This easy apple cobbler recipe gives you all of the flavors of fall in one delectable dish. Fresh apples and cinnamon, topped with soft, spongy cake – this homemade cobbler is comfort in a pan!
Peach cobbler may be the original cobbler, but apple cobbler will give it a run for its money! Imagine a warm, fluffy topping sealing in a spicy cinnamon-infused apple pie-like filling. Is your mouth watering yet?
Apple Cobbler vs. Crisp: Is There a Difference?
Yes, there is a difference between an apple cobbler and an apple crisp. Apple crisp is made with a crispy oat crumble as a topping. This is usually seasoned with maple syrup and other spices, creating a delicious layer to seal in the apple filling's goodness.
Learning how to make apple cobbler and apple crisp are two different things. A cobbler topping has a cake-like consistency instead of a crispy crumble of baked oats.
Is an Apple Cobbler an Apple Pie?
There is no taste difference between an apple cobbler, pie, or crumble when it comes to flavor. Where the difference comes in is the crust (or crust-like part). The crust of a pie can be super flaky with a soft but firm, slightly chewy texture. The topping of a cobbler is a bit different.
A cobbler topping is more "cake-like" in texture. It is soft and spongy, with a slightly harder crust on top. Where the filling meets the crust, the liquid is absorbed, giving it a soft, gooey texture with some of the sweet apple flavor soaked in.
The other difference is that an apple pie crust is on the bottom and sides of a pie. With a cobbler, the crust is poured on top and baked to a golden crisp. It also has more of a "biscuit" look to it with a thin layer of dough.
6 Tips to Make Your Apple Cobbler Sing
Making this easy apple cobbler is just that: easy! However, there are a some things to bear in mind when making this mouth-watering dessert.
#1. The best apples
Any type of apple will work well with this dessert. The best apples to use are apples that are slightly on the tart side. Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious work well.
#2. To peel or not to peel?
Peeled apples are always the best. Baking the apples with the skin on may create a tougher texture since the apples don't necessarily break down during the baking process. A quality apple peeler can save you time in the preparation stage.
#3. Thickness of apples
To get the most flavor from your apples, it is always best to slice them thinly. This way, you have crisp apple pieces that won't let out a ton of moisture. The less moisture, the better the cake topping will turn out.
#4. Make it ahead
You can make the apple filling for this recipe ahead of time. You can store the filling in your fridge for up to 3 days before you use it.
#5. Keep the leftovers
If there are leftovers (which we doubt there will be), cover the dish and store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Apple cobbler is excellent cold with a nice warm cup of your favorite coffee.
You can also freeze the baked apple cobbler. It can last in a freezer for about 3 months. Simply thaw the frozen cobbler in the refrigerator overnight and reheat before serving.
#6. Canned ingredients
As with any recipe, you can settle for an already made topping like a Bisquick. Or use a canned apple pie filling. Yes, you will save time, but you will also miss out on the homemade experience and full flavor when using fresh local market apples.
Making an apple cobbler from scratch is easy to do and will give you the flexibility to adjust the spices and flavor of both the topping and the filling. The following recipe is such a simple apple cobbler recipe to follow that you'll leave the canned ingredients alone and get that apron on!
Is It Easy to Make Apple Cobbler?
Yes, it's surprisingly simple to put a delicious cobbler together. You'll be filling your kitchen with a mouth-watering aroma in no time. Here's how to make apple cobbler in four simple steps:
#1. Make the filling - around 5 minutes
All you need is the ingredients and a saucepan. The filling only takes around 5 minutes to cook!
#2. Make the batter - around 5 minutes
As the filling is cooking, you can whip up the batter in no time.
#3. Pour into your baking dish (and don’t forget to say, "Apple cobbler is delicious!")
The filling goes in first, then the batter on top. A sprinkle of cinnamon is the final touch to step #3.
#4. Bake 38 to 40 minutes
This step is the easiest by far! Relax with your cup of coffee as you wait around 40 minutes for your cobbler to bake. You'll love the aroma filling your home as it bakes.
The Best Apple Cobbler Recipe
This easy apple cobbler is a hearty fall-flavored feast. Save this recipe, because you'll be making it more than once!
Ingredients
For the apple cobbler filling:
- 6 medium apples, peeled and cut into ¼ inch chunks (Granny Smith or Golden Delicious are ideal)
- 1 c. of water (or you can use apple juice for a sweeter cobbler)
- 1/3 c. of packed brown sugar
- 1 tbsp of cornstarch
- 1 tbsp of lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp of salt
For the apple cobbler topping:
- 1 c. of all-purpose flour
- 1 c. of granulated sugar
- 2 tsp of baking powder
- 1/4 tsp of salt
- 3/4 c. of milk
- 5 tbsp of butter (make sure it is melted)
- Ground cinnamon to be added as a topping before baking
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9”X13" pan with some oil or cooking spray. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the brown sugar, cornstarch, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt.
Once this is mixed, add your apple pieces and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure you keep stirring the contents until thoroughly heated and mixed. Pour this mixture into your oiled baking dish.
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly stir the milk and melted butter in, and keep stirring until combined. Pour this mixture over your apples. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon.
Bake for 38 to 40 mins. Insert a toothpick through the topping. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cobbler is done. Take it out of the oven and allow it to cool for about 15 mins before you serve it. Top each portion off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (for an extra touch), and enjoy!
The Cobbler Craze Isn't Just for Peaches and Blueberries!
Blueberries and peaches make a great cobbler. When the produce is readily available and fresh at the height of summer, every household should have fruit cobbler baking away in their oven. However, it's not all about peaches and berries, and you can have a cobbler in the fall too!
Apples make a great cobbler. As summer ends and the apple markets are in full swing, take advantage of the fresh and crisp goodness of freshly harvested local apples to make a dessert that you will love to eat but also love to make over and over again.