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Juicy old-fashioned blackberry cobbler
Blackberry cobbler brings back warm and cozy memories of days gone by.
Why does this old-fashioned Blackberry Cobbler recipe look more like pie?
A similar approach is used in making a pandowdy.
Our recipe can be adapted using a drop biscuit cobbler topping instead of pastry crust if you prefer.
Overview of ingredients
- one double crust pie pastry – this can be store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- cornstarch to thicken the juices – use double the amount in flour if desired
- ground cinnamon
- boiling water
- fresh blackberries – if using frozen blackberries there’s no need to thaw first. Reduce the water by 1/4-cup. Wild blackberries are not as juicy as the giant store-bought blackberries you’ll find in the grocery store. You may need to adjust the cornstarch and/or water as needed.
- fresh lemon juice as needed to add tartness – again store-bought blackberries may be sweeter than wild so add lemon juice for a zing of acidity.
- unsalted butter
- large egg
- coarse sugar for topping
TIP: This recipe can be adapted using blueberries or peaches.
How to make old-fashioned Blackberry Cobbler
1. First prepare a double crust pie pastry
The crust can be store-bought or you can try our easy homemade pie crust in 3 easy steps.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch casserole dish, baking pan or skillet. Set aside.
2. Make the cobbler filling
In a medium saucepan mix together 1 cup of sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and boiling water. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes stirring occasionally until thickened.
Remove from the heat and add the blackberries and any accumulated juices. Stir gently until the blackberries release some juice. Set aside.
3. Assemble the cobbler
Cut on of the pastry disks in half and roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thick. Cut the pastry into a square roughly the same size as the prepared baking pan. Reserve any scraps.
Place the pastry square on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake until firm, lightly browned with bubbles starting to form on the crust, about 10 minutes. This will be used as the middle layer of the cobbler.
While the pastry square is baking roll out the remaining dough to a 12×12-inch square. Ease the dough into the prepared dish pressing it into the corners without stretching. Trim the edges leaving a 1/2-inch overhang.
Spoon half the blackberry mixture into the prepared pan. Top with the pre-baked pastry square then all the remaining blackberries. Dot with butter.
Roll out the remaining dough to a 10-inch square. Cut the dough into strips and weave a lattice design on top. Trim the excess and fold together with the overhanging bottom crust. Crimp or seal the edges with a fork.
Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
4. Bake and serve
Place the baking dish on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for an additional 45 to 55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Pick wild blackberries if you can find them, and make some memories!
Each summer when I was a young girl we’d get up early (early for summer) dress in long sleeved shirts, long pants, boots and hats and head out with Mom and Dad to pick blackberries. The extra clothing helped protect us from ticks and chiggers.
We headed out to the fields near our home and picked blackberries until our fingers were purple and the heat was too much to bear. Then Mom would spend the day cleaning berries, make jelly or jam and of course, dad’s favorite blackberry cobbler.
We continued the annual blackberry picking tradition with our kids when they were little too. However when we moved to Virginia we couldn’t find good wild blackberries to pick. So a few years ago we built an arbor and planted our own blackberries in the backyard.
This has been the best year yet with plenty of blackberries to enjoy. Garden to table baby!
This easy blackberry cobbler recipe uses a little cornstarch as a thickening agent.
A mixture of granulated sugar, cornstarch and water is boiled until thickened then combined with the blackberries before layering in the cobbler. For this cobbler pictured above I used 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in the sauce but normally use only one.
My family loves a soupy cobbler so if yours does too, try the recipe with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch instead of 2.
There’s no right or wrong way to layer the crust in this cobbler.
I made a lattice crust on this cobbler and love the way it looks when juices bubble up in between the crust. You’re welcome to cut a square of pastry and float it on top of the berries instead of creating a weave. I’ve made it all different ways over the years and each one is delicious.
Occasionally I ladle a little blackberry sauce into the bottom of the baking dish then add one square of pastry to cover. Next layer half the remaining blackberries, another layer of crust using scraps or pieces of dough, then the last of the blackberries with the final layer of crust on top.
If you’re looking for quick and easy way to cobble together an amazing dessert, this is it!
Cool slightly before serving to allow the juices to thicken
Thanks for PINNING!
Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1 double pie crust recipe
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch (see notes)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup boiling water
- 4 cups blackberries
- juice of ½ lemon (if needed to add tartness)
- 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- coarse sugar for topping
Instructions
- Prepare a double crust pie pastry and refrigerate until needed.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch casserole dish or oven-proof skillet with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan mix together 1 cup of sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and boiling water. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil over medium heat. Boil 5 minutes stirring occasionally until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the blackberries and any accumulated juice. Stir gently until the blackberries release some juice. Set aside.
- Cut one of the pastry disks in half and roll out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8th inch thick. Cut the pastry into a square roughly the same size as the prepared pan. Reserve any pastry scraps. Place the pastry square on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake until firm, lightly browned with bubbles starting to form on the crust, about 10 minutes. This will be used for the middle layer of the cobbler. Set aside.
- While the pastry square is baking, roll out the remaining whole disk of dough to at least a 12x12-inch square, about ⅛ inch thick. Gently ease the dough into the prepared dish pressing gently into the corners without stretching. Trim the edges of the dough leaving a ½-inch overhang all the way around. This overhang will be folded up and over the lattice top. Collect any scraps of dough and put them together with the remaining ½ disc of pastry.
- Spoon half the blackberry mixture into the prepared pan. Top with the pre-baked pastry square, then add all the remaining blackberry mixture. Dot the blackberries with butter.
- Roll out the remaining dough to a 10-inch square (for 9-inch pan). Cut the dough into 8 or 10 strips and weave a lattice crust on top. Trim the excess dough to the same size as the overhang. Lightly dampen the top and bottom edges of the dough strips with a wet finger. Fold the excess overhang up and over the edges of the strips to seal. Crimp or seal the edges with a fork.
- Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Place the baking pan on the parchment lined baking sheet to catch any juice that may bubble over. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to 350°F and continue baking for about 45 to 55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling. If the crust is browning too quickly, tent the cobbler with foil as needed.
- Cool to room temperature or serve warm topped with ice cream or lightly sweeten cream if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Try our homemade double crust pastry recipe
- If the blackberries lack tartness add the juice of 1/2 a lemon to the blackberry mixture with the berries.
- Use fresh or frozen berries for this recipe. Do not thaw the berries before adding to the hot sugar mixture.
- This recipe also works well with blueberries.
- Cornstarch: If you prefer a juicy cobbler, use only 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. For a thicker sauce as seen in the photos, use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. I’ve made this cobbler for more than 30 years and usually use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch as my family prefers the cobbler extra juicy. Using 1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch is perfect and the best of both worlds.
- This cobbler can be adapted using a drop biscuit topping instead of crust if you prefer. Make the berry mixture and pour into the prepared pan. Cover the berries with mounds of the biscuit topping and bake. Our best recipe for a biscuit topping can be found on our Easy Plum Cobbler recipe.
Nutrition
Enjoy this old-fashioned blackberry cobbler with the seasons best fruits
If you’re lucky enough to have plenty of blackberries you should also try our fabulous homemade Blackberry Pie with a buttery, flaky crust and loads of juicy berries. Nothing says home like a hand crafted pie.
Another popular recipe is our stunning Blackberry Tarts. Juicy ripe blackberries are nestled in a buttery, flaky crust for an iconic, all American summer dessert.
For a low-calorie option try this recipe for Blackberry Frozen Yogurt. This is a healthy way to enjoy a frozen dessert, sweetened with blackberries and honey.
Wendi Williams
Good lord! This is so yummy!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Wendi! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 👏
Kara
Can I make this in an iron skillet?
Tricia Buice
Hi Kara. I try not to use anything that acidic in a cast iron skillet. Things like lemon juice and tomato sauce may strip the nonstick seasoning. It also causes the baked item to have an iron taste to it. Hope that helps!
Penny Thomas
I have quite a few fresh peaches that I need to use today! Could I just substitute the peaches for the blueberries in this recipe? I love cobblers that are made with pie crust! Your cobbler looks delicious!
Tricia Buice
Hi Penny. Yes I think you could but I also have a Peach Cobbler recipe along with Peach Bars that are great. Enjoy!
Wendy Ramitez
This was AMAZING…crusty and delicious! I substituted all butter with no shortening. Easy instructions and can be made without much effort. Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Wendy. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. I’m thrilled this cobbler was a success!
Cheryl
Can I freeze this recipe?
Tricia Buice
Hi Cheryl. Yes you can can freeze this cobbler. I recommend assembling as instructed then freezing just before baking. Make sure it’s well sealed in plastic wrap and foil to avoid freezer burn. I’d bake it from frozen or slightly thawed. I’m not sure about the time because I haven’t tested it but it would obviously take longer than normal. I would also lower the temperature by 25 degrees. Enjoy!