Indulge your taste buds with the exquisite delight of this Old Fashioned Blueberry Cobbler Recipe! Imagine a generous portion of plump, juicy fresh blueberries, bursting with natural sweetness, nestled beneath a blanket of golden brown buttery, biscuit-like perfection.
For more cobbler recipes, try my popular peach cobbler recipe and strawberry crumble!
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Blueberry cobbler is not just a classic dessert — it's a delectable masterpiece that celebrates the natural sweetness and vibrant flavors of the beloved blueberry. It's a culinary adventure that transports you to a place of pure bliss, where each bite leaves you craving for more. The tender, yet slightly tart blueberries meld with just the right amount of sugar and a touch of tangy lemon juice, creating a symphony of flavors that the whole family will love!
One of my favorite things about summer is that it's finally blueberry season. I get an excuse to make this homemade blueberry cobbler recipe that's always a winner. The cobbler topping compliments the warm fruit filling and just creates the most delicious fruit dessert ever.
Served warm, straight from the oven, this perfect summer dessert awakens your senses and brings comfort with every spoonful. Top it off with a scoop creamy vanilla ice cream that melts into the juicy blueberries, creating a harmony of cool and warm sensations.
Surrender to the allure of blueberry cobbler and let it take you on a journey of pure culinary delight.
What is blueberry cobbler?
Blueberry cobbler is a classic southern dessert made with fresh or frozen blueberries baked under a layer of sweetened biscuit-like dough. Like many berry cobblers, it is a popular dessert in American cuisine, particularly during the summer months when blueberries are in season. This easy dessert recipe is perfect for special occasions of a great treat to make when you have extra blueberries in your kitchen.
What kind of blueberries should I use?
When making blueberry cobbler, you can use either fresh or frozen blueberries.
1. Fresh Blueberries: Fresh, ripe blueberries are a popular choice for blueberry cobbler, especially fresh summer blueberries when they are in season. Look for plump, firm blueberries with a deep blue color. The berries should be sweet, juicy, and flavorful. It's important to rinse and gently pat dry fresh blueberries before using them in the cobbler.
2. Frozen Blueberries: Frozen blueberries can also be used in cobbler, offering convenience and the ability to enjoy an easy blueberry cobbler year-round. When using frozen blueberries, make sure to thaw and drain them before adding them into the cobbler. Thawing allows any excess moisture to drain, preventing the cobbler from becoming too watery.
Fresh blueberries often have a slightly firmer texture and more intense flavor, while frozen blueberries can be softer and juicier. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and availability. My preference is fresh but use what you have on hand!
Ingredients
To make this old-fashioned blueberry cobbler recipe, you'll need just a few basic pantry ingredients:
Sweet Biscuit Topping
- Flour
- Cold Butter
- Sugar
- Egg
- Evaporated Milk
- Vinegar
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda
- Nutmeg - just a pinch for flavor!
- Pinch of salt
Juicy Blueberry Filling
- Blueberries
- White Sugar
- Lemon Zest
- Lemon Juice
- Cornstarch
Variations
You can use any fresh fruit to make a delicious cobbler! Satisfy your sweet tooth but using a variety of different fruits like blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, peaches, or cherries. You can use one or a combination of all of these great fruits to make the perfect dessert - just don't forget your scoop of ice cream!
Vegan/Dairy free option: use your favorite vegan milk instead of evaporated milk and omit the egg.
Gluten Free option: use a 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour in place of all purpose flour for the biscuit dough.
Expert Tips
This is a super easy blueberry cobbler recipe, but these tips make it so that you get the best results every. single. time!
- Choose ripe blueberries: Look for fresh blueberries that are plump, firm, and have a deep blue color. Ripe juicy berries will be sweet, flavorful, and provide the best taste in your cobbler.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste your blueberries before adding sugar to the filling. If they are particularly sweet, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the filling to maintain a good balance. Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Rinse and Drain the berries: Blueberries release a lot of juice as they cook, which can make the filling too watery. To prevent this, you can add a thickening agent such as cornstarch or tapioca flour to the blueberry filling. This will help create a luscious, syrupy consistency.
- Don't overmix the dough: When making the cobbler topping, be careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing can lead to a tough and dense texture. Mix the ingredients just until they come together, ensuring a tender and flaky crust.
- Use cold ingredients for the topping: For a flakier crust, make sure the butter and any other fats you use in the cobbler topping are cold. Cold fats will create pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a light and airy texture.
- Serve warm: Blueberry cobbler is best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven. Allow it to cool slightly before serving to let the flavors meld together, but aim to serve it while it's still warm and the juices are bubbling. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to make Blueberry Cobbler
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine evaporated milk and vinegar in a cup and set aside.
- Make the blueberry mixture. Combine blueberries and cornstarch in a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat. Then add lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar. Continue to toss until all of the blueberries are coated in sugar. Set aside. (Image #1)
- In a separate bowl, make the cobbler batter by combining the dry ingredients. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Whisk to combine. (Image #2)
- Cut butter into chunks and use your hands to pinch the butter into flour mixture. (Image #3)
- Whisk together evaporated milk and an egg and pour into the flour. Use your hands to form a sticky dough. (Image #4)
- Pour blueberries into a 9 inch pie pan or 9 inch cast iron skillet. Dollop dough on top of the blueberries. Sprinkle cobbler topping with 1 tbsp of sugar. (Image #5)
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Allow cobbler to cook for 10 minutes before serving. Top crust with a little vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream and serve!
Storage, Making Ahead, Freezing
Store leftover blueberry cobbler in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After that, it will begin to become soggy. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and place in a 350 degree F for 20-25 minutes, until warmed all the way though.
Making ahead: ​this recipe is best served fresh out out of the oven. However, if you must, prepare the blueberry cobbler the night before serving and store and reheat according to the instructions above.
Freezing: the best way to freeze a cobbler is to assemble the cobbler and freeze it unbaked. However, if you're storing leftovers in the freezer, the easiest way is to allow it to cool completely and place in an airtight container. Of note, the cobbler topping may be slightly soggy upon reheating. If freezing, I recommend reheating in the oven without the aluminum foil slightly longer than 25 minutes, however, use your judgement and check on the cobbler periodically to make sure it isn't drying out.
Recipe FAQs
Cobbler can be frozen if stored in an airtight container. It will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.Â
It is likely that your cobbler is runny because the blueberries weren't drained properly after rinsing. It is also possible that your blueberries were very juicy and expelled more juice. If this happens after baking, cover the cobbler with aluminum foil so that the top doesn't brown too quickly, and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes to accomodate for the extra liquid.
More Fruit Desserts
- The BEST Apple Pie
- Blueberry Pound Cake Recipe
- Blueberry Ricotta Cake
- Peach Crumble Recipe
- Lemon Loaf Recipe
- Berry Shortcakes
- Blueberry Rice Pudding
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Blueberry Cobbler
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- 9-inch Pie Pan OR 9-inch Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 5 cups Blueberries
- ¾ cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
Cobbler Topping
- ½ cup Evaporated Milk
- 1 ½ tsp Vinegar
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp Sugar
- â…› tsp Nutmeg
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter (cold)
- 1 Egg
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine evaporated milk and vinegar in a cup and set aside.
- Â Make the blueberry mixture. Combine blueberries and cornstarch in a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat. Then add lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar. Â Continue to toss until all of the blueberries are coated in sugar. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, make the cobbler batter by combining the dry ingredients. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Whisk to combine.
- Cut butter into chunks and use your hands to pinch the butter into flour mixture. Whisk together evaporated milk and an egg and pour into the flour. Use your hands to form a sticky dough.Â
- Pour blueberries into a 9 inch pie pan or 9 inch cast iron skillet. Dollop dough on top of the blueberries. Sprinkle cobbler topping with 1 tbsp of sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Allow cobbler to cook for 10 minutes before serving. Top crust with a little vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream and serve!Â
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Allow cobbler to cook for 10 minutes before serving. Top crust with a little vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream and serve!Â
Notes
- Choose ripe blueberries:Â Look for fresh blueberries that are plump, firm, and have a deep blue color. Ripe juicy berries will be sweet, flavorful, and provide the best taste in your cobbler.
- Adjust sweetness:Â Taste your blueberries before adding sugar to the filling. If they are particularly sweet, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the filling to maintain a good balance. Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Rinse and Drain the berries:Â Blueberries release a lot of juice as they cook, which can make the filling too watery. To prevent this, you can add a thickening agent such as cornstarch or tapioca flour to the blueberry filling. This will help create a luscious, syrupy consistency.
- Don't overmix the dough:Â When making the cobbler topping, be careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing can lead to a tough and dense texture. Mix the ingredients just until they come together, ensuring a tender and flaky crust.
- Use cold ingredients for the topping:Â For a flakier crust, make sure the butter and any other fats you use in the cobbler topping are cold. Cold fats will create pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a light and airy texture.
- Serve warm:Â Blueberry cobbler is best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven. Allow it to cool slightly before serving to let the flavors meld together, but aim to serve it while it's still warm and the juices are bubbling. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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