Six Servings

Essentially, a cobbler is a fruit dessert baked with a crust, which may be a biscuit or a bread dough. My recipe leans more toward a slightly sweet biscuit with lots of vanilla.  Similar to a crisp, you can use different fruits or pair two together as in this recipe.

3 cups fresh blueberries

6 peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into ½-inch slices  (about 6 cups)

1/3  cup light brown sugar

1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch

1 ½ tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice

½  teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 Tbs chopped candied ginger

Topping:

1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces

¾ cup whole milk

1 ½  teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar mixed with ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Put the blueberries and peaches in a heavy-medium- size saucepan. Add the brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and candied ginger and mix together. Heat and stir until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Pour into a 12- by 10- by 2-inch baking dish or other shallow 2 1/2-qt baking dish (no deeper than 2 inches).

2. While the fruit cooks, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pinch or cut the butter with your fingertips, a pastry blender or a knife, until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Pour in the milk, vanilla, and stir until a dough forms. Put the dough onto the hot fruit mixture in small separated mounds and sprinkle the top with the remaining cinnamon-sugar. Place the pan on a cookie sheet to catch drippings. Bake the cobbler in middle of the oven about 30 minutes, until top is golden. Remove, cool slightly and serve warm.

© Copyright Nina Simonds 2009.

I’m reveling in the delights of summer and picking plump blueberries and raspberries in my back yard. I’m also dreaming of pies, cobblers, “grunts”, and muffins.

I remember as a child watching my Mom make blueberry pie. It was a bit of a production so my Mom would grumble a little as she made the pastry and rolled out the dough, but once she pulled the newly baked pie came out of the oven resplendent with the golden brown pastry and oozing with blueberry juice, she couldn’t help but smile at her handiwork. My brothers and sister and I would watch the clock impatiently until dinner or that magical moment when we were each served a piece topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was SO GOOD!!

I love to make pie and I am also fond of peachaberry cobblers, another delicious summertime dessert my Mom would make. I like to add chopped candied ginger which makes it a little special. Go to the recipe section and try it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Nina.