Apple Cobbler
This Apple Cobbler recipe is made with fresh apples sauteed with butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and apple cider and then baked with the most perfect topping that is sweet, crisp, and pairs perfectly with the fresh apples. This is the best apple cobbler recipe!
Servings: 12
Ingredients
Apple Filling:
- 7 large Apples (peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2" pieces)
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Apple Cider
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Lemon (zested and juiced)
Cobbler Topping:
- 1/2 cup Butter (8 Tablespoons, melted)
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt (only use 1/4 teaspoon if using salted butter)
- 2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream or Buttermilk
Garnish:
- Cinnamon Sugar Mixture (1 Tablespoon sugar + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan or tart pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter it.
- To make the apple filling: Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2 inch pieces. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar, apple cider, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This recipe requires to pre-cook the apples before baking the apple cobbler to allow the apple filling to thicken and release the liquid from the apples. If the filling doesn't thicken enough after cooking for 12-14 minutes, you can whisk in 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Cook, stirring often, for about 12-14 minutes or until the apples are slightly softened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Pour apples into the baking dish.
- To make the topping: In a medium bowl, melt the butter. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the heavy cream or buttermilk until smooth. It should resemble soft cookie dough.
- Place big dollops of dough over the apples. You can keep them as dollops or flatten them, depending on preference. If you want the apples to show though, leave as dollops. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
- Bake for 33-40 minutes or until the topping is golden and the juices from the apples are bubbling.
- Serve the apple cobbler warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
Notes
What type of apples should I use in the Best Apple Cobbler?
Granny Smith apples are the most popular because of their tartness and ability to hold their shape during baking. However, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala apples can be used for a sweeter filling. I prefer to use the sweeter apples. Avoid softer apples like Red Delicious, as they tend to become mushy when baked.
See the recipe post above for more answers to frequently asked questions.
My recipe inspiration came from the Back in the Day Cookbook and then I tweaked it from there.
