An Easy Fruit Cobbler made with only 6 ingredients and on the table in less than an hour! A simple dessert of fruit oven baked into a buttery cake-like crust and it's sure to become your family's favorite.
A dump and bake fruit cobbler recipe
This fruit cobbler recipe is one of the easiest homemade desserts I've ever made in my life!
The only mixing involved is making the batter, so it's like a dump and bake method, where you throw everything in the pan and bake it off.
What is a cobbler?
A cobbler is made with a sweet or savory filling, layered on the bottom of a baking dish, topped with a biscuit crust and baked.
It's kind of like a super easy pie, without having to roll out a crust.
If we are getting technical, my recipe isn't a true cobbler by definition. It's more like a buckle.
What the heck is a buckle, you ask?
The difference between a fruit cobbler and a buckle
- In a cobbler, the fruit is mixed with sugar and stews in it's own juices under a layer of sweet biscuit dough that has been spooned over the top.
- In a buckle, a thin cake-like batter is poured into a pan and topped with fruit that bakes into the mixture.
So, why call this recipe a fruit cobbler?
This is a very old recipe of mine, found in my recipe tin, hand written on a large index card, and titled as "Fruit Cobbler". #truestory
Fruit cobbler is what I've always called it, so that was the name I decided it would be when posting it to the blog.
I guess it doesn't really matter what it's called, because in the end, it's just a damn delicious dessert.
What type of fruit to use in a cobbler?
The answer: any type you want. Cobblers work with all types (and kinds) of fruit and can be:
- fresh
- frozen
- canned
I think this cobbler recipe works best with frozen fruit, but canned fruit (drained of juices first) and fresh fruit can be used too.
Even though I am a firm supporter of fresh ingredients on this blog, I always use organic, all-natural frozen mixed berries in this cobbler.
The reason I use frozen berries? It's straight out of convenience because frozen mixed berries are in my freezer at all times.
Whenever I want a comforting berry cobbler, I can make it!
If using fresh or canned fruit in this easy cobbler recipe, it may cook quicker, so be sure to start checking it around the 30 minute mark.
One of those easy dessert recipes with few ingredients
This is not only one of those super quick desserts, but it's also made with very few ingredients.
Basically, all you do is make a quick batter of only 4 ingredients, pour it into a pan with melted butter, and top it with fruit.
Over the years, I've changed a couple things about the original recipe.
- Canned fruit was originally used and I changed it to frozen. However, canned or fresh fruit can still be used in this recipe.
- Replaced the use of margarine with butter and decreased the amount by 2 tablespoons. A whole stick was used in this recipe, but it was waaaay too much. For example, the cake part would be saturated with butter and was just too greasy. Cutting back the amount made for an ideal cobbler.
- Added baking powder and salt to the batter mixture. Crazy that the original recipe didn't have a leavening agent in it and I wanted a lighter cake. For this reason, I added baking powder to make it a little spongier.
- Extended the baking time from 25 to 50 minutes. Clearly, the addition of the frozen fruit slows down the cooking time, so I had to make adjustments to cook it longer.
What to serve on top of warm cobbler
My favorite topping is ice cream. Any kind of ice cream.
The cobbler you see in this recipe was topped with a local creamery's homemade coffee and Oreo cookie ice cream.
OMG, I can't even begin to explain how great the flavors were together.
Instead of drinking coffee with dessert, I was eating coffee with it!
Usually, most people will serve this with a vanilla bean ice cream. Especially, if serving to a large group or bringing to a potluck.
Without a doubt, everyone loves fruit cobbler with a scoop of vanilla frozen dairy.
Try topping it with a homemade whipped cream, caramel sauce, drizzle of heavy cream, or even a chocolate sauce (because chocolate is great on everything).
Most importantly, anything goes so just top it with whatever you like!
More simple dessert recipes:
- Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes
- White Chocolate Matcha Tapioca Pudding
- Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream
- Triple Chocolate Pudding
- Penuche Fudge
- Easy Butterscotch Pudding
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Make this Easy Fruit Cobbler next time you want a delicious ending to a fabulous dinner.
Please let me know in the comments below what fruit you used and enjoy!
Easy Fruit Cobbler
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup milk , full or low fat
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 12-15 ounces frozen fruit (Use your favorite mix of fruit. I use a mixed berry one)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/176C degrees.
- Melt butter in 8X8 or 9X9 pan via microwave or can melt it directly in the pan while it’s preheating in the oven.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add sugar, milk, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix well.
- Pour the batter over the melted butter in the pan. Add the frozen fruit on top of the batter and DO NOT STIR.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the cobbler is thoroughly cooked in middle and it’s golden brown.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Top with ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or chocolate sauce
- Can be made with fresh or canned fruit (drained). It may cook in a shorter amount of time, so check the cobbler after 30 minutes and then check every 5 minutes until done
- Store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- Reheat leftovers in a microwave for 30 seconds at a time, until heated through
Derek Smalls
Enjoyed this recipe. I used apples. I peeled, cored and sliced four medium apples then marinated them in 2 tablespoons cinnamon and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar. Mmmmmm. A great recipe that everyone loved. My cobbler was eaten completely within a day.
Karrie
Fresh apples is a wonderful idea Derek and so happy everyone enjoyed it!
V. B.
Super easy to make. I wanted something quick and using ingredients I already had on hand. Found this recipe. Used frozen mixed fruits which I never did before! Only ever eaten peach or apple cobbler or pie. But since I wanted to avoid having to go to the grocery store, I figured why not? YUMMY is the best description of the finished product!!!
Karrie
That's so great VB and very happy you liked the recipe!!
Hiswife
Omg the recipe was so easy to follow and it is so delicious..I keep waking up in the middle of the night to eat a few piece 🤦🏾♀️.. Next time, I will try with other fruits and a little bit less sugar. Thank you!
Karrie
Thank you so much and so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Next time you make it, please let me know how it turned out with a different kind of fruit and sugar amount.
Julie
This came out exactly the same as the peach cobbler KFC used to sell! You have no idea how I've missed it!
I wrote this one down for sure!
Karrie
Thank you for taking the time to review the recipe Julie!! Soooooo happy you liked it and I'm trying it with peaches next time. YUM!!!
Heather Wells
Was looking for a quick and easy dessert to make and came across your recipe. Used frozen blueberries and served with vanilla ice cream and it was delicious! We all loved it and had no leftovers. Thanks for the recipe!
Karrie
Thanks for trying my recipe Heather and overjoyed you all loved it!