Fruit Cobbler Recipe

Prepare fruit

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare 6 cups of seasonal fruit: peel and slice larger fruits (peaches, apples, plums) or leave berries whole. Place fruit in a large mixing bowl.

Add sugars, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt to the fruit. Toss gently until fruit is evenly coated. Let sit 10 minutes while you prepare the topping so the cornstarch begins to absorb juices.

Transfer the fruit mixture (and any accumulated juices) into a 9x13-inch baking dish or a similarly sized shallow ovenproof dish, spreading into an even layer.

Mix dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

Cut in cold cubed butter: using a pastry cutter, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until pieces are about the size of small peas. Work quickly so butter remains cold.

Stir together buttermilk and the optional egg in a small bowl. Pour the wet mixture into the flour-butter mixture and gently fold just until a shaggy, slightly sticky dough forms. Do not overmix—some dry streaks are fine.

Spoon or drop large spoonfuls of the dough over the fruit in the baking dish, spacing them so the fruit peeks through. You should cover most of the surface but gaps are fine — steam needs to escape.

Brush the biscuit topping lightly with melted butter and sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top for crunch and color.

Place the cobbler on a baking sheet (to catch any bubbling juices) and bake in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 35–45 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly and thickened. If topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the final 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool at least 15 minutes to allow filling to set slightly (this makes serving cleaner).

Serve warm, spooning cobbler into bowls and adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warm.