Cardamom Berry Cobbler
What if a fruit pie and biscuits made a baby, that’s what a cobbler is, but just easier and hassle free? Don’t get me wrong, pies have their own place in my heart. But they can stress you out. Fruit cobblers are so much easier than pies. You do not have to worry about cold butter for a pie dough in a hot kitchen. Cobblers have only one top layer of dough. The best part is the juicy and jammy fruit bottom with tender flaky crust.
There are different ways cobbler can be made, but I am biased to the biscuit-y style of cobbler vs cake-y cobbler. Biscuit topping bakes up to crisps crust on top and then their tender biscuit that helps soak up fruit juices.
I like to bake fruits first and then top them with biscuit layer and bake again, as it gives fruits more jamminess and gooeyness that I prefer. Either way it taste so good, warm topped with some plain old vanilla ice cream.
What is a cobbler?
Cobblers, crumbles and crisps are very similar to each other being fruit-based desserts. There are some distinctions but each of them has fruits and few different toppings. They all can be prepared without a recipe. They are that easy and simple.
Fruit Filling
The best part of making a cobbler is the fruits. You can use any kind of fruit; it can be fresh or frozen. You can use one fruit or any combination of fruits you like. Cornstarch or tapioca starch is added to bring all the fruit juice together and make it more luscious and helps thicken the sauce.
There are literally 3 ingredients in the fruits. Fruit, sugar and cornstarch.
Cobbler topping
A biscuit is the easiest and flakiest way to make cobbler. They are made by mixing dry ingredients and breaking very cold butter into the flour and then using buttermilk to bring everything together. Some recipes use heavy cream. You can use either heavy cream or buttermilk.
The crispy tops and the fluffy bottom part of the biscuits is what makes it so perfect to get those fruit juices comes together in a fine dessert.
Baking a cobbler
Cobblers can take some time to bake because of the fruit on the bottom and the biscuits need t properly get cooked. I have found it easy when I bake the fruit first 20 minutes and then top it with biscuit layer and then bake them again for 20-25 minutes. That way the fruits get cooked well and become so jammy. Second time baking them ensures the biscuits get cooked and the fruit juices have more time in the oven to come along and thicken a bit more. There will still be juice at the bottom of the pan. Its so good to spoon it over while serving.
Serving a Cobbler
Cobbler can be served with ice cream, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or crème fraiche. So good with everything. People I know have eaten it as breakfast next day as well.
Easy Blueberry and strawberry cobbler that comes together in no time with juicy bubbling fruit on bottom and flaky biscuits on top. Enjoy with some ice cream ala mode.
Tips –
To make buttermilk- I used 1 tbsp of yogurt and dilute it with some water. That’s what I have used instead of buying a big can of buttermilk. You can also use heavy cream instead of buttermilk. You cannot substitute with anything else.
Sweetness can also be adjusted based on your liking or tartness of the berries.
Cardamom Berry Cobbler
Ingredients
Fruit base
- 1 ½ cup blueberries
- 1 cup strawberries roughly chopped
- 3 – 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Biscuit layer
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup almond meal
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp white granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- ½ stick cold butter very cold
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp buttermilk or heavy cream cold
- Ice cream or crème fraiche to serve
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 400 F.
- Take all the ingredients for the fruit in a mixing bowl – berries, cornstarch and sugar. Toss to coat everything. Transfer it in a baking dish or 4 medium sized ramekins.
- Once the oven is hot, place the baking dish or ramekins on a baking sheet (to catch any juices overflowing dripping outside) and place it in the oven for about 20 -25 minutes.
- Make the biscuit layer.
- Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl- all purpose flour, almond meal, salt, sugar, cardamom powder and baking powder. Give dry ingredients a stir.
- Cut cold butter into the flour mix with the help of your hands until it resembles pea sized crumbles of flour and butter.
- Add in the buttermilk and vanilla extract and mix all together to form a rough shaggy dough. Do not over mix the dough.
- Remove the fruits from the oven, using an ice cream scoop or hands, scoop out few dollops of dough on top of the fruits covering the berries. Do not worry about placing it exactly in some design. Just make sure everything is covered.
- Put the baking tray back in the oven and bake until the top of the biscuits looks brown on top and they have risen a bit for about 20-25 minutes.
- Remove it and let it cool down for 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or crème fraiche.
- It can be stored in the refrigerator covered with foil for few days. It tastes better when served immediately after baking.
Notes
- You can adjust sugar as per your liking and the berries tartness. We like a little tartness and less sweet desserts.
- If you are allergic to almond meal or do not want to use it, just skip it.
- To make buttermilk- I used 1 tbsp of yogurt and dilute it with some water. That’s what I have used instead of buying a big can of buttermilk. You can also use heavy cream instead of buttermilk. You cannot substitute with anything else.
