Let’s make an easy cherry cobbler with canned cherries and a homemade batter tonight! Our Cherry Cobbler with Cake Mix was so popular but closer to homemade is always better if you have the time so let’s bake in the oven for dessert.
This is what to make with canned cherries this weekend. Simple to make with other fruit as well, or mixed together it is a sweet treat eaten warm. Pure comfort food and a Southern favorite.
Years ago we made a Fresh Tart Cherry Crisp after picking a bunch right off of the tree. Those needed quite a bit of sugar added to them, and had an oat topping. This time we used canned cherries but you could grab a bag of Bing cherries from the store too.
What is a cobbler?
A cobbler is a traditional dessert that consists of a fruit filling topped with a biscuit like dough. Known for its rustic and comforting qualities. They have a more casual and homey appearance compared to more structured desserts like pies. Often served warm, enjoyed on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or custard.
What is cherry cobbler made of?
In this case you are going to want to start with canned pitted cherries. This is different than pie filling that has a lot of ooey gooey juices and lots of sugar in the can. We are going to make our own “sauce” because it is way better if you do so.
Cornstarch will act as a thickener since we are making our own sticky sauce, you just need a bit and arrowroot flour would be a good substitute.
White granulated Sugar will sweeten the tart fruits up, you can adjust the amount added to your liking and/or could use a sugar-free alternative.
You first will want to mix flour, sugar baking powder together in a bowl for the batter topping. Cold butter is best when you freeze the stick and grate on a cheese grater. Milk will help make the batter we made for the top crust instead of a crumble.
Can you use fresh cherries?
You could but you would need to pit them first. Simply place the cherry in the pitter and squeeze the handle to push the pit out. It’s a good investment if you pit cherries often. If you don’t have a pitter, you can bend a large paper clip into an S shape. Insert one end of the paper clip into the stem hole of the cherry and push it out.
Can I use frozen cherries?
Yes, you can use frozen cherries instead of fresh cherries in most recipes, including pies and cobblers. It’s generally a good idea to thaw them first. Place them in a colander over a bowl to catch any juices. Thawing helps reduce excess moisture so it doesn’t get soggy. Frozen fruit can sometimes be a bit more tart too, so you might need to add a bit more sugar to adjust for that.
Another option is to use a can of homemade cherry pie filling on the bottom which will be sweeter with a thick glaze to it so no thickener is necessary.
Bisquick Cherry Cobbler (Option)
We have made it with this yellow box of baking mix at times too. You would want to follow our Bisquick Blackberry Cobbler instructions but swap out the fruit, or use half and half! You only need sugar, butter and milk other than these two ingredients to make it in a pie pan which makes for a really easy treat.
Yes, just empty into a pie baking dish with our Pour Over Top Pie Crust and bake until golden brown. That is the easiest of them all with a scoop of ice cream y’all……
Easy Cherry Cobbler Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9×13 pan
- 2 bowls
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup cherries, canned is best, pitted
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 oz butter, cold
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place pitted cherries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix the ingredients for the filling and place on the bottom of 9×13 or similar size baking dish. (if you want it thicker use 9×9")
- Mix flour, baking powder and sugar together. Place in a blender and add cold cubed butter. Grind for 30 seconds until crumbly. Add half of the milk and vanilla to the crumbs. Start stirring. Add milk as you stir to get a fairly thick dough.
- Spoon portions of batter into a cobbler baking pan. Put it in the oven. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm with ice cream on top.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQ
It is looser than a cake, with typically an oat mixture baked on top. A bit like pie filling with crumbled cookies on top it is best served warm with ice cream on top. Don’t expect to get served a clean slice, it is meant to be messy and scooped out of the casserole dish.
I would make a cake, cookies or cobbler with cherries that are over-ripe since texture isn’t as important and you actually want them to be soft anyway when in baked goods. You could cook with some pectin to make homemade jam with them too.
You can use any non-dairy milk such as soy, oat, or rice milk based on your preference. Coconut oil works well instead of butter or you can use a plant based vegan butter alternative. Make sure it is cold good if using to make the topping.
What’s the difference between a cherry pie and a cobbler?
A cherry pie typically has a double crust, a bottom and a top. The top can be a full sheet of dough, a lattice, pour the batter on top only like Upside Down Cherry Pie, or even cut out shapes. Cobbler has a more casual, rustic crust. Instead of a traditional pie, and are topped with dollops of biscuit dough, cake batter, or a crumbly mixture. The topping is usually spooned or dropped over the fruit filling.
