Recipe: Easy Seasonal Fruit Cobbler

This is a very fast and easy recipe that makes a yummy, satisfying desert for a family or a crowd. It’s perfect as a last-minute take-along dish to a pot-luck or a tea party.

Prep time: 10-20 minutes, depending on what kind of fruit you use

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of butter or full-fat margarine (reduced-fat spreads won’t work)
• 1 cup of flour (I use ½ white and ½ whole-wheat)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup of white sugar (or less, to taste)
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup applesauce
• 2 to 4 cups of mixed diced fruit and/or berries
• ¼ cup quick or instant oats
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Notes on the diced fruit: This is a great way to use seasonal fruit, so at this time of year apples and cranberries would work very well, and it’s a great way to use apples that are starting to go a little soft. In mid-summer, try raspberries and peaches! You can use any kind of fruit: fresh, frozen, dried, or canned. If  using dried fruit (e.g. chopped dried apple rings, raisins, and chopped dried apricots), reconstitute the fruit for a couple of hours in warm water or fruit juice, then drain. If using canned fruit, drain thoroughly.

Method

1. Prepare the fruit and put it in a large mixing bowl. If using fresh apples, pears, or other fruit that browns when exposed to air, stir in a tablespoon of lemon juice. If using cranberries or other very tart fruit, mix in ¼ cup of sugar.
2. Turn the oven on to 400°F (200° C). Put the butter or margarine in a 9×13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish, and put in the oven to melt (the oven doesn’t need to be at temperature). Keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t start to burn, and take it out when the butter/margarine is melted and the dish is hot. Leave the oven on to pre-heat
3. In a second mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, milk and apple sauce until smooth.
4. Pour the batter into the warm baking dish.
5. Ladle the fruit by spoonfuls into the batter, distributing it evenly. The fruit will sink into the batter.
6. Mix together the quick oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small dish. Sprinkle over the top of the fruit.
7. Bake for 40 minutes, or until nicely browned on top – check the corners, which should be golden brown and “cakey”.
8. Serve warm, cut into squares, optionally with a scoop of ice cream on top.