This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Sweet, spiced apples are topped with a biscuit-like topping in this easy apple cobbler recipe. This one is sure to become a fall favorite!
I love cobblers and crisps. They’re easy to throw together, feed a crowd, and are always a hit. In fact, it’s hard not to just eat them directly from the pan, they’re always that delicious!
I don’t know about you, but until recently I always thought of summery fruits when I thought of cobblers. Blackberry cobbler, easy peach cobbler…if it’s a berry or a stone fruit, I have probably had it in a cobbler at some point.
But I recently decided to try apple cobbler and I don’t know what took me so long! Between the tart-sweet apples, the warm spices, and the lightly sweet biscuit topping, this is a dessert that is hard to get enough of.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COBBLERS, CRISPS, AND CRUMBLES?
If you enjoy old-fashioned, classic desserts like I do, I’m sure you’re familiar with cobblers, crisps, and crumbles.
But what exactly is the difference between those desserts? Are the the same thing but with different names?
They actually are all different!
- Cobblers can have a drop biscuit topping, a pie crust-like topping, or even a cakey topping, like my homemade peach cobbler.
- Crisps have a streusel topping that has oats in it, making the topping crispy, like in my cherry crisp.
- Crumbles are similar to crisps but traditionally don’t have any oats in the streusel topping. Although the lines are sometimes a little bit blurred between crisps and crumbles and the names are often used interchangeably. Crumble toppings are also common on fruit pies.
Easy apple cobbler
This apple cobbler falls into the biscuit-topping category of cobblers alongside blueberry cobbler.
The topping is lightly sweetened so it pairs well with the brown sugar sweetness and warm spices in the apple filling. But don’t worry – the tartness of the apples still shines through, making this a perfectly balanced fall dessert.
In fact, to make things really simple, I used Bisquick mix in the topping. It means that the majority of the work is peeling and slicing the apples, but mixing together the topping is super quick and easy.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE COBBLER
Ingredients you’ll need
This apple cobbler uses a handful of simple ingredients to make a fall dessert you and your family will love. You’ll need:
- 10 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples
- Juice from half a lemon
- ¾ cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup plus ¾ cup granulated sugar (divided use)
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice
- ⅓ cup water or apple juice
- 3 ¼ cups homemade Bisquick mix
- 1 cup milk
- Coarse sugar, for topping (optional)
I often like to use a mix of apples in my baked goods, especially when I’m using a lot of apples. For this recipe, I used a mix of tart granny smith apples with sweeter pink lady apples for a good variety of flavor.
I like using my homemade apple pie spice in this apple cobbler because it has all of the spices I adore with apples. If you don’t have apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice or just ground cinnamon will work fine.
My homemade Bisquick mix is my go-to for recipes like this. You can of course use store-bought classic Bisquick mix if you don’t want to bother making your own.
Coarse sugar adds a nice crunchy finish to the topping. I like to use Sugar in the Raw Natural Cane Turbinado Sugar for my coarse sugar. If you do not have coarse sugar on hand, you could use a bit of granulated sugar or even cinnamon sugar.
Making this recipe
Start by mixing together the filling, which is loosely based on my old-fashioned apple crisp filling.
Place your sliced apples in a 9×13-inch baking dish and drizzle them with the lemon juice.
In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, flour, and the apple pie spice. Sprinkle this over the apples and stir to coat them with the spice mixture.
Spread the apples evenly in the bottom of the pan, then pour in the water or apple juice. Set this aside.
Make the topping by stirring together the Bisquick mix and the remaining sugar. Stir in the milk just until the mixture is combined, then evenly dollop it over the apple filling. Don’t worry if some filling peeks through – the topping will cover the filling during baking.
Sprinkle on the coarse sugar, then bake for 45-50 minutes. The apple cobbler is done when the top is golden and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
I recommend serving this apple cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream, and maybe even a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. After all, why not??
STORAGE AND REHEATING
Store leftover apple cobbler in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This cobbler really is best when served warm, so I do recommend reheating it before enjoying.
If you’re just having a single portion, you can pop it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
If you want to reheat several portions, place them in an oven-safe pan and cover with foil. Warm in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 10 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples (from about 8-10 apples, see notes)
- Juice from half a lemon
- ¾ cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice
- ⅓ cup water or apple juice
For the topping:
- 3 ¼ cups homemade Bisquick mix
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk
- Coarse sugar for topping (see notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add the sliced apples to a 13×9-inch baking dish. Drizzle the lemon juice over the apples.
- In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, and apple pie spice. Sprinkle this over the apples and then stir to coat. Spread the apple mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan, then pour the water or apple juice over the apples.
- Make the topping: In a medium bowl, stir together the Bisquick mix and sugar. Stir in the milk until just combined. Evenly dollop the topping over the apple filling. Sprinkle the topping evenly with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
