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This Easy Apple Cobbler recipe has a super fluffy, deliciously sweet topping. The apples are perfectly sweet and spiced. This is a simple, quick and easy dessert using the fresh fruit of fall! An absolute must is a scoop of ice cream on top.
I’m going to scream this from the rooftops but this is an Easy Apple Cobbler …that’s also fluffy and perfectly spiced and WAY easier than any apple pie you might not have time to make.
This season is all about pie, I will admit that. And of course, I have my favorite apple pie recipe that I think is a sure-fire winner. But let’s be honest, there’s not always time for pie crust-making, rolling out, crimping, etc.
I love a cobbler. But before we dive in. Let’s discuss semantics:
What’s the difference between Crisp vs. Cobbler?
Crisp, crumblers, cobblers. What’s the difference? They’re incredibly similar. Basically they’re sliced, diced or whole fruit at the base of a baking dish. Usually tossed with a thickener (either flour or corn starch or tapioca starch), sugar, lemon juice and other flavorings. And then they’re topped with something and then baked.
- Crisps – typically have something that makes it—yep—crisp on top. Think rolled oats, diced nuts, butter, and flour. Crisps are usually topped with a streusel like topping.
- Cobbler – some cobblers are topped with drop biscuits, other times they’re topped with more of a looser batter. I make this batter to also make my Peach Cobbler. It’s so good!
- This is obviously the latter. And we’re not making drop biscuits, instead we’re making a looser-type batter that resembles more of a pancake batter. But with a strong butter flavor. Lol.
What Kind of Apples for Apple Cobbler
Whenever you bake an apple dessert–whether it be for an apple pie or apple cobbler–you want baking apples. My favorite, easy-to-find apples are honey crisp apples and gala apples.
Ingredients for Apple Cobbler
This recipe is like a cake-like batter poured on top of thinly sliced apples that are tossed in spices and sugar. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the filling:
- Apples. I used a combo of gala apples and honey crips. Any baking apples would be great!
- Brown Sugar + granulated sugar. These two sugars are great for this baked apple recipe. If you wanted to do ALL brown sugar, that works too.
- All-purpose flour. This thickens the baked apple mixture. They’re not super juicy so flour vs. cornstarch is what we’re using.
- Lemon juice. This adds a lovely tartness to this recipe. It balances out the warm spices and sweet apples.
- Warm spices. I like to use a balanced combination of ground cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. None of these spices are prominent; you don’t really notice any one flavor–instead it’s a balanced flavor of spices.
- For the topping, you’ll be making a simple cake-like topping. You’ll need flour, vanilla, melted butter, some leavening, sugar and milk.
How to Make Apple Cobbler
What I love about this recipe is how simple it is to come together. Here’s how to make it:
- Mix the filling together. I used a mix of honey crisp and gala apples. Other apple combinations will totally work. And then add the brown sugar, sugar, flour, lemon juice, vanilla and spices.
- The topping couldn’t be simpler: In a medium bowl goes the flour, baking powder and salt, sugar, milk, melted butter and vanilla.
- And then the topping goes on top of the filling in a baking dish.
- In the oven and boom! done!
As much as I wish this was a one-bowl recipe, it’s a two-bowl recipe. But it’s simple, simple!
Tips and Tricks for Apple Cobbler
Here are some questions, I’m sure you’re asking yourself! Can you make a biscuit topping? Sure, but this isn’t that recipe per se so I would look for a recipe like that and use the apple spiced portion of this recipe.
Would this topping work with a peach cobbler or other fresh fruit? Absolutely. Though just a heads up, you’ll need to use a more of a thickening agent than flour (what we have here) because peaches and berries are juicier than apples. Berry fruit cobblers definitely have different ratios because of this.
And of course, I put up a step-by-step of this recipe over up on my Instagram Stories–comfort food at its finest!
Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe
Equipment
- 1 (8×6-inch) baking dish
Ingredients
Filling:
- 2 honey crisp apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 gala apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Juice from 1 small lemon, about 1 tablespoon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- Teeny pinch of ground cardamom
- Teeny pinch of ground cloves
Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or butter a baking casserole dish that’s 9×6 or something comparable. Use what you have! And then set it aside.
To Make the Filling:
- In a large bowl, add the sliced honey crisp apples, gala apples, brown sugar, sugar, flour, juice from 1 lemon, vanilla and spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves). Toss it all together until combined. Add the filling to your prepared baking dish.
To Make the Topping:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add the milk, butter and vanilla; mix until combined. Pour the topping on top of the filling. It’s ok if some of the filling is peaking through or it’s not a totally perfect on top. I like it when some of the filling shows through. And then transfer to the oven to bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm with cold vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
For more apple recipes:
This is perfectly spiced! Glad I tried it. I’m a crisp person not a cobbler person, but made it for my husband who likes cobblers. Will be using this filling for crisps and cobblers from
Now on!
so glad to hear it! 🙂
I’ve always been a bit scared of making cobbler, it’s not a massive thing in the U.K and I would always worry it would be a bit undercooked BUT this was so easy and delicious!
My oven dish was being used so I used a thali (!) as an oven casserole dish. I was worried it would dry out since it was spread out but it was perfect! No watery juices that make everything soggy and insipid. I served it with custard since I didn’t have any vanilla icecream. Really enjoyed it and liked that it didn’t skimp on the cinnamon! Thanks Adriana.
Although this apple cobbler recipe is super easy, it didn’t work for me. It came our super dry more like a biscuit consistency and apples mixed were dry as well.
We couldn’t eat it by itself, we had to add ice cream to moist this biscuit 🙂
Same. 🙁
So good and easy! Spices were excellent. Loved that it wasn’t overly sugary sweet like some apple desserts.
love hearing this. so glad you loved it!
Could you prep this ahead of time and bake later? I’m looking forward to trying this out.
Unfortunately I don’t think this is a good recipe to make ahead. It’s a pretty easy dessert but it all needs to be made, assembled and then baked straight away–sorry!
This was great! I used apples from my sisters orchard and it tasted amazing. I didn’t add the extra sugar to the apples and I thought it balanced out nicely with the icecream topping! I will definitely be making it again!
How many does this serve. Thinking about making it for Thanksgiving.
I would say it serves 4 with a bit of leftovers. 🙂
Can you bake it in a foil pan
Made this today, used 1 to 1 gluten free flour, came out great. Followed recipe except used pinch of nutmeg instead of cardamom and cloves. Delicious used Macintosh apples. Loved the cake like topping. Will be making many more times.. Thanks
love hearing this! sounds like delicious additions!
Made this last night and it was phenomenal! Such an easy recipe with delicious results! 🙂 Thank you!!
love to hear this! 🙂