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Apple cobbler is a traditional dessert that's easy to make and calls for just a few ingredients. It's similar to apple pie in that it features sweetened, cooked apples and is topped with dough. But, a cobbler is so simple that a baker of any caliber can make it: There's no tricky pie-crust rolling or shaping involved. This apple cobbler has just six ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry. The apple mixture is nothing more than apples, cinnamon, and sugar but the secret ingredient of this homemade apple cobbler recipe is pancake mix. Standard pancake mixes already have baking powder and all-purpose flour or self-rising flour, so using a mix takes care of a few steps for you. The only thing left to do is bake it which makes up the majority of the cook time — it only takes about an hour. ## The Best Types Of Apples To Use The best baking apples offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors as well as flesh that doesn't break down in the oven. We recommend classic Granny Smith apples for this recipe, one of the most common types. They're tart and tangy, with firm flesh, making them perfect for baking. You could alternatively use Honeycrisp apples if you prefer sweet desserts. They also provide a juicy crispness and are firm enough to bake with. Braeburn apples are also an option, since they're so firm and keep their shape while baking. Feel free to use more than one variety of apples if you want textures and flavors unique to your cobbler. ## Using Lemon Juice Many apple cobbler recipes call for tossing the sliced apples with a little bit of lemon juice before baking. Lemon juice prevents oxidation of the apples — it's the oxidation that causes apples to turn brown. Lemon juice can also add some extra tartness if that's what you like, but you really don't need it if you get the cobbler in the oven before the apples start to discolor. ## Apple Cobbler Vs. Apple Pie Vs. Apple Crisp There are many dessert recipe options when it comes to using apples. While all of these options are baked with fresh apples and can be similar, there are a few differences. The main distinguishing factor lies between apple recipes is in the specific topping. _Apple cobblers:_ Cobblers generally have a biscuit topping. They look like a cobbled road when baked because the biscuit mixture is dropped on top of the apples. In this case, the pancake mix for the cobbler topping contains most of the ingredients of a biscuit. _Apple crisps:_ Crisps have a crumbly streusel topping. It’s similar to an apple crumble, but crisps add oats to the mix. _Apple pie:_ Pie is the classic dish you're likely very familiar with. It has a bottom and top made of pie crust, with apple pie filling in between. The top pie crust is pinched together with the bottom crust to make a seal. ## Variations Make it your own cobbler recipe with one of these customizations. _Go gluten-free:_ Swap gluten-free pancake mix for regular pancake mix, or if you're making your own mix, substitute all-purpose flour for any gluten-free flour such as almond flour or coconut flour, but make sure to use the correct ratios. For example, coconut flour is very absorbent so you won't need very much. Almond flour has a high fat content, so you may not need as much butter. _Make it vegan:_ Substitute regular milk for any non-dairy milk of your choice like almond or cashew milk. While it may subtly change the taste, it won't be very noticeable. You'll also need to swap regular butter for non-dairy butter, which you can find at the grocery store. _Add nuts:_ Sprinkle a handful of chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, over your apple mixture for extra crunch. As easy recipes go, this apple cobbler is about as simple as it gets. It's the perfect apple dessert to enjoy throughout the fall season when fresh apples are at their prime — delicious and full of good-for-you dietary fiber. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or enjoy on its own.
