This apple cranberry cobbler with brown sugar pecan topping is a delicious cobbler recipe packed with tender apple slices, tangy cranberries, and a delicious topping that adds a delightful crunch to every bite. The perfect fall dessert that is full of all the flavors of fall.
It’s that time of year when cranberries are in season, and I’m stuffing them into everything I can think of! From savory cranberry pork, chicken, and beef recipes to delicious cranberry variations of my favorite desserts, I use cranberries all season long. These delicious tangy berries are the classic taste of fall, winter, and the holidays, so they’re incredibly versatile. One sweet treat I love to make this time of year is my apple cranberry cobbler. It combines classic apple cobbler flavor with a huge blast of cranberry flavor and a sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. It’s a tasty twist on cobbler that always disappears whenever I make it.
Apple Cranberry Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
This delicious cobbler begins with a filling of tart Granny Smith apples, tangy cranberries, and a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and orange zest. I pour it into a baking dish, then top it with a homemade cobbler batter. After that, I add a layer of sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan topping and bake until the filling is hot and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown. It’s a hearty, rustic dessert that’s easy to make and hard to stop eating, which is really the combo you always want in any dish you make!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cranberry Cobbler Recipe
- The flavor combination of the sweet apples, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans is a winning trio and is simply irresistible.
- Apple and cranberries complement each other, with the cranberries adding a burst of tanginess to the sweetness of the apples, while the pecans offer a delicious richness to the fruit filling.
- The brown sugar pecan topping is absolutely amazing and adds a complex sweetness and depth of flavor that elevates this cobbler to a whole new level.
Apple Cranberry Cobbler Ingredients
You’ll only need basic baking ingredients, apples, and cranberries to make this recipe. Most of what you need is probably in your kitchen right now, and anything you don’t have can be found in one quick trip to the grocery store.
For the Filling
- Granny Smith apples, peeled, sliced ½-inch thick
- Fresh cranberries, rinsed
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Cornstarch
Cobbler Topping
- All purpose flour
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Boiling water
For the Brown Sugar Pecan Crust
- Light brown sugar
- All purpose flour
- Chopped pecans
- Butter
How to Make Apple Cranberry Cobbler
Making this recipe is just as easy as making a traditional apple cobbler. You’ll only really add one extra step to the entire process, and you’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a 3-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Filling
Add the apples and cranberries to a large bowl. Then, sprinkle the sugar, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cornstarch over the fruit. Stir gently and let sit for 10 minutes. Then, pour the filling into the baking dish.
Step 3: Make the Cobbler Batter
Whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Then, cut the butter into the mixture with a pastry cutter or two forks until crumbly. Pour the boiling water into the mixture and stir to combine. Spoon the batter over the fruit and gently spread it to cover the fruit completely.
Step 4: Make the Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
Add the brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans, and melted butter to a small bowl and stir to combine. Then, spoon the mixture evenly over the cobbler.
Step 5: Bake
Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Cover with foil in the last 20 minutes of baking if the topping begins to get too brown. Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Keep your cubed butter in the refrigerator until ready to cut it into the flour. Cold butter is essential for the best cobbler batter.
- Be sure the water for the batter is boiling, not just hot.
- Let the cranberry apple mixture sit for a minimum of 10 minutes so the fruit can begin to macerate before baking.
- Keep an eye on your pecan topping and cover it with foil in the last 20 minutes of baking if it begins to get too brown.
Variations
- For more fall/holiday flavor, add a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg to the fruit mixture.
- You can use other baking apples like Cortland, Rome, or even Honeycrisp in this recipe.
- If you don’t have fresh cranberries, you can use frozen.
- Add cinnamon to the pecan crust for more flavor.
What to Serve with Apple Cranberry Cobbler
Serve this cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip. It’s also delicious with a glass of milk, a cup of coffee or tea, or even a cocktail.
Recipe FAQ
You can make the filling the night before. Then, when ready to bake, make the cobbler batter, topping, and bake.
Although peeling apples for cobbler is the traditional way, you can use apples with the skin on. The texture won’t be quite as smooth, but it will still be delicious.
Cranberries are in season in North America from mid-September through early November.
In almost all cases, you can use frozen cranberries in place of fresh cranberries. Bonus: you typically don’t have to defrost them!
This cobbler freezes very well and will last for up to 3 months when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Apple Cranberry Cobbler
Refrigerate this cobbler in an airtight container or covered in its original dish with foil for up to 5 days. For longer storage, transfer the cobbler to an airtight, freezer-safe container or wrap the entire dish in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat the cobbler, bake it for 20 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees. If the cobbler is frozen, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat it in the oven.
Try This Delicious Apple Cranberry Cobbler Recipe Today
This apple cranberry cobbler is so easy and so full of holiday flavor. It makes the perfect dessert throughout the fall and winter, and it’s a particularly wonderful sweet treat to serve at holiday gatherings. With all its classic flavors and such easy preparation, this is one dessert you need in your life. Give it a try, and I know you’ll be keeping it on hand for every fall!
This Caramel Apple Cobbler is a delicious cobbler recipe that is made with tender apples, chopped pecans, and a homemade caramel, a classic cobbler topping, and is baked to golden perfection then drizzled with more homemade caramel. The ultimate cobbler recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Apple Cranberry Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
Ingredients
Apple Cranberry Filling
- 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, sliced ½-inch thick
- 24 ounce fresh cranberries, rinsed
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
- Zest from 1 orange
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Cobbler Topping
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter 1 stick, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup boiling water
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and spray a 3 quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Apple Cranberry Filling
- In a large bowl, add apple slices and cranberries..
- Sprinkle sugar, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cornstarch over cranberries. Stir gently and let sit for 10 minutes while preparing the flour mixture.
- Pour apple and cranberries into the prepared baking dish.
Cobbler Topping
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder and salt together until combined.
- Using a pastry cutter, or two forks, mix butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
- Pour boiling water into the flour mixture. Stir until combined.
- Spoon topping mixture over fruit filling and gently spread making sure to cover the fruit completely.
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- In a small bowl add all the brown sugar pecan crust ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Spoon brown sugar pecan mixture evenly over cobbler topping.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil in the last 20 minutes of baking if the topping is getting too brown.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped topping and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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Elda King
I made this dessert. It is one of the best. It was a hit at my house. I’ve made a lot of recipes from this website and it is always delicious. I don’t usually comment but I will start from now on
Great Grub, Delicious Treats
Thank you so much for sharing, Elda! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed this cobbler recipe. Thank you for the 5-Star rating as well. I truly appreciate it very much. :)
Debra
Ingredient list says baking powder, but instructions say mix in baking soda. Which is correct, please.
Great Grub, Delicious Treats
Hi Debra, it is baking powder. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The instructions have been updated.
Victoria Fitzgerald
Recipe calls for baking powder but baking soda in the instructions. Which is it?
Great Grub, Delicious Treats
Hi Victoria,
It is baking powder. The instructions have been updated. Thanks for letting me know.