Category: COBBLERS, CRISPS & TARTS

CRUNCHY FRUIT CRISP ~ BLOG 365.220

This is one of those go to granny recipes that every southern lady has made for eons. Always reliable and works with any fruit or fruit combination.

CRUNCHY FRUIT CRISP
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 JUMBO egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 cups chopped or sliced FRESH fruit

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Grease 9 inch baking dish.
  • Whisk together the bisquick baking mix, sugar and cinnamon.
  • Add melted butter and egg, stirring JUST until incorporated.
  • Spread two-thirds of dough into baking dish.
  • Arrange fruit pieces over dough.

1/3 cup PACKED brown sugar

  • Add brown sugar to remaining dough until crumbly.
  • Crumble Over fruit.
  • Bake 30 minutes or until fruit is tender and top is crispy and golden.

RUSTIC TOMATO TART

RUSTIC TOMATO TART
1/2 package Pillsbury pie crust or homemade
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons tomato or basil pesto
3/4 cup shredded Havarti cheese
1-2 LARGE heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch slices
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon FRESH thyme leaves
1-2 green onions, sliced thin

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Roll out pie dough and shape into baking sheet dimensions creating an edge.
  • Brush with oil and pesto of choice.
  • Sprinkle 2/3 of the cheese onto the crust.
  • Arrange tomato slices over the cheese.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
  • Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes.
  • Garnish and serve.

FIG NEWTON CRISP

FIG NEWTON CRISP
1/4 cup PACKED brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
1 tablespoon salted butter
1/2 cup dried figs, diced
3 CRISP apples, cored and diced
1 orange, juiced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon FRESH grated nutmeg

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Grease an 8×8 baking dish.
  • In a LARGE skillet melt 1 tablespoon of butter.
  • Add apples, brown sugar, orange juice, figs, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt.
  • Saute 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced.
  • Add Wondra flour cooking and stirring 2-3 minutes more until appleas are tender and everything is well coated.
  • Transfer to prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer.
  • Let cool 5-10 minutes.

CRUMBLE
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons small chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons salted butter, chilled and small cubed

  • Mix the flour, oats, sugar, salt, walnuts and butter together. Use your hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form.
  • Sprinkle crumble evenly over the fig mixture.
  • Bake 24-28 minutes until topping is browned and filling is bubbly.
  • Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

MAGIC LEMON COBBLER

MAGIC LEMON (insert favorite flavor here) COBBLER

Magic Cobbler is so fun and super easy to make. A tender buttermilk cobbler with sweet and tart lemon pie filling–this dessert is so fresh and perfect with a big dollop of ice cream or whipped cream. 

½ cup 1 stick butter
1 cup flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
21 ounce can lemon (or flavor of choice) pie filling

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Place the stick of butter in a 9×9-inch square baking dish and place it in the oven to melt for 5 minutes until fully melted.
  • Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
  • Add the sugar and whisk to combine.
  • Pour in the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and lemon extract and whisk just until combined.
  • Pour the batter evenly over the COOLED melted butter in the pan (do not stir).
  • Spoon the pie filling over the batter. If the butter is too hot it will bake the edges too fast and create a chewy edge!
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes until the edges of the cobbler are golden brown and the center is set.
  • Cool slightly before serving.


MAGIC COBBLER aka FLOATING FRUIT CAKE

I was given the original recipe many years ago by a woman I worked with. It was delicious, but it used a box mix and canned peaches so and I wanted to update it to a scratch recipe using fresh fruits when possible.

This is a super fun recipe in that the batter and fruit actually trade places during the baking process ending with a crunchy biscuit topping over sweet, juicy fruit. My favorite flavor is peach, but it works just as well with cherries, blackberries, blueberries, apples or ANY fruit combo you can think of!

MAGIC COBBLER aka FLOATING FRUIT CAKE updated

FILLING
8 cups about 10 peaches peeled and sliced OR 32 ounces of sliced frozen peaches, thawed and drained well
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla

  • In a large mixing bowl toss peaches with vanilla, sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

TOPPING
12 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In another large mixing bowl whisk together the butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Layer evenly with peach slices.
  • Bake for 1 hour or until browned and bubbly.

NOTE: You can use other fruits, but omit the cinnamon if using berries such as blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.

NOTE: When taking this out of the pan for serving you can easily turn it into this cute little trifle.

PINEAPPLE CHERRY CRUMBLE

This is basically the scratch version of the ever popular dump cake of the 1980’s which is basically a cobbler made by dumping fruit fillings into a pan and then literally dumping a cake mix on top followed by a drizzled butter and then baked.

PINEAPPLE CHERRY CRUMBLE

FILLING
1 LARGE can crushed pineapple or 2 cups FRESH small chopped pineapple
1 LARGE can COMSTOCK tart pie cherries

  • Stir together the pineapple and cherries. Set aside.

CRUMBLE
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup instant oats
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup SMALL chopped walnuts
1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Mix flour, oats, walnuts, coconut, sugar, brown sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Using a pastry cutter and/or your hands cut in butter until you have a small coarse crumble.
  • LIGHTLY spray the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Pour pineapple and cheery mixture into the bottom and smooth out.
  • Spread crumble evenly over the pineapple cherry layer.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes until fruit is bubling and the crumble is a golden brown.

BRIOCHE PLUM TART ala Dorie Greenspan

Years ago (2009ish) I participated in a baking group called, Tuesdays with Dorie aka TWD, where we baked exclusively from Dorie Greenspan’s cook book, Baking: From My Home to Yours. There was one particular recipe that I REALLY wanted to bake, but I had to miss that week for some reason and am FINALLY getting around to making it.

I love the simplicity of the brioche in this recipe, but LOVE that it’s a bit sweeter than your average brioche. The dough is better made the day before – you get much better results from letting it sit overnight. I happened to have bought some sour plum jam at the Christmas fair just to make this tart with! It’s really hard to find plum jam in the grocery stores, even before the COVID19 shortages. Your beautifully sweet brioche dough is filled with tart jam and fresh plum slices to create a really fancy and decadent coffee cake!

BRIOCHE PLUM TART pg 54-55
DOUGH
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup whole milk, just warm to the touch
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • Put the yeast and warm milk in the bowl of a stand mixer and stir until the yeast is dissolved.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, and fit the mixer with the dough hook, if you have one.
  • Working on low speed, mix for a minute or two, just to get the ingredients together.
Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 7–10 minutes, stopping a few times to scrape down the bowl and the hook, until the dough is stretchy and fairly smooth. The dough will seem fairly thin, more like a batter than a dough, and it may not be perfectly smooth which is fine.
  • Transfer the dough to a clean lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave it in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, 30 – 40 minutes.
  • Deflate the dough by lifting it up around the edges and letting it fall with a slap into the bowl. Cover the bowl again with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.
  • Slap the dough down in the bowl every 30 minutes until it stops rising, about 2 hours.
  • After that leave the dough in the refrigerator overnight – it will be tastier for the wait.

the NEXT DAY

  • Generously butter the pan.
  • Press the chilled dough into the bottom of the pan and up the sides – don’t worry if it’s not even.
  • Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • While the dough is in the refrigerator, prepare the filling.

FILLING
6 LARGE ripe plums, preferably Italian prune plums
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
3 tablespoons sugar

  • Halve and pit the plums.
  • Slice each plum in half and then into 4-5 slices. Set aside.
  • Toss the chopped nuts with the sugar and set aside.

ASSEMBLY
1/4 cup plum jam

  • Remove the tart pan from the fridge and push and press the dough up the sides of the pan.
  • Spoon the jam onto the dough and spread it over the bottom.
  • Arrange the plums cut side down in concentric circles covering the jam.
    Scatter the nut mixture, and cover the tart lightly with a piece of plastic wrap.
Place the tart on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat and let it rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.

BAKING

  • Meanwhile, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 425°.
  • Bake tart for 20 minutes.
  • Cover it loosely with a foil tent to prevent the crust from getting too dark, and continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until the fruit juices are bubbling and the crust is firm and beautifully browned – it will sound hollow when tapped.
  • Transfer the tart to a rack to cool for at least 45 minutes before serving.

NOTE: This tart looks BEST when it’s made in a 9 inch fluted pan, but I also love using my 9 inch spring form for just about everything these days.  I made a second one, but was out of the plum jam now and nuts so I substituted blackberry jam and heath bar pieces for the nuts.  Guess what?  It was even better!!!!

 

FLOATING FRUIT CAKE – PEACH

This is a super fun recipe in that the batter and fruit actually trade places during the baking process ending with a crunchy biscuit topping over sweet, juicy fruit.   My favorite flavor is peach, but it works just as well with cherries, blackberries, blueberries, apples or ANY fruit combo you can think of!

PEACH COBBLER

FILLING
8 cups about 10 peaches peeled and sliced OR 32 ounces of sliced frozen peaches, thawed
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl toss peaches with 2 and cinnamon and set aside.

TOPPING
12 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In another large mixing bowl whisk together the butter, flour, 2 cups sugar, baking powder, salt and milk.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Layer evenly with peach slices.
  • Bake for 1 hour or until browned and bubbly.

NOTE: You can use other fruits, but omit the cinnamon if using berries such as blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.

APPLE SLAB PIE – 3 WAYS – APPLE CARAMEL, APPLE CHEDDAR & APPLE STREUSEL

I’ve been working on this post since last July when I promised to find my slab pie recipes for my nieces.  Katie and Lulu I am so sorry this took so long – I sure hope you enjoy them!  I hope having all 3 versions together inspires you to make your own.

Today I made “half” pies in the same pan so they almost looked more like a galette, but they tasted perfect! 😀

APPLE CHEDDAR SLAB PIE
Pie Crust dough for a 2 crust pie (homemade or Pillsbury)
3/4 cup + 1/4 cup + 1/4 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup sugar
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons COLD unsalted butter, cubed
1 LARGE egg, beaten

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Lightly flour your work surface.
  • Unroll first pie crust and sprinkle with 1/4 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese. Top with second crust and roll out to a 17×12 inch rectangle.
  • Place crust in a 15×10 jelly roll pan. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
  • In a large mixing bowl toss apple slices with lemon juice, salt, sugar and 1/4 cup of the flour.
  • Remove piecrust from refrigerator.
  • Spread apple mixture evenly into crust.
  • Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheddar cheese.
  • In food processor pulse together the brown sugar, rolled oats, 1/4 cup flour and cold butter until crumbly.
  • Sprinkle evenly over pie.
  • Fold crust edges over pie like a Galette.
  • Brush with egg.
  • Bake 35-45 minutes until browned.
  • Cool 1 hour.
  • Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

APPLE STREUSEL SLAB PIE
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon +1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon FRESH ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
12 ounces COLD unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup + 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Lightly flour your work surface.
  • Unroll first pie crust and sprinkle with 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
  • Top with second crust and roll out to a 17×12 inch rectangle.
  • Place crust in a 15×10 jelly roll pan.
  • Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
  • Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
  • Combine 3/4 cup of the sugar mixture with 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the butter and 2/3 cup chopped walnuts cutting in butter until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.
  • Combine remaining sugar with apples and 1/4 cup flour.
  • Spread apple mixtures over crust evenly.
  • Fold crust edges over pie like a Galette.
  • Sprinkle with crumb mixture.
  • Bake 35-45 minutes until browned and bubbly.
  • Cool 1 hour.
  • Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

I did save the BEST for last, at least in my opinion.  This pie tastes just like a caramel apple! The beauty though is that there is a thin and flaky crust that houses the juicy apples and crispy crust and is drizzled with a luscious homemade caramel for a melt in your mouth tasty treat.

CARAMEL APPLE SLAB PIE

CRUST
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup CRISCO butter-flavored shortening
8 tablespoons cold water

  • Spray a 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender cut in the shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cold water over the mixture and toss with a fork. Repeat using 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it is moistened and knead the dough into a ball.
  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 19×13-inch rectangle.
  • Wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it into the prepared baking pan.
  • Ease dough into the pan and up the sides, being careful not to stretch it.
  • Trim dough to ½ inch beyond edge of pan.
  • Fold dough edge over and flute as desired.

APPLES
⅔ cup sugar
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons QUALITY ground cinnamon
1/2 cup golden raisin, optional
3½ pounds granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices (about 10 cups)

  • In an extra large bowl combine the sugar, ⅓ cup flour, cinnamon, raisins and apples.
  • Toss until coated.
  • Spoon the mixture on the dough and spread evenly.

CRUMB TOPPING
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup butter, cold

  • In a large bowl, stir together quick-cooking rolled oats, packed brown sugar, and all-purpose flour.
  • Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until topping mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Sprinkle EVENLY on top of apples.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender.
  • Cool slightly.

NOTES:

  • IF you are in a hurry, melting the butter and using a fork to mix it all together works well too.
  • IF TOP IS BROWNING TOO QUICKLY, COVER LIGHTLY WITH A PIECE OF FOIL.

CARAMEL
1 cup PACKED brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon PURE Vanilla
Pinch of salt

  • Mix all ingredients together until smooth in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat.
  • Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until thicker.
  • Turn off heat.
  • Serve warm or refrigerate until cold.
  • Drizzle on top of apple slab pie.

NOTE:  If you don’t use all your streusel topping, it stores perfect in the freezer.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CUPS

These little gems are so easy and light, but look really decadent and like you spent all day on them!PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CUPS
60 mini phyllo shells
1 + 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup creamy JIF peanut butter
1 1/2 cups FRESH heavy cream
1/4 cup Kraft caramel balls, chopped for garnish

  • Add 1 cup of the chocolate chips into a glass mixing bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until melted.
  • Stir in peanut butter until well blended. Set aside.
  • In a medium mixing bowl beat cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
  • Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture.
  • Transfer to a ziploc bag. Chill until ready to use.
  • When ready to serve, pipe filling into phyllo shells and sprinkle with chopped caramel and chocolate pieces.

CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES

CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES
DOUGH
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup cold sour cream

  • Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.
  • Add the cubed butter to the bowl and use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand.
  • Stir in the sour cream (the dough will be very wet), and then turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface.
  • Knead the dough a few times until it comes together, adding more flour, 1 teaspoon at a time, if the dough is too sticky to handle.
  • Roll the dough into an 8×10-inch rectangle and dust both sides with flour before folding it into thirds as if you were folding a letter.
  • Rotate the dough 90º and roll it out again into an 8×10-inch rectangle.
  • Fold the dough again into thirds then wrap it securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes while you make the filling.

FILLING
2 cups small peeled and SMALL diced Granny Smith apples (about corn kernel size)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • In a small bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar and flour, stirring until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY
Egg wash – 1 egg lightly whisked with 1 Tablespoon water
LARGE flake sea salt
Crystal sanding sugar

  • Preheat the oven to 425º.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and unfold it onto a well-floured surface, rolling it out to a 14×14-inch square.
  • Using a 3-inch circular cookie cutter or cup, cut out as many circles as possible. Re-roll the scraps and continue cutting out circles until you run out of dough, ensuring you end up with an even number of circles.
  • Place six of the dough circles on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Spoon a small portion of the apple filling into the center of each circle, leaving enough of a border around the filling.
  • Top the apple filling with a pinch of sea salt.
  • Place a second dough circle atop each filled circle then use a fork to crimp the edges together, sealing each pie.
  • Brush each pie with the egg wash, and using a sharp knife, cut two or three vents on the top of each pie.
  • Sprinkle the pies with crystal sanding sugar.
  • Bake the pies until they’re golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove the pies from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before glazing.

GLAZE
Juice of 1 Large lemon
+/- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • Blend together to desired consistency.

NOTES:

  • I like to use a FULL wine bottle to roll the dough as the weight helps it stay smoother.
  • I also roll the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper so I don’t need t add as much flour.
  • Large flake sea salt is available in most specialty supermarkets.

LEMON BLUEBERRY TURNOVERS

LEMON BLUEBERRY TURNOVERS
4-6 inch pieces of puff pastry
1 lemon, juiced
2 cups small wild blueberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 egg

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small bowl whisk egg.
  • In a medium bowl stir together the blueberries, cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of
  • the powdered sugar.
  • Arrange the puff pastry squares on the parchment paper several inches apart.
  • Drain blueberries for a couple minutes.
  • Lightly brush the edges of the puff pastry.
  • With a slotted spoon divide the blueberry mixture among the puff pastry pieces.
  • Gently fold a corner over to form a triangle and secure edges by firmly pressing the edges together with your fingers.
  • Brush the outside of the turnovers with the beaten egg.
  • Make a 1 inch slice on the top of each turnover.
  • Bake the turnovers 14-18 minutes until golden, turning the pan half way through.
  • While the turnovers are baking, make the glaze.
  • In a small bowl whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. If too thick add a bit more lemon juice.
  • When turnovers are done, let cool at least 10 minutes before drizzling glaze over top.

NOTE: I like to use the juice that drain off the blueberries.