Grandma’s Apple Cobbler Recipe with a Sugar Cookie Topping
Growing up, my Grandma’s house always smelled good. She loved baking, especially in the fall and especially with apples.
My Grandma’s apple cobbler is one of her best pies and cobblers. It has tender apples and a buttery, slightly crisp topping. Way better than any other cobbler topping you’ve tried. Another secret was pre-baking the apple filling to ensure perfectly tender and flavorful apples every time.
Grandma’s Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 6-7 medium apples Granny Smith, Jonathan, or your favorite baking apples
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour to thicken the filling
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Topping
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- coarse sugar optional, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prep Apples. Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin wedges. A few peels here and there is fine.
- Make filling. In a large bowl, combine the apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, flour, and salt. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
- Prebake filling. Pour the apple mixture into a 8 or 9 inch square or round baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Cover with foil (yes, just the filling!) and bake for 20 minutes.
- Make the topping. In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and the egg until well incorporated. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Spread Topping. Spoon the topping over the apples, spreading it gently with the back of a spoon or a spatula. It’s okay if the topping doesn't cover all the apples completely. Sprinkle coarse sugar over the topping for a crunchy finish.
- Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Serve. Let the cobbler cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy it warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!
Notes
- You can mix and match different apple varieties for a more complex flavor profile.
- Adjust the sugar in the filling to your taste, especially if your apples are particularly sweet or tart.
I always look forward to making this dessert, especially when the weather starts to cool down. The smell of apples and cinnamon fills the kitchen, and makes me think of my grandma. I usually serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
It’s the perfect comfort dessert, and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!
Key Ingredients
Here are a few important ingredients you’ll need to make this classic recipe:
- Granny Smith Apples. These apples are perfect for baking because they hold their shape and have a tart flavor that balances the sweetness.
- Ground Nutmeg. This spice adds warmth and depth to the apple filling, giving it a rich, aromatic quality.
- Lemon Juice. A bit of lemon juice brightens up the apple flavor and helps prevent the apples from browning.
- Unsalted Butter. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe, ensuring a perfectly balanced topping.
- Coarse Sugar. Sprinkling coarse sugar on the topping adds a delightful crunch and a touch of extra sweetness.
These ingredients are easy to find and you may already have some of them in your pantry!
Troubleshooting and Help
Absolutely! Mixing different varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp can give your cobbler a more interesting flavor. Just make sure they’re good baking apples that hold their shape.
No worries! You can skip it or use a pinch of allspice or cloves instead. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
You’ll know it’s ready when the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling around the edges. If the topping browns too quickly, cover it with foil and continue baking until the apples are tender.
Yes, you can! Just prepare the filling and topping separately, store them in the fridge, and assemble and bake when you’re ready to serve. It’s best when fresh but still tasty if reheated.
If you don’t have coarse sugar, you can use regular granulated sugar or skip it altogether. The topping will still be sweet and delicious, just not as crunchy.
I hope you enjoy my grandma’s apple cobbler as much as I do. It’s comforting, delicious, and perfect for family nights on a chilly evening. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. And remember you can experiment with different apple varieties.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.