Recipe: Blueberry Skillet Cobbler with Whole-Wheat Biscuits
Just short of eating a fruit by hand, a summer cobbler is on the short list of stunningly simple desserts. In this rendition, blueberries are cooked with both lemon and orange zest, and lightly spiced with nutmeg before being topped with fluffy whole-wheat biscuits.
While this cobbler (or any cobbler, really) is a delicious after-dinner treat, something about the combination of whole-wheat biscuits and blueberries makes this feel distinctly appropriate for breakfast. You can make the blueberry filling the night before and top with the biscuits the morning of baking. Just like that, a bubbling cobbler becomes a reality and a scoop of ice cream can’t be too far behind.
Blueberry Skillet Cobbler with Whole-Wheat Biscuits
Makes1 (10-inch) cobbler
Serves6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the blueberry filling:
- 6 cups
(960 grams) blueberries
- 1/3 cup
(67 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon
cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon
finely grated fresh lemon zest
Juice from 1/2 medium lemon (about 4 teaspoons)
- 1/2 teaspoon
finely grated fresh orange zest
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
For the whole-wheat biscuits:
- 1 cup
(130 grams) whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup
(63 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup
(50 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons
baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon
baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon
fine salt
- 1/2 cup
(120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup
(120 milliliters) low-fat buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup
(4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for coating the skillet
- 2 teaspoons
turbinado sugar
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5). Coat a 10-inch cast iron skillet with butter.
Make the blueberry filling:
Place the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest, orange zest, and nutmeg in a large bowl and stir gently to combine. Pour the blueberry mixture into the skillet.
Make the biscuits:
Whisk the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large, clean bowl; set aside.
In a measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, cream, and vanilla. Add the 1/4 cup melted butter and stir gently to combine.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Use a rubber spatula to stir the ingredients together until just combined. The biscuit dough will be soft and sticky.
Use 2 spoons or a spring-loaded ice cream scoop to dollop the biscuit dough on top of the blueberries in 8 even pieces. The dough will rise and expand in the oven, so leave a bit of room in between the pieces. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the dregs of liquid left in the measuring cup, then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar.
Place the pan on a large baking sheet to catch any drips and slide the pan into the oven. Bake until the biscuits are golden and cooked through and the fruit is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Recipe Notes
- Seasonal variations: Cobbler is one of the most versatile fruit desserts. Try apples and pears with warm spices in the fall, strawberries or rhubarb in the spring, and cranberries in the winter.
- Storage: This cobbler is best the day it’s made, but it makes a great breakfast the next day, too. Store leftovers covered tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Reprinted with permission from Sweeter Off the Vine: Fruit Desserts for Every Season by Yossy Arefi, copyright (c) 2016 by published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Styling Credits
- Food styling by Yossy Arefi
