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White skillet with winter cranberry apple cobbler and a molasses crust with ice cream

Winter Cranberry Apple Cobbler with Molasses Crust

Cara Williams
A deliciously winter spiced cobbler with tart cranberries and apples and topped with a warm molasses crust.
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Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Oven safe skillet or pan such as cast iron pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 cups fresh cranberries
  • 2 medium honey crisp apples
  • 2 TBSP pomegranate juice or orange juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cobbler Batter

  • 1 stick salted butter
  • 1 cup AP flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses like Grandma’s brand
  • 2/3 cup milk or milk alternative
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp all spice
  • sprinkle of coarse cane sugar optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Start by coring and dicing the honey crisp apples into bite sized pieces. I like to peel the apples as well but that is totally optional.
  • Into a large bowl, add the diced apples, cranberries, pomegranate juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar and cinnamon. Toss together until all the fruit is covered and set the bowl aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, start to make the batter. Add the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, molasses, milk, baking powder and all spice. Stir together until mixed well. If there are some lumps in the batter, that’s ok. Set the bowl aside.
  • In an oven safe skillet over medium low heat, add the stick of butter. Allow the butter to melt slowly and start to bubble. Once the butter is bubbling, stir slowly until it turns golden brown. It’s important to gently stir the butter frequently to keep it from burning. You know when the butter has been browned once golden brown solids have formed on the bottom of the pan and the butter smells nutty. This takes about 3-5 minutes.
  • Once the butter has browned, it’s time to assemble. Pour half of the cobbler batter into the hot skillet of brown butter. Then, top with the cranberry apple mixture. Finish with spoonfuls of the remaining batter.
    Optional: Sprinkle on some coarse sugar on top of the cobbler batter for an extra crunchy topping.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes until the filling has set and the cobbler crust is golden brown with crispy edges.
Keyword Christmas, Dessert, Easy Recipes