Apple Cobbler

This cobbler is packed with apples, topped with a ginger buttermilk biscuit crust, and just sweet enough.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 09, 2023
Elise Bauer
Easy Apple Cobbler on a marble surface with some apples in the background
Elise Bauer

Stop by my parent's house in September or October and likely you will not leave without a bag filled with granny smith apples from their tree.

My father grafts several varieties of apples on to his trees, but the Granny Smiths are the ones that are the most prolific, and they're also great for pies, applesauce, apple butter, and apple cobbler.

One of our favorite things to make with our apples is this apple cobbler. The filling is seasoned with cinnamon, lemon, and vanilla and isn't overly sweet. The buttermilk biscuit cobbler crust is speckled with bits of candied ginger.

A No-Fuss Apple Cobbler

As much as we love a good apple pie, apple cobbler is much less fussy. You don't have to chill the dough, or roll out a pie crust.

You just spoon the crust dough on top of the apple filling. So you get the great taste of pie with half the work!

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

How to Store Leftover Apple Cobbler

Apple cobbler is best when served warm from the oven. That said, the warmed leftovers make a quick and easy dessert during the week, and like pie, can be just what you need for breakfast too.

Cover the cobbler and store it in the fridge for up to five days. The topping will soften with time, but will still taste fine.

Reheat individual servings in the microwave in 30-second bursts until warmed, or reheat in a toaster oven.

Apple Cobbler hot from oven
Elise Bauer

Can You Make Apple Cobbler Ahead?

Since cobbler is best the day it's made, can it really be made ahead? Not from start to finish, but you can make the different components and then assemble and bake the cobbler when you're ready.

  • Make the filling, let it cool, and store its own container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Mix the dry ingredients and then cut in the butter. Store this in an airtight container for up to three days. (As long as its kept cold, the butter won't melt into the flour.)
  • Wait to measure out the buttermilk until you're ready to make the cobbler.

When you're ready to bake, transfer the filling to the pan, mix the buttermilk into the topping, and bake. You might need to add an extra few minutes to the total baking time for the apples to warm up and start bubbling. If the top starts to brown before the filling is bubbling, tent the pan with foil.

This is a particularly good approach if you plan on making the cobbler at someone else's house; it's easier to transport the different components than it is to transport a hot, just-baked cobbler.

Can Apple Cobbler be Frozen?

You can make and freeze the filling for up to a month ahead. Thaw completely before assembling and baking.

remove apple cobbler from oven
Elise Bauer

Got apples?

Apple Cobbler

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 70 mins
Servings 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Filling ingredients:

  • 3 pounds of a variety of good cooking apples such as Granny Smith, Pippin, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gravenstein

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1 tablespoon flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest or orange zest

Method

  1. Prep the apples:

    Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Cut them into 1/4 to 1/2 inch chunks. As you prep the apples, add them to a bowl and toss with lemon juice to keep them from oxidizing (turning brown).

    prepping apples for apple cobbler
    Elise Bauer
  2. Make the apple cobbler filling:

    Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped apples (and the lemon juice from the bowl), sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss to coat with everything so that the spices and sugar are well distributed throughout the apples.

    Partially cover the pot and cook until the apples are just tender, about 10 minutes.

    Stir in the vanilla, and toss to coat with a tablespoon of flour.

    precooking apples for easy apple cobbler
    Elise Bauer
  3. Transfer filling to cobbler dish:

    Transfer the apple cobbler filling (including any juices from the apples) to a 10-inch pie dish, a 9-inch deep-dish pie dish, or a 9x9-inch baking dish.

  4. Preheat the oven to 425°F
  5. Make the cobbler topping:

    In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

    Add the cubed butter and toss to coat with the flour mixture. Use your fingertips or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour mixture until the largest piece of butter is no bigger than a pea.

    Stir in the candied ginger and zest.

    Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in the buttermilk. Use a fork to stir the flour and buttermilk together until the flour is all moistened. Do not overwork the dough!

    how to make apple cobbler biscuit dough
    Elise Bauer
    how to make apple cobbler dough
    Elise Bauer
  6. Crumble topping over apples:

    Crumble the cobbler dough over the top of the apples in the baking dish. (If you want extra pizzaz you can sprinkle the top with a little brown sugar.)

    fill pie dish with pre-cooked apples for apple cobbler
    Elise Bauer
    top apples with dough mixture for easy apple cobbler
    Elise Bauer
  7. Bake:

    Place a rimmed baking sheet on the lowest rack in the oven (to catch any drippings), and place the cobbler on the next lowest rack.

    Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F until the top is beginning to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.

    Then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for 30 more minutes until the topping is cooked through and the filling is bubbly.

    Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

    remove apple cobbler from oven
    Elise Bauer
Easy Apple Cobbler on a marble surface with some apples in the background
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
452 Calories
18g Fat
70g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 452
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 397mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 70g 26%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 39g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 9mg 45%
Calcium 126mg 10%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 277mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.