perfect kitchen, and the perfect bakery. It’s the kind of life I’m trying to manifest, so if you’re looking for a fun, gorgeous, feel-good movie to watch or play in the background while you make your cobbler, It’s Complicated is the one!
As always, if you make this Apple Cobbler, please let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you and about your favorite feel-good movie.
Apple Cobbler with Vanilla Custard
1 9x6
baking dish15
minutes5
minutes40-45
minutesIngredients
- Filling
2 tbsp butter
6 medium apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices (you'll end up with about 1kg after cored and peeled)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cornstarch
- Topping
3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare the filling: melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the apple slices, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Stir to combine.
In a small bowl, combine the lemon and cornstarch. Mix until well incorporated.
Add the cornstarch slurry to the apples and gently stir to combine.
Cook the apples, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the apples begin to soften. Transfer apple filling to the prepared baking pan.
Make the topping: in a medium bowl, add the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Mix to combine.
Add milk, melted butter, and vanilla to dry ingredients. Whisk just until combined. Some small lumps are okay. Pour the batter over the apples and spread evenly.
Bake on the center rack for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Serve preferably warm, on its own or topped with vanilla custard or vanilla ice cream.
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