This caramel apple cobbler with brown sugar pecan crust topping is a simply irresistible apple dessert perfect for the fall season. Loaded with sweet, tart apples and caramel for the filling, topped with a classic cobbler topping, and then a brown sugar pecan crust topping is added. It’s baked to golden perfection and then drizzled with even more delicious caramel for the ultimate cobbler recipe the whole family will devour and request often.

Cobbler is a classic dessert that almost everyone loves. We’ve all had berry, peach, and various other fruit cobblers, and they’re usually all the same. A sweet fruit filling and a sweet, delicious batter topping. It’s the classic combo. Well, I don’t know about you, but I like to switch thing sup with my baking. That’s why I love making this particular apple cobbler. It has a traditional topping, but the filling is kicked up with caramel for an extra sweet and delicious filling.
Caramel Apple Cobbler
This cobbler starts with a sweet apple filling full of brown sugar, cinnamon, classic apple pie spice, and caramel sauce. Then, I top it with a classic cobbler topping along with a brown sugar pecan crust topping for more crunch and flavor. It’s an extra rich and sweet twist on classic cobbler, and no one can stop eating it. It’s full of sweet flavor and a variety of textures that make it just wonderful.
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Cobbler Recipe
- It’s absolutely delicious and the combination of the sweet apples, gooey caramel, and brown sugar pecan crust topping is simply irresistible.
- It’s super easy to make and only takes a few ingredients and can be on the table in no time.
- It is the perfect fall dessert with the warm spices and sweet flavors, and the crunchy addition of the brown sugar pecan crust topping.
Caramel Apple Cobbler Ingredients
This recipe mainly uses kitchen staples to create. The only things you’ll probably have to buy are the apples and the caramel sauce – maybe the nuts.
- Granny Smith apples are perfect to use in baking. They hold their shape well and add a nice tartness to the cobbler.
- Brown sugar adds a nice caramelized flavor and helps create a moist and tender topping.
- Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps create a crispy topping.
- Lemon juice helps prevent the apples from turning brown and helps to balance out the sweetness of the cobbler.
- Cornstarch helps prevent the filling from becoming too funny and helps thicken the filling.
- Cinnamon is the classic flavor that is perfect with apple desserts, and adds a warm and cozy flavor to the cobbler.
- Nutmeg adds a bit of depth to the cobbler and is a perfect addition for fall desserts.
- Ghirardelli premium caramel sauce is a rich and delicious caramel sauce that is the perfect addition to the cobbler filling and a sweet and gooey layer of deliciousness to drizzle over the top.
- All purpose flour helps to create a tender and crumbly topping and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Baking powder helps to create a light and airy texture.
- Salt helps to balance out the sweetness of the topping and helps to enhance the flavors in the cobbler.
- Butter adds richness and flavor to the topping and helps to create the crumbly topping.
- Boiling water helps to activate the baking powder and gives the topping a light and airy texture.
- Chopped pecans add flavor and a bit of crunch to the topping.
How to Make Caramel Apple Cobbler
Making this cobbler is very simple, as most cobblers are. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.
Step 1: Make the Apple Filling
Combine the sliced apples, brown sugar, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and caramel sauce in a large bowl. Let sit while making the toppings.
Step 2: Make the Cobbler Topping
Whisk the flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Then, mix the butter into the flour with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Finally, add the boiling water and stir until combined.
Step 3: Make the Brown Sugar Pecan Crust
Stir the brown sugar, flour, pecans, and melted butter together until combined in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 4: Make the Cobbler
Spray a 3-quart or 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray and immediately pour in the apple mixture. Then, top the apples with cobbler batter. Finally, sprinkle the brown sugar pecan crust topping over the cobbler batter.
Step 5: Bake
Bake the cobbler uncovered for 50 to 55 minutes until the topping is cooked thoroughly and starts to brown. Serve warm with ice cream.
Recipe Tips
- Cut your butter into cubes, and then keep it in the refrigerator until just before you cut it into the flour for the best results.
- Be sure your water is boiling, not just hot, when you add it to the flour and butter mixture.
- Don’t spray your dish until you’re ready to add the apple filling. Otherwise, the nonstick spray will pool at the bottom of the dish.
- If the cobbler starts to brown too much, lightly cover with aluminum foil.
Variations
- Try using pears, cherries, apricots, or peaches for this filling recipe.
- You can use berries in place of apples for the filling.
- Chopped walnuts will work in place of pecans for the topping.
What to Serve with Caramel Apple Cobbler
Serve this cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. It’s also great with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea.
FAQ
A cobbler is a fruit dessert made with a top crust of pie or biscuit dough but no bottom crust.
The best apples for cobblers, pies, and the like are Granny Smith. They have a crisp texture and tart flavor that’s the perfect counterpoint to the sweetness of the other ingredients.
You can store apple cobbler in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes, you can. This cobbler will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
The apples that are most consistently ranked as the best cooking apples are:
Granny Smith
Jonathan
Jonagold
Cortland
Braeburn
Honeycrisp
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Apple Cobbler
Store the cobbler in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the cobbler, bake it for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Try This Delicious Caramel Apple Cobbler Recipe Today
This caramel apple cobbler combines a caramel-infused apple filling and classic cobbler batter topping with a sweet and crunchy brown sugar pecan crust for a tasty twist on a classic cobbler favorite. It’s so good and so easy to make, everyone loves it. You’ll love how quickly you can make it, and everyone else will love how delicious it is! Be sure to save yourself a piece, because it tends to go fast. Give it a try!
More Delicious Cobblers with Brown Sugar Pecan Crust Topping
This Caramel Apple Pecan Cobbler is also absolutely delicious and made with a homemade caramel sauce that is the perfect fall dessert.
Caramel Apple Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Crust
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 7 Granny Smith apples, peeled, sliced
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅓ cup Ghirardelli premium caramel sauce
Cobbler Topping
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, (1 stick)
- ⅓ cup boiling water
Brown Sugar Pecan Crust 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, or a 9 x 13 baking dish, with a non-stick cooking spray right before filling with apple mixture.
Apple Filling
- In a large bowl, add sliced apples, brown sugar, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg. and caramel. Stir and let sit while making the toppings.
- Pour apple mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Cobbler Topping
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt together.
- Using a pastry blender, or a fork, mix butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
- Pour boiling water into the flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Spoon mixture over apple filling and spread gently making sure to cover the fruit completely.
Brown Sugar Pecan Crust Topping
- In a small bowl, stir brown sugar, flour, pecans and melted butter together until combined.
- Sprinkle brown sugar pecan topping over the cobbler topping.
- Bake uncovered for 50-55 minutes or until the topping is cooked thoroughly and has started to brown.
- Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
This looks amazing! Did you use light or dark brown sugar?
Thank you Nae. I used light brown sugar. I hope you enjoy this if you end up making it. :)
This was wonderful. When making this I made it with dark brown sugar as I do most things. The taste was great but it was very dark and not as appealing. I will make it again but will definitely use light brown sugar.
Thank you so much Angela. I did use light brown sugar. Also, you can cover the cobbler lightly with foil if it starts to brown too much. I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks you for sharing. :)