Easy Blackberry Cobbler
This easy blackberry cobbler is made with fresh blackberries and a baking powder biscuit dough that bakes into a sweet, juicy dessert that is guaranteed to be a family favorite!
My grandma’s easy blackberry cobbler is one of my favorite childhood memories. I was lucky enough to grow up with a grandma that had a huge garden in her backyard and made everything from scratch.
In the summer every meal was accompanied by fresh sliced tomatoes and, if you were lucky, dessert was her homemade blackberry cobbler, made with blackberries picked from the garden that morning. It was one of my favorite parts of summer visits to Grandma’s house.
This recipe is easy enough to be made by anyone all you need are a few simple ingredients and lots of blackberries.
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What is a Cobbler?
A cobbler is a simple, rustic dessert that originated in the British American colonies. Its creation was driven by the settlers’ desire to make traditional British suet puddings, but without access to the necessary ingredients. Hence, a cobbler was born.
The basic structure of a cobbler involves a layer of sweet or savory filling (commonly a fruit mixture) that’s topped with a biscuit, dumpling, or batter crust. Once baked, the topping forms a crumbly layer, somewhat resembling a ‘cobbled’ street, hence the name “cobbler.” Unlike a pie the top crust doesn’t cover the fruit completely, allowing the filling to bubble up in spots.
A cobbler’s charm lies in its simplicity. You can whip up one without a lot of effort, using whichever ingredients are at hand. The most popular variety of cobbler is the fruit cobbler, with berries, peaches, and cherries being common choices.
Ingredients You’ll Need
There are two components to a cobbler, the biscuit crust and the fruit filling. For this recipe we use my grandma’s baking powder biscuits recipe for the drop biscuit crust and fresh summer blackberries for the filling. As those fluffy balls of biscuit dough bake in the cobbler they soak up all of that blackberry juice and….OMG, it’s amazing!
- All-purpose Flour – The flour should be sifted to help give you the best biscuit texture.
- Baking powder – this gives the biscuits their fluffy texture.
- Salt – A little salt adds flavor to the biscuit dough.
- Shortening – This is the fat that is used to bring together the biscuit ingredients.
- Milk – I suggest whole milk for these biscuits but you can use skin milk or even buttermilk if you prefer.
- Blackberries – These berries offer a unique blend of sweet and tart that creates a distinct flavor experience you won’t find with other fruits. This dynamic flavor profile makes blackberries the ideal choice for a well-rounded cobbler filling.
- Lemon juice – The sharp flavor of lemon juice help to cut through the sweetness of the sugar.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar pulls the juices out of the fruit and creates the delectable juice for your biscuit topping to soak up. You also sprinkle a bit on top of the biscuits as they bake.
- Cornstarch – A small amount of cornstarch helps to thicken the filling.
- Butter – This is added to the filling to help thicken it and is brushed over the tops of the biscuits to help them brown.
How to Make Blackberry Cobbler
Step 1 – Cut together. Sift the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening until the flour mixture takes on a sandy texture.
Step 2 – Add the liquid. Add milk, stirring until all flour is moistened.
Step 3 – Knead the dough. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and work the dough for about 20 seconds. Place the dough in a bowl until ready to use.
Step 4 – Prepare oven. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 5 – Coat blackberries. Wash blackberries and pat dry. In a small bowl combine sugar and cornstarch. Toss blackberries with lemon juice and then add sugar-cornstarch mixture tossing until the berries are well coated.
Like all berries some blackberries are sweeter than others. Make sure to taste the sugared blackberry mixture and add more sugar as needed before putting them in the cobbler.
Step 6 – Assemble. Place berries in a greased 11″x7″ baking dish. Cut 2 tablespoons of butter and distribute over the top of the berries.
Drop the biscuit dough into the berry mixture in 2 tablespoon portions (this doesn’t have to be exact but don’t use too much more dough for each drop biscuit or it will take longer to bake. Cover the top of the cobbler with some berries peeking through.
Step 7 – Bake. Bake in 350 degrees F. oven for 60 minutes.
Step 8 – Top biscuits. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and after 30 minutes have passed open the oven and brush the melted butter over the biscuit tops and sprinkle them with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Continue to bake for the remaining 30 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the biscuit dough is golden brown.
Step 9 – Cool. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Step 10 – Serve. This is a cobbler not a pie, it’s going to be juicy, and runny. Don’t fight it :). Those delicious biscuits are going to be swimming in a sea of blackberries and blackberry juice. Scoop it all up and put it in a bowl along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use fresh or frozen blackberries to make this easy blackberry cobbler. If you choose to use frozen just defrost them and drain off any excess liquid before using.
Cobblers work well with a variety of fruits such as peaches, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, or even a mix of berries.
You’ll cook blackberry cobbler at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes or until the filling is hot and bubbling and the biscuit topping is golden brown.
How to Store Blackberry Cobbler
Properly storing your blackberry cobbler will help preserve its taste, texture, and overall freshness. Here’s a guide on how to do it:
Cooling Your Cobbler
Before storing, always let your blackberry cobbler cool completely. If it’s too hot when you cover it, it can create steam, resulting in a soggy topping.
Storing at Room Temperature
For short term storage, you can keep your cobbler at room temperature for up to two days. Simply cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to protect it from dust and insects. Be sure to keep it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight or heat.
Refrigerating Your Cobbler
If you wish to store the cobbler for a longer period, say for up to one week, the refrigerator is the best option. After the cobbler has cooled, transfer it into an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, place it in the refrigerator. This helps to keep the cobbler fresh and prevents it from drying out.
When you’re ready to serve the refrigerated cobbler, you might want to warm it up a bit. Just place it in a preheated oven at a low temperature (about 300°F or 150°C) for about 15 minutes or until it’s heated through or microwave it for 1- 2 minutes to warm it up.
Freezing Your Cobbler
For long-term storage, you can freeze your blackberry cobbler. To do this, wait until the cobbler is completely cooled, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring all parts are covered. After that, add an extra layer of protection with aluminum foil. Properly stored, it can last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen cobbler, it’s best to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it in the oven at a low temperature until it’s warmed through.
Looking for More Classic Southern Desserts?
- Coconut Cake
- Lemon Icebox Pie
- Hummingbird Cake
- Sock It to Me Cake
- Sour Cream Pound Cake a Classic Comfort Food
- More Dessert Recipes…
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Easy Blackberry Cobbler
Ingredients
Baking Powder Biscuits
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour , sifted
- 3 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup Shortening
- 3/4 cup Milk
Blackberry Cobbler
- 6 cups Blackberries , about 30 oz.
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 3/4 cups Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
Instructions
Baking Powder Biscuits
- Sift the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening until the flour mixture takes on a sandy texture.
- Add milk, stirring until all flour is moistened.
- Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface.
- Work the dough for about 20 seconds.
- Place the dough in a bowl until ready to use.
Blackberry Cobbler
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash blackberries and pat dry.
- In a small bowl combine sugar and cornstarch.
- Toss blackberries with lemon juice and then add sugar-cornstarch mixture tossing until the berries are well coated. Place berries in a greased 11"x7" casserole dish.
- Cut 2 tablespoons of butter and distribute over the top of the berries.
- Drop the biscuit dough into the blackberry mixture in 2 tablespoon portions (this doesn’t have to be exact but don’t use too much more dough for each drop biscuit or it will take longer to bake. Cover the top of the cobbler with some berries peeking through.
- Bake in 350 degrees F. oven for 60 minutes.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and after 30 minutes have passed open the oven and brush the melted butter over the biscuit tops and sprinkel them with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Continue to bake for the remaining 30 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the biscuit dough is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Oooh this looks SO good!! Pinning 🙂
xoxo, Tanya
twelveOeight
WOW! This looks soooooooooooo good. Now I’m hungry.
Thanks for sharing your awesome recipe with us at Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party.
Angel
Oh man this looks so good! I grew up in a small town with farmland all around. I was attached to my aunt’s hip and always with her on my grandmother’s farm. I miss being able to have freshly picked watermelon, cucumbers, corn, squash, etc. My grandfather on my dad’s side was a citrus farmer so we always had fresh citrus. I would love to go back to simpler times. I wish we had written down my grandmother’s recipes before she passed. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I definitely regret not getting all of my grandma’s recipes before she was gone and she just knew how to make everything so most of it isn’t written down. It’s fun trying to figure it out though!
My grandma passed away earlier this year and even though we all have a cook book filled with family recipes it just isn’t the same. Especially because she could taste what you made and tell you exactly what you could do to fix it. And it always worked! This is such a great way to keep your grandma alive in your hearts! Love it!
~Meaghan from DIYfaerie
It really was a fun way to remember her…not to mention delicious 🙂
Oh man, that looks good! I love a good cobbler, and I think it’s so sweet that you’ve shared your grandmother’s recipe! Thank you for sharing. I definitely hope to try this next time I catch blackberries on sale – i’m not lucky enough to have a bush in my yard.
Thanks Trisha, I didn’t realize how many memories I had about my grandma’s cooking until I started working on this post. So glad I made her cobbler, it was delicious and a fun way to remember her.
Found this at the Retro Re-Pin Party! I loved the story and the recipe looks delicious! Re-Pinned! 🙂
Thanks, it was a fun post to write….and a delicious recipe to eat!
Visiting from The Yuck Stops Here.
What a great way to remember your grandmother. Blackberries are one of my favorite fruits (blueberries are the other). Love a blackberry cobbler!
This recipe is great!
Kat, I have been trying to track you down through G+ and it wasn’t happening, You love promoting other bloggers’ stuff but I couldn’t find any links to your blog. So, sleuth as I am, I googled you and finally found this great blog. PLEEEEEASE share a few of your own posts on G+, too !!! LOL People WILL follow you and your traffic will soar.
BTW…. thanks so much for coming to my blog hop and taking the time to leave a comment. It is appreciated. 🙂
This looks so delicious. You really had one special Grandma there. I’m so sorry to hear that she’s passed on, but it looks like you found a very special way to keep her in your heart and in your family. Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt recipe.
Thanks Leslie, I miss her every day. I know she would be so happy I am making her recipes. 🙂
Those blackberries look amazing, and so does this cobbler over baking powder biscuits. I love how simple that is. I’m sharing this on G +.
Thanks Julie, it was simple…and delicious!
Mmmmmm…..looks great!
We thought Momma’s knew everything, Grandma’s know even more. What a joy to have learned from your Grandma. That dish just looks scrumptious, especially with the ice cream! Thanks for linking up with us at The Yuck Stops Here! Please come again.
You are so right Shirley!
Yum! I am going to hang on to this for cooler nights ahead! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Thank you so much for sharing this piece of your memory of your grandmother! My grandmother’s sweet potato pie and homemade biscuits are my fav recipes of hers and when I’m really missing her – making either one brings back fond memories and helps me feel closer to her.
Aren’t Grandma’s, even memories of them, the best?
Looks amazing Kat!! Wish I could eat some right now 😉
Gotta pin this!
Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness, that looks oh sooooooooooo good! I’ve got cold milk how about setting a place for me!!!? 😉 I have a recipe linky won’t you come on over and share with my readers too? I sure hope you will! I know let me follow all your social networks I can find a little bribery never hurt anyone. ~hehehehe
Stopping by from the Inspire Me Please link party. I’ve never made a cobbler before. This recipe looks delicious, I’ll give it a try. Pinning to my Joy of Baking Pinterest board. Diane @Mrs U Makes.
That looks devine! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Stopping by from Pure Grace Farms to invite you to Foodie Fridays Link-up. I love this post and was hoping you would share it with us today where I am now co-hosting. Thanks and have a great weekend. Hope to see you there!
Blessings, Shari
http://puregracefarms.com/2014/08/foodie-fridays-link-up-party-10/
Brings back wonderful memories of picking blackberries for my grandmother. Oh, I can taste it now!
G’day and thanks for sharing at the #SayGdayParty! Looks delish! Pinned!
Please make sure to stop by if you haven’t already and visit some other people also attending the party and would be great if you could answer one of my questions or two! Thank you! Cheers! Joanne
G’day! This looks absolutely yummy.
Thx for sharing.
Following.
Oh my favvie favorite made even better….you made it with love.
I never met my grandmothers so you are so lucky to have these wonderful memories.
Thank you for sharing such a precious recipe.
Aw, thanks Michele 🙂
Yum! I can’t wait to try this recipe! The fams gonna love it too!
I just shared your recipe on FB and think it sounds really yummy, it is also going on m Berry Board on Pinterest!! Thanks for linking up this week, hope to see you again.
Have a great Labor Day!!
Karren
Thanks Karren, I’m so glad I tried making it. It was delish!
Yum-eee!!! Now I’m hungry! Haven’t had breakfast yet this morning. Think I’ll head right to dessert…
Wonderful cobbler! I’ve pinned it and so glad you shared it on Wake Up Wednesday!
I love blackberry cobbler! Looks divine!
Yum! There is nothing like fruit cobbler…it is so delicious! We all love blackberries here! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Foodie Fridays!
My mouth is watering over here!
Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.