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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.
Ingredients for Apple Cobbler
- 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.
What Kind of Apples for Apple Cobbler
My favorite easy-to-find apples for honey crisps or cobblers are the following:
- Honeycrisp – The best baking apple.
- Gala – Delicious and a great baking apple.
- Braeburn – Firm texture with a hint of floral flavor.
How to Make this Easy Apple Cobbler
- 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.n
- Make the topping: In a medium bowl goes the flour, baking powder and salt, sugar, milk, melted butter and vanilla.
- Add the apples to the baking dish.
- Add the topping goes on top of the filling in a baking dish. And then bake!
Recipe Tip
Here are some questions, I’m sure you’re asking yourself!
- Using different fruits: If you want to use berries in place of apples, be sure to add a few teaspoons of cornstarch. For peaches, make my easy Peach Cobbler.
- Add some richness. If I’m feeling like I want it to be even richer (this is a pretty light dessert), I’ll sometimes layer a few tablespoons of butter (cubed up) in between the two layers of apples. This just makes it a bit saucier, which I love!
Recipe FAQs
The apples should be bubbling, the top should be a beautiful golden brown color and it should engulf your house with amazing smells of spices and apples.
Crisps, crumbles, and cobblers are all fruit baked with sugar, thickener, and flavorings—the difference is what’s on top. Crisps get a streusel-like topping with oats and nuts for crunch (see my Brown Butter Apple Crisp). Cobblers are topped with either drop biscuits or a loose, buttery batter (like pancake batter with extra butter). This recipe uses the latter for a rich, golden finish.
What to Serve with this Apple Cobbler
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Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe
Video
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
- 1/2 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.
Loved this cobbler! I am not a baker and I was able to do it and feel so accomplished!!!! Thank you!!
The flavor is great,the topping was a mess more like bread pudding. Slow to brown at 45 minutes 350. Followed recipe except used o,j. In place of lemon. What did do wrong topping looked just like picture and other ingredients were correct.thanks
This was such a delicious and easy recipe! It comes together very quickly, and the sweetness is perfectly balanced. I added some nutmeg too, and it tasted amazing. I will definitely be making this again.
Made this extremely easy! Great recipe will be making it again….easy enough for me to make on a busy day at work and have a hot dessert ready in time for a university president’s lunch!
For anybody that has never made a cobbler before and you’re scared, this recipe is for you. For anybody that has made hundreds of cobblers, this recipe is for you. So simple, so quick, and super delicious! The cake like topping sets this apart from other cobbler I’ve eaten. It has just the right amount of sweetness and tang. It really is delicious by itself, but add that scoop of vanilla and whip topping and *chefs kiss* I personally use gala and honey bee apples. I’ll definitely be making this whenever I’m craving apple cobbler.
thanks so much for this feedback. i love that it all worked out for you!
This was a big hit with the family, especially my dad, who tends to be picky about his desserts. He actually went back for seconds!
Instead of measuring the individual spices, I just used 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice in the apple mixture, and 1 teaspoon for the batter. I mixed it in the batter instead of sprinkling it on top.
Also, throw in half a teaspoon of vanilla extract in the batter.
As for the filling, you might want to specify just how big a “medium saucepan” is ie quart/liter size. The medium saucepan I used was probably a tad too small. I don’t really see the purpose of cooking the apples tbh. Probably just make the syrup in the saucepan, then pour over the apples in a large bowl. Mix until all apple pieces are coated, then pour into the baking dish.
While it’s good as-is, a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream really does make it.
hi patrick, not sure what recipe you’re following but this recipe doesn’t require for you to cook the apples. the apples go in raw. thanks!
Love this easy and delicious recipe! I loved the spice blend for the filling so much I also used it for my Thanksgiving apple pies this year.
Used a combination of an apple pie recipe and a peach cobbler recipe instead and preferred it over this. Still a great cobbler but there are better ways to do it.
Yummy! Similar to delicious apple cake. Perfect combination of spices, really yummy!
Made this easy recipe, then covered it all with streusel topping – YUM!!
love hearing this!