There are endless variations of cobblers, crumbles, and crisps out there. While all three of these are essentially fresh fruit baked under some kind of topping that includes butter, there are some subtle differences.
A cobbler is the most distinctive. In this dessert, small, individual biscuits are dropped over the fruit. When baked, the biscuits pop up, creating a bumpy appearance, like a cobbled road. (Tip: you can replace the biscuit batter with cake batter or cookie dough!)
Crumbles and Crisps are a little harder to define. Both call for streusel-like toppings over your fresh fruit. While various geographical regions will debate this on the Internet for eternity, the general consensus seems to be that a crisp topping includes oats and is more like granola while a crumble topping does not have oats and is made up of a more crumbly mixture of flour, butter, and sugar.
As for this recipe, let’s call it a cobbler. The topping has all of the elements of a biscuit — or a sugar cookie! — but the difference is that the topping isn’t formed into individual biscuits before baking. Really, it’s a Crumb-bler: a mix between a crumble and cobbler that gives you sweet cinnamon-sugar apples topped with what tastes like a sugar-cookie pie crust that has the most incredible crunch to it as you break through to the fruit below
Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe
Yields one 8×8” or 2.5-quart dish
Ingredients:
Filling:
app. 1.5 pounds apples*, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
¼ cup + ⅛ cup sugar
½ tablespoon cinnamon
Topping:
¾ cup flour
¾ cup sugar
heaping ⅛ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ of one egg, lightly beaten**
3 tablespoons butter, melted
extra cinnamon for sprinkling
*Honeycrisp apples are ideal here
**Don’t stress over getting exactly ¾ of an egg. Crack the egg into a small bowl and take out a few spoonfuls.
Instructions:
-Preheat oven to 350*. Spray your pan with cooking spray.
-Place prepared apple slices in greased pan.
-Stir the ¼ + ⅛ cup sugar and 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon together, then sprinkle over the sliced apples. Do not mix in.
-In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together. Once combined, add the lightly beaten egg, stirring it in as best you can. It w
-Sprinkle flour mixture over the cinnamon/sugared apples.
-Pour melted butter over the topping, then sprinkle with extra cinnamon.
-Bake for about 45 minutes or until filling is bubbling and topping is nicely browned.
Store covered on countertop for 24 hours; beyond that it should be stored in the fridge.
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.
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Now it’s your turn, lovely Design Mom Readers. Do you prefer crisps, crumbles, or cobblers? Or maybe you go for pie instead!
Photos & recipe by Liz Berget.
In the south, what we call cobbler is generally topped with pie crust.
haven’t much baked yet, but have lit my pumpkin scented candle in honor of what’s coming! …. and apples and sharp cheddar? I totally forgot about that! thank you for That reminder ☆
Oh my! I’ll be baking this tonight for after dinner dessert! Thank you Gabrielle and Liz!
Oh, man! I will definitely be making this. I love Honeycrisp apples too!!
Ah! I’ve always wondered what the difference between a crisp and crumble was. Thanks for all the delicious recipe links!
This cobbler looks amazing! It’s one of my favorite desserts!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Yum!! I love apple crisp, definitely will try this soon!
Who needs a scented candle when you have this baking in the oven? I’m trying this this weekend! My kids will thank me.
Analog House
http://theanaloghouse.blogspot.com
Just popped this in the oven. Thanks for the recipe — looks amazing, and I love that it really is easy.
I made the peach and pecan sandy crumble she mentions today. Cannot wait to dig in!!
I would definitely call this a crumble, not cobbler. Cobbler has more of a pie crust or biscuit topping. (I’m from the South, if it’s geographical.) I made the peach crumble from the recent Everyday Foods magazine last night for the fourth time. It has directions for changing the fruit filling and I’ve made it with nectarines, peaches/plums, and a blueberry/cherry/strawberry combo as well. It has a topping made of butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt. Very yummy!
Looks fabulous, no matter what you want to call it!