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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Apple Cobbler

    Apple Cobbler

    Published: August 20, 2019 · Modified: Sep 23, 2022 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    This simple but delicious Apple Cobbler is a classic old-fashioned dessert perfect for fall. You will fall in love with the warm apple filling with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg topped with a golden crust. Even better, this cobbler comes together quickly and easily.

    Overhead view of a plate with a serving of apple cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
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    Pinterest graphic of apple cobbler on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

    Nothing is better than a fresh apple cobbler straight out of the oven. It’s the perfect warm and cozy dessert for fall that is beyond easy to make. It’s perfect for when you’re craving apple pie but don’t have the time to make one from scratch. All you need are some simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, and after 45 minutes in the oven, you’ll have the perfect rustic dessert for any occasion.

    Whether you’re serving this apple cobbler with some vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, or homemade whipped cream, everyone will be reaching for seconds. Want more easy cobblers? Try my blueberry cobbler recipe, strawberry cobbler recipe, or peach cobbler recipe.

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients needed to make an apple cobbler.

    Apples — I recommend using firm apples so they hold up as you bake them. For the best flavor, use a combination of different apples. Some varieties that are great for cobblers are Honeycrisps, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, and Pink Lady apples. Avoid apples such as Gala, Fuji, and Red Delicious apples, as once baked, they become mealy and mushy.

    Lemon juice — I always recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice does not have the same bright flavors, and some have a bitter aftertaste.

    Brown sugar — light or dark brown sugar is an excellent option for the apple cobbler. Brown sugar adds a delicious caramel note to the filling.

    Cornstarch — adding cornstarch to the apple mixture helps thicken and create the classic gooey texture.

    Spices — make sure the cinnamon and nutmeg you have on hand are fresh for the best flavor. Cinnamon and nutmeg give the recipe its classic cozy, warm flavor.

    Butter — different butter brands add various amounts of salt to their butter, so for the most consistent results, always use unsalted butter.

    Flour — all you need is plain all-purpose flour for the cobbler topping. Nothing fancy!

    Baking powder — make sure the baking powder is fresh. Baking powder helps the cobbler topping rise, so if you use expired baking powder, you’ll have a dense and flat topping.

    Milk — milk adds flavor and moistens the dry ingredients to turn them into the topping batter. Whole milk has the best flavor.

    How to Make Apple Cobbler

    Set of two photos showing apples getting sliced and then tossed with cinnamon and sugar.

    1. Peel and slice apples, then transfer to a large bowl.

    2. Toss the apples with lemon juice until well coated. Add the brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.

    Set of two photos showing butter worked into dry ingredients and milk added.

    3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold butter and toss to coat with flour. Work the butter into the flour mixture by pressing it between your fingers until the butter pieces are the size of peas.

    4. Add the milk and stir together with a spatula until all of the flour is moistened.

    Set of two photos showing butter added to apple mixture and topping added.

    5. Pour the apple mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Dot the top with the cubed butter.

    6. Scatter the topping over the apples. (For a sugar top, sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar.) Bake the apple cobbler until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve topped with vanilla ice cream.

    A glass dish of apple cobbler with a golden spoon.

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake that will yield a dry topping. The best and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one, fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off. If you scoop the flour straight from the bag, you overpack the measuring cup.
    • I recommend peeling the apples before adding them to the cobbler. The apple peel can become chewy when baked, which can be an unpleasant texture in the cobbler.
    • Make sure you keep the butter in the fridge until ready to use. Cold butter will melt in the topping while baking and make the apple cobbler light and tender.
    • Allow the cobbler to cool for at least 10 minutes, as the juices will thicken up a bit as it cools. The cobbler will fall apart if you cut into it too soon.
    • Serve the cobbler as soon as possible, as it tastes best when warm and fresh.
    A serving spoon lifting up a serving of apple cobbler from a baking dish.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What’s the difference between apple crisp and cobbler?

    Both an apple crisp and a cobbler are quite similar as they use almost the same ingredients. Apple crisp has a crispy, streusel crumb topping that really crisps up in the oven, hence the name. A cobbler has a more biscuit-like crust on top of the prepared fruit.

    How do you cut apples for cobbler?

    To prepare the apples for the cobbler, peel the apples before cutting the apples in half, from top to bottom. Cut them length-wise in half again before cutting out the core. Then, slice the quartered apples length-wise into long line pieces.

    How do I store leftovers?

    Once the apple cobbler has reached room temperature, you can cover the baking dish and transfer it to the fridge for up to 5 days.

    How do I freeze cobbler?

    If you want to freeze any leftover cobbler, transfer the cobbler to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • A top town photo of an apple pie with a lattice top and a piece on a plate.

      Apple Pie Recipe

    • Baked Apples

    • Apple fritters on a plate.

      Apple Fritters

    • caramel apple cake

      Caramel Apple Cake

    • A big jar of apple pie filling next to some apple slices.

      Apple Pie Filling

    If you’ve tried this Apple Cobbler recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Apple cobbler on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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    5 from 30 votes

    Apple Cobbler

    Made with simple ingredients, this cozy and rustic Apple Cobbler comes together in a few quick steps. Perfect for fall, you'll want to make this recipe whenever you have apples in your kitchen.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Cool Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 360kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • 9×13 baking dish
    • Mixing Bowls

    Ingredients

    For the Apple Filling:

    • 4 pounds apples peeled, cored, and sliced (1.8kg)
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar (73g)
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter cut into small cubes (57g)

    For the Topping

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
    • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup cold unsalted butter cubed (170g)
    • ¾ cup milk (180ml)

    Instructions

    For the Apple Filling:

    • Preheat the oven to 350F.
    • In a large mixing bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice until well coated. Add the brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract. Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Dot the top with the cubed butter.

    For the Topping:

    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold butter and toss to coat with flour. Work the butter into the flour mixture by pressing it between your fingers until the butter pieces are the size of peas. Add the milk and stir together with a spatula until all of the flour is moistened. Scatter the topping over the apples. (For a sugar top, sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar.)
    • Bake for 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve topped with vanilla ice cream. Cover any leftovers and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

    Video

    Notes

    • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake that will yield a dry topping. The best and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one, fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off. If you scoop the flour straight from the bag, you overpack the measuring cup.
    • I recommend peeling the apples before adding them to the cobbler. The apple peel can become chewy when baked, which can be an unpleasant texture in the cobbler.
    • Make sure you keep the butter in the fridge until ready to use. Cold butter will melt in the topping while baking and make the apple cobbler light and tender.
    • Allow the cobbler to cool for at least 10 minutes, as the juices will thicken up a bit as it cools. The cobbler will fall apart if you cut into it too soon.
    • Serve the cobbler as soon as possible, as it tastes best when warm and fresh.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 312mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Avatar for Ed StandishEd Standish says

      August 28, 2022 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this cobbler using yellow mangoes instead and WOW, THIS IS MY GO-TO COBBLER RECIPE FOR ANY FRUIT! THANKS AGAIN JOHN!

      Reply
    2. Avatar for MelodieMelodie says

      November 23, 2019 at 6:32 am

      I made this recipe a few weeks ago. My husband told me this is favorite dessert yet!! I have made a lot of your recipes and they have all been hits! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Avatar for Maryellen CudneyMaryellen Cudney says

      November 22, 2019 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      Made this cobbler for friends yesterday as a pre-Thanksgiving test drive. (Had it for breakfast with coffee. YUM!) Easy, delicious, a total home run! This is the PERFECT dessert after a big meal. Everyone can take as much or as little as they like, have more later, take some home…. Thanks, John! Wishing you and yours a lovely, relaxing holiday.

      Reply
    4. Avatar for EllieEllie says

      August 24, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      I just took the cobbler out of the oven so I can’t rate it yet. But, your directions is a little confusing.

      Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt (how much salt?), brown sugar, vanilla extract, and corn starch to the apples. mix until well-combined then set aside.

      No food processor? No problem! Just whisk the dry ingredients together then use a cheese grater to grate in FROZEN butter. Mix together and drizzle the milk and cream (What cream?) You only mentions Half & Half in your recipe.

      Reply
      • Avatar for jkanelljkanell says

        August 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm

        Hi Ellie, so you’re referring to the Overview of steps with photos. The actual steps are in the recipe card. Hope that clears thing sup!

        Reply
    5. Avatar for RitaRita says

      August 22, 2019 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      I loved this scrumptious Apple Cobbler! It tasted absolutely perfect and it would be one of my favorite recipes to make this fall as well as any other time. The cobbler’s topping was tender and buttery…so amazing with the vanilla ice cream!!!

      Reply
    6. Avatar for JustineJustine says

      August 21, 2019 at 6:07 pm

      Can you use peaches in this recipe instead of apples or do peaches need a different recipe? Please try to reply as soon as you can!

      Reply
      • Avatar for jkanelljkanell says

        August 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm

        Yes! ENJOY THOSE PEACHES!

        Reply

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    Welcome to Preppy Kitchen!

    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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