Easy Old Fashioned Apple Cobbler Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Any Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you if you click and finalize an order. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Old Fashioned Apple Cobbler Recipe

Want to learn how to make apple cobbler? This is an easy old-fashioned apple cobbler recipe that you can make anytime you have extra apples and want a special homemade treat. 

Apple Month Announcement

It’s officially fall! And with falling leaves come the falling apples… hopefully not on anyone’s head. (A very real danger that we’ve tried to remedy with apple-picking helmets).

Since it’s apple season (and with October being National Apple Month), I’ve decided to celebrate on the blog! You can expect apple-related content for all five Fridays of this October.

Our trees have been loaded with apples this year. While many plants seemed to struggle, the apples made it through, with some of the branches nearly dragging on the ground! Our mailbox is covered with a low-slung apple branch, much to the dismay of the mail carrier.

Of course, once we have a bucket or twenty of apples, we have to make some of our favorite fall desserts and treats with them. My grandfather likes to make applesauce by hand (a delicious but time-consuming activity) and my parents enjoy using their wonderful KitchenAid applesauce attachment. But there are only so many applesauce batches and apple pie recipes you can make. And sometimes, you just want something that uses up a bunch of apples and is an easy recipe to throw together. 

History of the Best Apple Cobbler Recipe

That’s where this easy apple cobbler recipe comes in! My grandfather has fond memories of my great-grandmother making this in the same kitchen we have now. We have always called it an apple dumpling cobbler recipe, but it’s essentially an apple cobbler dump cake. 

Like apple crisp, it’s a great way to use up apples when you have many to spare. With warm spices, sweet apples, and a cake-like topping, this homemade apple cobbler is a delicious and easy dessert. Here are a few tips for making this simple and quick apple dessert:

Ingredient Tips for this Recipe 

Note that this traditional apple cobbler recipe leaves plenty of room for adjustment – if you’d like more or less of something, feel free to try it, especially for the apples! Taste a slice from the apple filling before dumping into the pan, so you can adjust the amounts of sugar and spices if you want to.

You can use any type of apple you enjoy for this recipe. We use McIntosh apples for most of our apple recipes (including this one), but you can use whatever kind of apples you like. It should be made with fresh apples – not canned or frozen ones. Fresh fruit gives a better texture, since crisp apples hold up better in the oven and give a better flavor.

And of course, don’t forget that ever-valuable Crisco butter shortening…

How to Make Apple Cobbler

First, set your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 inch baking dish. 

To start the fruit filling, slice up 6-7 fresh apples into a large bowl. Add the sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and stir to combine. Add the apple mixture to the greased dish.

To make the topping, cream the sugar, shortening, and eggs in a medium bowl. Next, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the flour mixture to the shortening mixture. Add the milk and mix until just combined, then pour the topping over the top of the apples in the dish.

Bake the cobbler for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The topping will also get a yellow to golden brown crust on top when finished. 

Warm apple cobbler will go great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or let it cool to room temperature and enjoy it later. You can store it, covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature for several days.

FAQs About Apple Cobbler

What is the difference between apple cobbler and apple crumble?

Apple cobbler and apple crumble are similar in that they both involve an apple filling base with a topping, but cobbler has a more soft, caky topping, and apple crumble has crunchier, coarse crumbs for the topping.

Is cobbler easier than pie?

Yes, in some ways making a cobbler is easier than pie, since you don’t have to make the pie crust and roll it out. The filling requires a similar amount of work.

How do you cut apples for cobbler?

Apples for a cobbler should be sliced, so you’ll start by peeling the apples and removing any bad spots. Once peeled, cut the apple in half, then cut each half in half again along the core to make four quarters. Cut the core section out of each quarter at an angle, then slice apples into 4-6 slices.

Do cobblers have a bottom crust?

No, cobblers don’t have a bottom crust.

Is cobbler supposed to be crunchy?

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes the caky topping will seem more crunchy, and others it will be softer. Often this is just a result of whether it’s fresh from the oven or not. It will seem slightly crunchier when it first comes out of the oven, but after sitting for a while it will often soften up. 

Why is my cobbler mushy?

Mushy cobbler can be caused by using apple varieties that lose their shape and texture when baked. Some apples that may do this are gala apples and red delicious, though it’s not guaranteed. 

Do you serve cobbler hot or cold?

Apple cobbler can be served either hot or cold, but it’s extra delicious hot with a scoop of ice cream.