With its rich, buttery, cake-like topping, this Easy Fruit Cobbler will be a family favorite. Use fresh apples, peaches, or strawberries for a delicious, simple dessert everyone will love.
I’ve made this easy farmhouse fruit cobbler for years, and it’s my favorite. I prefer a rich, buttery topping—more like yellow cake than a biscuit or crumbly one. It works well with fresh apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries (sometimes with rhubarb), or even frozen mixed berries. The recipe is easy to adjust for doubling or halving. I’ve baked it in a rectangular Pyrex and in a pie dish when halving, and it turns out great every time.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Fruit Cobbler
- It’s incredibly easy to customize with whatever fruit you have on hand.
- The buttery topping tastes more like a cake than a typical cobbler crust.
- This fruit cobbler can be easily doubled for larger gatherings or halved for smaller portions.
Recipe Ingredients
Fresh Fruit – Firmer fruits like apples or peaches add great texture. Mixing fruits, like strawberries or nectarines, gives you a fun variety of flavors.
Butter – Creates a rich, moist base with crisp edges. Browning the butter first deepens the flavor.
Sugar – Sweetens the filling and forms a golden, caramelized crust. A light sprinkle on top adds extra crunch.
For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.
Variations
Mixed Berries – Use raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a sweet, refreshing blend in the cobbler.
Maple Syrup – Replace sugar with maple syrup for a richer, more complex sweetness.
Almond Extract – Blend raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a deliciously sweet and tart cobbler.
How to Make Easy Fruit Cobbler
For the Base
Step #1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
Step #2: Melt the half cup of butter in the microwave and pour it into a 13×9″ (33×23 cm) glass baking dish.
For the Filling
Step #1: Bring the cup of sugar, fresh fruit, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce to low and add cinnamon and vanilla extract.
For the Topping
Step #1: Meanwhile, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the milk slowly and stir until the ingredients come together and are moistened. This makes a batter, not a dough, so it will be very runny.
Step #2: Pour the mixed batter directly on top of the melted butter into your baking pan. Do not stir it! You want the butter to come up around the edges and keep the dish from sticking.
Step #3: Pour your fruit mixture directly on top of the batter in your baking pan. Do not stir it! The batter will bake up between your chunks of fruit, making it delicious.
Step #4: Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with whipped cream or a splash of half-and-half.
Expert Tips
Prevent a Runny Filling – If your fruit is extra juicy, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the filling for a thicker consistency.
Use Cold Milk – For a light and airy topping, combine cold milk with the dry ingredients. It helps the batter rise better.
Don’t Overfill the Pan – Leave some space at the top of the baking dish to prevent the fruit from bubbling over during baking. Use a rimmed baking sheet underneath to catch any spills.
FAQs
Serve the cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. For an extra special touch, drizzle with caramel sauce or pair it with a splash of half-and-half.
Yes, canned fruit can be used. Be sure to drain the fruit well to avoid excess liquid that might make the cobbler too runny.
For a crispier topping, you can sprinkle coarse sugar on top of the batter before baking. You can also bake the cobbler for a few extra minutes to achieve a deeper golden brown color.
Storage Information
To store the cobbler, cover and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. You can freeze it by letting it cool completely, wrapping it tightly, and storing it for up to 3 months. Freezing may slightly affect the texture, but the flavor will remain delicious.
To reheat, use a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed through, or microwave individual portions for quick reheating.
Deliciously Simple Desserts You’ll Love
Easy Fruit Cobbler Recipe
Ingredients
For the Base
- 1/2 cup butter - unsalted if you have it
For the Fruit Filling
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 cups fresh fruit - firm fruits work best, like peaches, apples, strawberries
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice - or orange juice
- Ground cinnamon
- Vanilla - either the caviar from one half of a vanilla bean, or 1 tsp. extract*
For the Cobbler Topping
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup flour - all-purpose is fine
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup milk - whole works best, but I’ve made it with non-fat with no issues
- *I’ve also experimented with other extracts - such as almond or orange extract, with happy results)
Instructions
For the Base
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Melt the half cup of butter in the microwave and pour it into a 13×9″ (33×23 cm) glass baking dish.
For the Filling
- Bring the cup of sugar, fresh fruit, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce to low and add cinnamon and vanilla extract.
For the Topping
- Meanwhile, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the milk slowly and stir until the ingredients come together and are moistened. This makes a batter, not a dough, so it will be very runny.
- Pour the mixed batter directly on top of the melted butter into your baking pan. Do not stir it! You want the butter to come up around the edges and keep the dish from sticking.
- Pour your fruit mixture directly on top of the batter in your baking pan. Do not stir it! The batter will bake up between your chunks of fruit, making it delicious.
- Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with whipped cream or a splash of half-and-half.
NOTES
Nutrition
So easy to prep and it tasted amazing fresh out of the oven.
I am from the philippines and my Dutch partner and his French Canadian friend didnt know what a cobbler was! So i made this version using papaya and pineapples harvested from our small farm in the village. It was lovely! Now they know what a cobbler is😅…and im going to make it again using local tropical fruits…thank you fir this recipe!!!