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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.
SOUNDS VERY GOOD AND I AM GOING TO GIVE IT A GO FOR CHRISTMAS, 2024 THANK YOU
I had a few apples (and a pear) I needed to use and found this wonderful recipe! Thank you – I followed the recipe as written and my cobbler turned out amazing! Everyone loved it!
I had a few apples (and a pear) I needed to use and found this wonderful recipe! Thank you – I followed the recipe as written and my cobbler turned out amazing! Everyone loved it!
There is no “pouring” the topping on. The topping is a dough. I followed the recipe perfectly and it’s a thick, chunky dough that you have to basically can’t even spread on.
I followed it exactly as well and got a batter that poured easily from the bowl. It was also easy to spread it out a bit over the apples. A “thick, chunky dough”? Sounds like you didn’t follow it as perfectly as you thought.
Such an easy and delicious recipe! My family loved the flavors.
Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Planning to bake for a friends bday! Do you think replacing the white sugar with coconut sugar would work here??
Hmm should work just fine!
Batter was very thin and burned.I cook for living so kinda do know what I am talking about. Don’t recommend.
Dear “I Cook For a Living”: I’ve followed this recipe many times, the batter is never thin or burned except when i didnt follow it. Maybe you didnt follow the recipe to a T, or maybe a little professionally biased?
I made this cobbler tonight, and was very disappointed. The ginger was overwhelming, and that was all I could taste.
This is exactly the recipe I was looking for! Incredibly easy to put together and has a great flavor. I halved this recipe and it still came out great. Will be making again soon!
Fred injury cleaning needs ginger if you put a very tiny hint, you’re very good. Maybe you’re discovering that you don’t like that flavor. You could definitely leave it out and it would be fine.
Your easy apple cobbler recipe was delightful. I have frozen apples from last year, some already seasoned and set for pies, some not. This was easy peasy…..this is the kind of recipe that I love. The topping was great!!!!! I used an already seasoned pie filling and your topping. Fast and fabulous.
oh wow that’s amazing. i’m so glad you loved it, janet! 🙂
Can this be frozen after baking ?
I believe it would be a very strange texture whem thawed.