25 Delicious Cobbler Recipes That Are Excellent Finales for Every Single Meal

Parade

August 22, 2024 at 3:50 AM·8 min read

Cobbler cravings can hit any time of the year and the ease with which this dessert is made can’t be beat. Put simply, a cobbler is sweetened fruit baked under a layer of batter or biscuit dough. Cobbler recipes are a summer highlight, of course, as every fruit seems to be in season then, but this treat is also more than welcome in the fall and winter. And lest you think cobbler recipes only skew sweet—guess again. You can make savory cobbler recipes with vegetables, meat filling or even fish topped with a batter that’s infused with herbs or cheese. Cobbler recipes are actually only limited to your imagination and what’s on hand in your pantry.

What Is a Cobbler?

Typically, a cobbler is a fruit-based dessert with a biscuit-like top crust—unlike a crisp which has oats in the topping. Cobblers got their name from their uneven top crust, which has lumpy, uneven dollops of dough and resembles a cobblestone path.

Essentially, cobblers feature a baked fruit filling mixed with bread batter, stuffing, dumplings or biscuits and usually finished (although not always) with a crunchy topping of some sort. The goal is to create a winning dessert of perfectly golden biscuits and fruit that is bubbling when pulled from the oven.

The soft, jammy fruit under a layer of flaky, subtly sweet dough served with a scoop of ice cream or a little whipped cream makes it a perfect end to any meal.

Why Make Cobbler?

Short of serving store-bought ice cream along with this warm dessert, you'd be hard-pressed to find an easier dessert than cobbler. Use any juicy summer fruit—peaches, nectarines, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, mangoes—and make a warm dessert in a jiffy.

What Biscuits Do Cobblers Use?

Cobbler recipes use different varieties of biscuits. There are drop biscuits and those that are rolled out as a dough and cut into rounds. The biscuits are there to absorb the juices of the fruit and give a pillow-like texture to the dessert.

Related: How to Make Homemade Biscuits

Does Cobbler Need To Be Refrigerated?

As with anything food-related, it’s best to learn the proper storage rules for baked goods, which include cobbler recipes. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, fruit pies, which are very similar to cobblers, can sit out on the counter for a day or two after baking. At this point, move your cobbler to the refrigerator where it should last for up to seven days. Cover your cobbler when it sits on the counter and in the refrigerator to keep the biscuit topping from drying out. Keep in mind that most divine desserts like cobblers will be gobbled in mere days, but if yours lingers longer, you can reheat it gently in a low oven to perk it up.

Can Cobbler Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze any of these cobbler recipes for two or three months, but the dough on top may become soggy when exposed to very cold temperatures. Still, if you plan to freeze your fully cooked cobbler, cool it completely after baking and then wrap it well in a layer of plastic and then foil.

Unbaked cobbler can also be frozen for the same amount of time and then baked directly from the freezer (just add about 15 or 20 minutes of cook time when preparing a cobbler this way). Another way to freeze cobbler is to make it without the dough topping and then make the batter or biscuits fresh and add them to the defrosted cobbler when you’re ready to bake.

Tips for Making the Best Cobbler

Want to hone your skills when it comes to making cobbler recipes? Here are some smart ways to up your cobbler game.

Go for fresh or frozen cobbler. Both types of fruit work very nicely in cobbler recipes, but the canned variety isn’t as ideal. Cobblers are showcases for the best fruit you can obtain, so hold off until you get the plumpest berries or juiciest apples to bake them.
Handle the dough carefully. Working the biscuit topping or over-mixing the dough will activate the gluten in your recipe and result in a tougher texture. Always knead gently!
Consider some crunch. While it’s not required, a little bit of coarse sugar sprinkled over the biscuits before baking them adds a crunch that’s lovely with the softened fruit. Or use slivered almonds or chopped pecans for the same effect.
Add a cool topping. Cobblers are made infinitely yummier with a spoonful of whipped cream, a scoop of ice cream or just a small pour of half-and-half. Enjoy!

The Best Cobbler Recipes

There's no reason to reserve cobbler just for summer—these cobbler recipes work great with fresh or frozen fruit and are winning desserts all year round.