This easy Apple Cobbler Recipe makes a perfect fall dessert. There is nothing quite like that warm apple filling, topped with a buttery crust and finished off with a creamy scoop of ice cream. If you love apple desserts as much as I do, then you are going to love this quick and easy recipe.
Apple Cobbler
While chocolate often gets the spotlight, there is no denying that apple desserts have the potential to steal the show. There is a special magic that happens when apples are baked with cinnamon and sugar, covered with a decadent topping or crust and then topped with cool, creamy ice cream. While each ingredient is great on it’s own, they truly transform when combined and served warm, as they are in this Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe.
What’s the difference between Apple Cobbler and Apple Crisp?
While I often make Apple Crisp, I decided it was time to share an Apple Cobbler.
This Apple Cobbler recipe has quite a bit in common with Apple Crisp. Obviously they share delicious baked apples. They are both topped with buttery toppings. Both deserve a big scoop of vanilla ice cream when being served. And they both are really taken over the top with a drizzle of caramel sauce.
The main difference between an Apple Cobbler and an Apple Crisp comes down to the topping.
Apple Cobbler
An apple cobbler has a biscuit like topping or crust. The level of sweetness in that crust can vary.
Apple Crisp
While an apple crisp has a more streusel like topping, typically including oats, and sometimes including nuts as well. Truth be told, the end result, when topped with a scoop of ice cream, is very similar.
Both are delicious, and easy to make. Personally I think you should try making each this fall. Your friends and family will thank you for making either one. And I’m pretty sure they will cheer for you if you decide to make them both.
How To Make Apple Cobbler
Apple Cobbler is simple and easy to make. Here’s a quick run down of what you’ll need and what you’ll do, with the full printable recipe at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients:
- Apples
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Flour
- Eggs
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Butter
Directions:
- First, peel, core and slice apples.
- Next, combine apples with cinnamon sugar mixture and place in a baking dish.
- Then prepare the topping by combining flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Once mixture resembles coarse crumbs, sprinkle over apples.
- Finish preparing the apple cobbler by pouring melted butter over the mixture.
- Finally, place in the oven to bake.
What Apples Are Best To Use?
Different apples can lead to very different results in baked goods. Not only do different apples have different flavors, they can have different textures and moisture content. Some apples will hold a nice texture when baked, while others will become very mealy and make the filling watery.
Recommended Apples For Baking:
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
- Golden Delicious
- Honeycrisp
- Jonathan
- Braeburn
- Pink Lady
- McIntosh
Tips For Baking With Apples:
My best tip when baking with apples is to use a variety of apples in the recipe.
When I visited an apple farm a few years back, I asked the ladies what apples they preferred to bake with. More than a specific apple in particular, they preferred multiple apples.
For my apple desserts, I always use a combo of granny smith (a gold standard for baking in my opinion) and one or more of the apples listed above. Do yourself a favor, even though they are common and inexpensive, avoid using red delicious apples when baking. When baked they can become very mealy and mushy.
Does Apple Cobbler Need To Be Refrigerated?
According to the USDA, fruit pies (close to cobblers and crisps) are food-safe at room temperature for up to two days because they contain plenty of sugar and acid, which retard bacteria growth. So no, technically they do NOT need to be refrigerated.
Do I refrigerate mine?
Yes, every single time. I personally just feel better storing my apple cobbler in the fridge.
Can You Freeze Apple Cobbler?
This recipe doesn’t do especially well when frozen. The biscuit like topping can get quite mushy, and the apple texture isn’t always the best after freezing. If you don’t mind the funky texture you might end up with, then there’s no harm in freezing it. However, this really is a quick dessert to make, so I recommend making it fresh.
Other Apple Desserts To Try
- Apple Crisp
- Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Campfire Apple Pie Packets
- Carmel Apple Crumble
- Apple Pie Six Ways
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Caramel Apple Pie
- Apple Spice Cake
- Caramel Apple Chocolate Bark
- Baked Cinnamon Apples
- Not apple, but don’t miss this delicious Peach Cobbler Made With Canned Peaches.
Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6-8 large apples peeled, cored and sliced approximately 1/4" (approximately 9 cups of apples)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup butter, melted
- ice cream & caramel sauce if desired for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine 2/3 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl.
- In a large bowl, mix apples with most of cinnamon and sugar mixture. Then place apples into a 13×9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon and sugar mixture over apples and gently mix to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix with a fork until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle mixture over apples in baking dish.
- Drizzle melted butter evenly over crumb mixture. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until starting to turn lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Best served warm, with individual servings topped with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.
Notes
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
- Golden Delicious
- Honeycrisp
- Jonathan
- Braeburn
- Pink Lady
- McIntosh
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as we do!
Beth says
I made this recipe last night for a front yard socially distanced gathering and it was a HIT!! I followed the directions exactly and was super impressed that the top of the cobbler ended up with a slightly crisp top.
One question for you, have you ever tried almond flour in lieu of the regular flour? I wanted to make this for a new mom and her family and they are gluten free.
Thank you again for sharing this recipe with the world!!
Christi Johnstone says
So glad you enjoyed it, Beth! We have a serious nut allergy in our home, so nut flours are definitely not something I’m familiar with. If you’ve subbed it in other recipes with good results, then I’d imagine it would work with this too. I’ve used Krusteaz Gluten Free Flour in the past in other recipes with good success, so that might be an option as well. If you do sub with a nut flour, just make sure you share that info with whoever might be consuming it, just to be safe. 😉
Carol says
Made for my husband as a precursor to Thanksgiving! He loved it!
Blanca says
Mmmhmmm!
Just out of the oven! Left skin on apples.
Crystal says
Salted or unsalted butter?
Christi Johnstone says
Whatever you have on hand. Honestly I never taste any difference.
Leah says
Should I cover it in the oven?
Christi Johnstone says
Leah, you’d only need to cover it if you find it’s browning too much for your liking. But in general, no, it does not need to be covered.
Chantè says
This will be a new staple in my home! Absolutely delicious!!
I used a combo of honey crisps & Granny Smiths
Bran says
So damn delicious! 5 stars. I was looking for a quick quarantine dessert and this was IT!
I only had 4 (red delicious) apples so I halved the recipe, baked for 50 minutes in a 9×9 glass baking dish. It came out perfect! Next time I will try it with Granny Smith apples.
Patti Petree says
I made this and only changes were I went ahead and mixed all of the sugar/cinnamon mixture with the apples, and just for ease of measurement, I used 3/4 cup of butter (1 1/2 sticks). Delicious recipe! Topping was crunchy which my husband and I loved!
Tamora says
Excellent recipe! I did use half white sugar and the rest brown sugar. I also drizzled maple syrup on the apples before adding the topping.
Rick says
Made this and it tasted FANTASTIC!