Description
This Classic Southern Fruit Cobbler is a delightful and comforting dessert featuring a tender, golden batter topped with juicy, macerated fresh or frozen fruit. Perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of lemon, this cobbler bakes up beautiful in a 9×9-inch dish and is best served warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Mixture
- 4 cups fresh or frozen fruit (such as peaches, berries, or a mix)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (divided)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup milk
Topping
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or any similar-sized casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Fruit: In a medium bowl, toss the fruit with ¼ cup of the granulated sugar and the lemon juice. Let this mixture sit to macerate while you prepare the batter, which enhances the fruit’s natural sweetness and juiciness.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining ½ cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt for the batter. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients, stirring gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter light and tender.
- Assemble Batter: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out to cover the bottom uniformly.
- Add Fruit Topping: Spoon the macerated fruit along with its juices evenly over the batter. Do not stir; the batter will rise up around the fruit as the cobbler bakes, creating classic pockets of fruit.
- Add Cinnamon: Sprinkle the optional ground cinnamon on top for extra flavor and aroma.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the batter comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cobbler to cool slightly before serving. It’s delicious warm and pairs wonderfully with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- You can use any fresh or frozen fruit such as peaches, berries, cherries, or a mixture.
- The fruit mixture should be allowed to macerate to enhance sweetness and create a delicious syrup.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the cobbler light and fluffy.
- Optional cinnamon topping adds a warm spice flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a classic Southern dessert experience.
