When we think of summer desserts, blackberry cobbler is the first thing that comes to mind. Top it off with vanilla ice cream, and we are in heaven.
Summer dessert at its best, and this homemade blackberry cobbler is just what summer is all about. I was not raised with cobbler, but indulging in blackberries, yes. When I moved to the States, this wonderful dessert was presented to me at a friend’s dinner, and it has been my favorite ever since.
I have the most vivid childhood summer memories of spending time with my grandmother and being given a basket to collect wild blackberries on my way to my aunt and uncle’s house. By the time I arrived, not only were my fingers purple-stained, but also my lips. I could not get away by saying I did not have any, but boy, were they delicious.
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In this Article
- Subscribe to Cooking Canva!
- What is a Cobbler?
- Why you will love this recipe
- This easy blackberry cobbler recipe uses cornstarch as a thickening agent.
- Ingredients needed to make this recipe
- Equipment Needed
- Step-by-step instructions on how to make this delicious Blackberry Cobbler
- Pro Tips
- What to serve with Blackberry Cobbler
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Store Your Blackberry Cobbler
- Frequently Asked Questions
- If you enjoy this Blackberry Cobbler recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
- VIDEO: COOK ALONG WITH ME
- Blackberry Cobbler Recipe
With this recipe, I used fresh and frozen berries. If your local farmer’s market has the berries, do not hesitate to purchase them, as they will be rich in flavor.
What is a Cobbler?
Cobblers, crumbles, and crisps all fall under the same dessert umbrella. They are similar to pies but without pie crust.
Cobblers are typically topped with a biscuit-like topping.
If you like pie, you will enjoy cobblers very much; they are much easier to make.
The top crumble is sweet, tender, and tasty. You cannot stop just eating a slice or a large spoonful, or in the case of my family, the slice is a quarter of the skillet. I have a very sweet tooth family, can you tell?
Why you will love this recipe
Easier than pie – The super easy biscuit topping makes this dessert so easy to prepare. Chilling and rolling out dough is unnecessary, which is a plus in the summer months.
Cobbler requires basic ingredients – that are most likely already in your pantry. It is not a fussy dessert and requires usual products such as fruits, sugar, butter, cream, and vanilla.
Naturally flavorful – the perfect way to celebrate the season’s sweetest natural flavors.
Adaptable – You can adapt this blackberry cobbler to use whichever berries you like. Replace the blackberries with blueberries, and you have the same super delicious dessert. Peaches will work out beautifully here too.
This easy blackberry cobbler recipe uses cornstarch as a thickening agent.
During cooking, a mixture of cornstarch and water combined with the blackberries thickens the natural blackberry juice.
To prevent your cobbler from being too runny, leave some open space when you place your dough over the top. This will allow the berries to continue cooking and the juices to solidify.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
Frozen and fresh blackberries – I like to mix the two kinds, and in the off-season, frozen do work beautifully. Do not let the frozen blackberries thaw before using them, or they will be mushy.
Orange juice and orange peel – balance beautifully with the blackberries and add another flavor layer.
Brown sugar
Vanilla extract – great flavor added to your cobbler
Cardomon – is my favorite in most of my baking. Brings a beautiful aroma to your berries
Corn starch and water are a thickening agent for your raspberries.
All-purpose flour – Used to make the biscuit part of this cobbler
Sugar – brings a hint of sweetness
Baking powder – helps with the rising of the crust
Salt
Unsalted butter – I always use unsalted butter in my cooking or baking to control the amount of sodium. Salted butter not only adds too much salt to your dish, but it changes the flavor.
Heavy cream – used to make the cobbler topping
Sanding sugar – is nice to bite into some crunchy. This step is optional and can be substituted with granulated sugar.
Equipment Needed
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Step-by-step instructions on how to make this delicious Blackberry Cobbler
With all my recipes, please assemble all the ingredients before starting cooking and baking.
This recipe will come together quickly. And the best part is you will only need a bowl to make your top, and the fruits are mixed and cooked directly in the skillet.
Keep your butter refrigerated until ready to use. When integrated with the flour, the chilled butter will create a great crumble, giving you a flaky topping. Melted butter will work on the opposite, and you will not enjoy it.
Here are the steps needed.
While the oven is preheating, prepare the blackberry mixture
In your 10-inch cast iron skillet, stir together the blackberries, brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla extract, cardamom, and orange zest, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer.
Mix the cornstarch with the water and slowly add it to the blackberry mixture. Stir well until it is all absorbed. Continue cooking for about another three minutes. remove from teh heat and set aside.
Prepare the drop biscuit cobbler topping.
While your cobbler is resting, prepare the topping by mixing the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the chilled butter pieces and crumble them with your fingertips while mixing them with the flour.
Add the heavy cream and work until you reach a beautiful dough.
Assemble the cobbler
Tear the dough into 3-inch round pieces and place them over the blackberries. Do not overcrowd them and leave some spaces open.
Sprinkle sanding sugar over it.
Bake and serve
Place the skillet on a baking sheet. You may want to cover the baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature in a large bowl. And to make it even more decadent, add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Pro Tips
- I strongly recommend using a baking sheet under your skillet. The fruits will cook in the oven and bubble over, so if you do not want to clean a sticky mess for days, you can use something under your skillet to catch it all.
- Frozen blackberries work well with this recipe, be sure to add them at the last minute. Once thawed, they will become mushy during the cooking and baking process, and you will not have that beautiful berry consistency.
- Use the butter chilled with your flour to produce the best topping. Melted butter will render the dough too thick and prevent it from rising and becoming flaky.
What to serve with Blackberry Cobbler
Vanilla ice cream is my first, second, and third choice.
Some perfectly whipped Chantilly is also very delicious over it.
Variations and Substitutions
- You can let your imagination go wild here, as this is the base of so many wonderful recipes. Strawberries, cherries, peaches, and a mix of raspberries and blackberries are also fantastic and flavorful.
- If you do not have fresh oranges, I forgot to get one at the store, so this is from my personal experience; you can use fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. However, please add a couple of tablespoons of sugar, or less if you like the tart taste, to compensate for the acidity.
- I love cardamom—everything about it. If none is on hand, feel free to use cinnamon. Do not overdo it, as cinnamon is stronger in flavor.
How to Store Your Blackberry Cobbler
Refrigerator: Cover your leftovers with aluminum or plastic wrap once fully cooled off and place it in the fridge. It will last for a couple of days.
Please bring it back to room temperature and enjoy it again.
Freezer: You can store it in the freezer for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my blackberry cobbler watery?
Using too ripe fruits and not adding enough thickener, such as cornstarch, as I have it on the recipe card. Also, covering the fruits too much with the topping will not allow the juices to cook down.
What is the difference between blackberry pie and cobbler?
The cobbler sometimes it will be described as a fruit pie, but it really it is not. Pies are made from pastry rather than biscuit and are fully encased with a crust at the top and the bottom, while cobblers typically only have a topping.
What makes it a cobbler?
A cobbler is a dessert made with fruits in a baking dish covered with a topping such as a batter, biscuit, or dumpling and then baked. The name comes from the cobbler-like texture of the topping, which can resemble cobblestones or cobbled roads.
If you enjoy this Blackberry Cobbler recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
Enjoy every bite!
VIDEO: COOK ALONG WITH ME
Blackberry Cobbler Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE COBBLER
- 32 ounces frozen blackberries
- 12 ounces fresh blackberries
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 cup brown sugar, firlmy packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cardamon
- ¼ teaspoon orange peel
- ¼ cup corn starch
- 3 tablespoons water
FOR THE TOPPING
- 1½ cup unbleached all purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar, + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into samll pieces
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
OPTIONAL
- 1 tablespoon sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a 10 – inch cast iron skillet, stir together the blackberries, brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla extract, cardamom and orange peel over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, and cook until juice is released from blackberries and mixture is hot and bubbly, approximately 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Slowly add to berry mixture, stirring to combine. Cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add butter. Combine with fingertips until crumbly. Add cream and stir gently until biscuit like dough forms.
- Tear dough into 3-inch round pieces: arrange over berries. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
- Bake until topping is lightly browned, 30 minutes.
Notes
PRO TIPS
- I strongly recommend using a baking sheet under your skillet. The fruits will cook in the oven and bubble over, so if you do not want to clean a sticky mess for days, you can use something under your skillet to catch it all.
- Frozen blackberries work well with this recipe, be sure to add them at the last minute. Once thawed, they will become mushy during the cooking and baking process, and you will not have that beautiful berry consistency.
- Use the butter chilled with your flour to produce the best topping. Melted butter will render the dough too thick and prevent it from rising and becoming flaky.
Nutrition
Cooking Canva provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Classics, Desserts
- Cuisine: American
- Occasion: Fourth of July
- Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Type: Affordable Gourmet, Under 45 minutes, Videos
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Originally published on August 25, 2017.
