Sweet and tart cranberry-apple cobbler with biscuits is packed with fresh cranberries and sliced apples, topped with a buttery, flaky biscuit topping. Serve it cold or warm out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The best part? This holiday favourite is so quick and easy to throw together, taking less than 20 minutes to prep. It's the perfect festive dessert to add to your Christmas baking list.
We love taking baking with fresh cranberries around here and take full advantage of them when they are in season (although you can easily use frozen cranberries for this recipe, so stock up). Some of my other favourite treats to make are cranberry yogurt muffins and cranberry scones with orange glaze.
Cranberry-Apple Cobbler Ingredients
To make this easy and delicious cranberry-apple cobbler with biscuits, you will need:
- cranberries - either fresh or frozen cranberries work. If using frozen, allow them to thaw first before using.
- apples - the best apples to use are ones that are firm and won't break down easily when baking. Some great options for baking are Honey Crisp, Pink Lady or Granny Smith apples.
- brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- all-purpose flour
- vanilla extract
- biscuit topping - made with all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cold butter (cold is key here), and heavy cream (or whole milk).
- vanilla ice cream (for serving)
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, food processor, and a 9-inch cast-iron skillet (or oven safe skillet or cake pan).
How to Make the Best Cranberry-Apple Cobbler with Biscuits
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 9-inch cast-iron skillet (or oven safe skillet or cake pan) for baking by generously applying vegetable oil or butter over the surface. Set the pan aside.
- Make the filling. In a medium mixing bowl, stir well to combine cranberries, apples, sugar, cinnamon, flour and vanilla extract until the cranberry and apples are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture into the prepared skillet.
- Make the biscuit topping. In a food processor, add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, sugar and cubed butter. Pulse mixing on and off for 1 minute until the flour mixture turns into a bread crumb consistency. Add cream and pulse mix for another minute. The mixture will turn into a thick batter. (Optionally, you can rub the cold cubed butter into the flour mixture using your hands until the flour mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Pour in cream and mix well to combine with a spatula or using an electric hand mixer).
- Shape the biscuits. Scoop about 2 tablespoons mixture at a time and flatten into round biscuits with your hands. Arrange the shaped biscuits evenly over the cranberries and apples. If the batter is too sticky to handle, light oil your hands or wet your hands with water first.
- Bake. Transfer the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour until the biscuits turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool down for 15 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set. But you can also enjoy it straight out of the oven, it will just be runnier.
- Serve. You can serve this warm, at room temperature of cold. I like it warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Storing Cranberry Cobbler
- How to store: Store this cranberry-apple cobbler with biscuits an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The filling may get a little soggy and runny while stored in the refrigerator. But it will liven back up once warmed up.
- How to reheat: Place the refrigerated cobbler in a 350 F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.
More Cranberry Recipes
- Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars
- Cranberry Yogurt Muffins
- Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins with Oat Streusel Topping
- Cranberry Sauce Swirl Pound Cake
- Cranberry Scones with Orange Glaze
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Recipe
Cranberry-Apple Cobbler with Biscuits
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Sweet and tart cranberry-apple cobbler with biscuits is packed with fresh fruit and a buttery biscuit topping. This holiday favourite is easy to make.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- vanilla ice cream (for serving)
Biscuit Topping:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
- ¾ cup heavy cream or whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 9-inch cast-iron skillet (or oven safe skillet or cake pan) for baking by generously applying vegetable oil or butter over the surface. Set the pan aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir well to combine cranberries, apples, sugar, cinnamon, flour and vanilla extract until the cranberry and apples are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture into the prepared skillet.
- In a food processor, add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, sugar and cubed butter. Pulse mixing on and off for 1 minute until the flour mixture turns into a bread crumb consistency. Add cream and pulse mix for another minute. The mixture will turn into a thick batter. (Optionally, you can rub the cold cubed butter into the flour mixture using your hands until the flour mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Pour in cream and mix well to combine with a spatula or using an electric hand mixer).
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons mixture at a time and flatten into round biscuits with your hands. Arrange the shaped biscuits evenly over the cranberries and apples. If the batter is too sticky to handle, light oil your hands or wet your hands with water first.
- Transfer the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour until the biscuits turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool down for 15 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set. But you can also enjoy it straight out of the oven, it will just be runnier.
- You can serve this warm, at room temperature, or cold. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Equipment used: measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, food processor, 9-inch cast iron skillet (or oven-safe skillet or cake pan).
How to store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The filling may get a little soggy and runny while stored in the refrigerator. But it will liven back up once warmed up.
How to reheat: Place the refrigerated cobbler in a 350 F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Tanja says
Love this! So festive-looking. Works well with gluten-free flour. I have even used sweetener and it has. turned out.
Allison says
Absolutely delicious! Love those tender biscuits.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks Allison! I do too!
Justine says
This was so good! The biscuit topping totally makes it.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks Justine! That's my fav part too!