Cherry Cobbler

Name: Cherry Cobbler
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs Frozen Cherries; 2/3 cup Sugar; 2 tbsp Cornstarch; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice; 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1/2 tsp Almond Extract; 1 tsp Lemon Zest; 1/2 tsp Cinnamon; 2 cups All Purpose Flour; 3/4 cup Sugar; 2 tsp Baking Powder; 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt; 12 tbsp Salted Butter ((cold and cut into chunks)); 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1/2 cup Buttermilk ((cold)); 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

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This Cherry Cobbler with Biscuit Topping is absolutely heavenly. The crust is perfectly golden and crisp, and the cherries are so juicy and sweet with just a hint of tartness. When it’s fresh out of the oven, the whole house smells like warm, baked goodness. And if you top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it melts into the cobbler, creating this dreamy, creamy combination. It’s like a little taste of summer in every bite.

For more cherry desserts, make my black cherry ice cream and cherry babka!

cherry cobbler in a baking dish with a spoon and ice cream on top.

The perfect dessert is one that’s both delicious and easy to make. That’s where this cherry cobbler recipe enters the chat. It’s a delicious dessert, similar to my blueberry cobbler and peach cobbler, but with cherry spin!

The cobbler topping has a buttery, golden brown biscuit-like texture and the filling reminds me of a homemade cherry pie filling – jammy and sweet with chunks of tender cherries in every spoonful.

Best part – Add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and you’ve got a classic dessert that’s absolutely incredible!

Why You’ll Love this Cherry Cobbler
Key Ingredients
Variations and Substitutions
How To Make Cherry Cobbler From Scratch
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Cobbler Recipes
Cherry Cobbler Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Cherry Cobbler

Super easy recipe! This simple cobbler is so easy to make and I show you step by step how to make it so that you get the perfect cobbler every time.
Perfect with a scoop of ice cream! The jammy cherries (not runny!!) bake up beautiful in the oven with a golden brown biscuit-like topping – ideal with ice cream.
Simple ingredients for an easy dessert! This delicious cobbler calls for under 10 ingredients. It’ll quickly become one of your favorite desserts.

Key Ingredients

cherry cobbler biscuit topping ingredients - flour, vanilla extract, salted butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

For the biscuit topping:

All Purpose Flour – flour provides structure to the cobbler topping.

Sugar – for a little sweetness and moisture, sugar is vital!

Baking Powder – we want the cobbler topping to rise just a bit in the oven. This allows it to be flaky and light as opposed to dense.

Salted Butter – I prefer salted butter because I love the added flavor from the salt. You can use unsalted butter, but please ensure that the butter is COLD. Pro tip: freeze for 20 minutes prior to using.

Buttermilk – buttermilk keeps the biscuit topping nice and flaky but inhibiting gluten development while adding a slight tang that balances out all of the sweetness.

cherry cobbler ingredients - frozen cherries, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract, and cornstarch.

For the Cherry Filling:

Frozen Cherries – fresh cherries can be hard to find (especially during the winter months), so I used frozen cherries instead. You can get them year round and

Sugar – sugar sweetens the cherries but also always them to caramelize in the oven and become soft and jammy.

Cornstarch – all purpose flour works here too, but I find that cornstarch thickens the filling without tasting floury.

Fresh Lemon Juice – lemon juice adds a little brightness to the dish but also pulls the cherry juices out of the cherry and enhances the flavor.

Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract – almond extract heightens the cherry flavor while the vanilla adds a touch of creaminess.

Lemon Zest – a little lemon zest balances out all of the sweet flavors.

Variations and Substitutions

Add peaches to make a peach and cherry cobbler – it’s like summer in a bowl!
Try using cherry pie filling as opposed to fresh cherries to quicken the prep time.
Sprinkle a tablespoon sugar on top of the biscuit topping for a nice crunch in the oven.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own from home (it’s simply whole milk and lemon juice). Check out my homemade buttermilk recipe!

How To Make Cherry Cobbler From Scratch

frozen cherries in a bowl tossed in sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Add cherries to a separate bowl and toss in sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon zest. Toss everything together. Add to a 9×13 baking dish along with all of the cherry juices.

flour and butter in a mixing bowl to make the biscuit topping.

Step 2: Begin preparing the biscuit topping in a large bowl. Combine all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, kosher salt, and cubed cold butter. Toss to coat the butter in the flour and begin pinching the flour into the flour mixture (you can use a pastry blender if you have one). This should take about about 3-5 minutes.

Step 3: Once the butter is incorporated, add in buttermilk and vanilla extract. Gently knead until the dough comes together, about 2-3 minutes (it may look a little shaggy at first but keep going). Place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

cherry cobbler assembled in a baking dish.

Step 4: Break pieces of the cobbler batter on top of the cherry mixture. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, until the top of the cobbler is golden brown. Allow the cobbler to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into it.

Expert Tips

Time Saving Tip: If using fresh cherries, use a cherry pitter to remove the cherry pits. It’s a lot easier this way and saves so much time!
If you notice the top of the cobbler beginning to brown too quickly, gently cover with aluminum foil to prevent it from burning.
All of the ingredients for the biscuit topping should be cold. Avoid using room temperature ingredients for the best results.

cherry cobbler in a bowl with ice cream and fresh cherries on top.

Recipe FAQs

Are frozen or fresh cherries better for cobbler?

Cherries have a ton of juice. I prefer working with frozen cherries to prevent the cherry filling from becoming soupy in the oven. Bake from frozen.

Can you make cherry cobbler ahead of time?

Yes, you can make cherry cobbler ahead of time. Prepare the cherry filling and the biscuit topping separately, storing them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, assemble the cobbler and bake it as directed.

How do you store cherry cobbler?

To store cherry cobbler, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days (the texture of the cobbler may become soggy over time due to the fruit juices in the filling). For longer storage, freeze the cobbler in an airtight container for up to 3 months, and reheat it before serving.

How long is cherry cobbler good for?

Cherry cobbler is good for up to 3 days when refrigerated, and up to 3 months if frozen. Make sure to store it in an airtight container or tightly covered to maintain freshness.