This Easy Pear Cobbler Recipe features a sweet spiced pear filling smothered with flakey biscuit dough. Served warm topped with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s the perfect dessert for fall!
Table of Contents
- What is a Cobbler?
- What are the Best Pears for Baking?
- What’s in a Homemade Pear Cobbler Recipe?
- Step-By-Step Guide to Make an Easy Peasy Pear Cobbler Recipe
- Flavor Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store and Freeze
- Common Questions About This Pear Cobbler Recipe
- More Cobbler and Crisp Recipes
- Pear Cobbler Recipe Recipe
What is a Cobbler?
Often confused with crisps and crumbles, cobblers are a type of fruity dessert made with a layer of fruit (such as peaches or pears) topped with a biscuit topping. The dessert gets its appearance from the somewhat cobbled effect the biscuit dough creates.
Some variations also contain a thin layer of biscuit dough on the bottom, and others are made with cake batter or cookie dough. However, the fruity center is always made with fresh fruit, sugar, and cornstarch to create a thick consistency.
What are the Best Pears for Baking?
The most popular pears for baking are Anjou and Bartlett. You could also use a combination of both!
Just be careful not to mistake them for comice pears which look similar but aren’t as good for baking as they don’t hold their shape as well. Whatever variety you choose, it’s best to use pears that are in season and ripe, meaning they give just slightly when squeezed.
What’s in a Homemade Pear Cobbler Recipe?
It feels like everyone has their own unique way of making cobbler recipes. However, for this quick pear cobbler, we kept the ingredient list on the traditional side, using just a handful of simple ingredients.
Cobbler Filling
- Pears – Use fresh, ripe pears, free from discoloration or bruises.
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar helps sweeten the filling.
- Flour – All-purpose flour helps thicken the filling, making it syrup-like and helping it hold its shape so it doesn’t run all over the place!
- Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt add extra warmth and depth, creating a sweet and spicy flavor perfect for fall.
Topping
- Flour – All-purpose flour forms the base of the biscuit dough. If needed, feel free to substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour instead.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar helps transform the dough from savory to sweet.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda – These are crucial leavening agents to help the dough rise and become fluffy and soft as it bakes.
- Salt – Just a pinch is used to enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Butter – Cold, unsalted butter is cut into the dough and melts as it bakes, creating a light, flaky texture and irresistibly rich taste.
- Milk – We recommend using full-fat milk, but any kind you have on hand will work.
Step-By-Step Guide to Make an Easy Peasy Pear Cobbler Recipe
With minimal prep time and a quick cook time, this cobbler recipe comes together with minimal steps in under an hour for a delicious dessert you can whip up any day of the week!
- Create the dough topping. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the butter, and use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut it into the mixture until it resembles coarse, sand-like crumbs. Stir in the milk just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix! The dough should be a little lumpy.
- Prepare the fruit filling. Peel and core the pears, and slice them into wedges. Then, arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish and sprinkle the flour, sugar, and spices on top. Gently toss to combine and coat the fruit.
- Layer. Drop spoonfuls of the cobbler dough on top of the pears, covering them as much as possible.
- Bake. Transfer the baking dish to a preheated oven, and bake just until the dough is golden brown and the pears are tender.
Tip: Depending on the size of your dish, there is a chance the cobbler filling will bubble up over the sides. To prevent a big mess, try placing a baking sheet under the dish to catch any overflowing cobbler!
- Cool. Remove the dish from the oven, and set it aside to cool slightly. Serve warm!
Flavor Variations
- Swap the fruit. Replace the pears with apples or blueberries. Or, use a combination of both.
- Add nuts. Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the pear filling. Or, sprinkle toasted nuts on top of the finished dish for added richness and crunch.
- Switch up the spices. Replace or add to the cinnamon and nutmeg with cloves, ginger, cardamom, or lemon zest.
Serving Suggestions
This pear cobbler recipe is scrumptious on its own, but we think it’s even better topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream! You could also add a sprinkle of powdered sugar or chopped nuts.
How to Store and Freeze
Store leftover pear cobbler covered at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to five days. To freeze, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and transfer it to the freezer for up to one month.
To enjoy, allow leftovers to thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, warm it in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit just until it is heated through. Be careful not to let the top burn!
Common Questions About This Pear Cobbler Recipe
Technically, you don’t have to, but we highly recommend it! The skin can be tough and chewy, making the cobbler a little difficult to serve and eat once baked.
Yes, but it’s best to use them fresh. Freezing pears can sometimes cause them to become soft and mushy. We recommend using frozen pears only for smoothies and a handful of desserts. They won’t taste good on their own.
Warm, fall spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, cardamom, and cloves pair wonderfully with pears!
More Cobbler and Crisp Recipes
- Easy Peach Strawberry Cobbler Recipe
- Easy Pecan Pie Cobbler Recipe
- Slow Cooker Summer Berry Cobbler
- The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
Pear Cobbler Recipe
Ingredients
Topping:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
- 1 cup milk
Filling:
- 4 large pears peeled and cored
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Add the cold, diced unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the butter into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.1 stick
- Stir in the milk, and mix until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix; the dough should be a bit lumpy!1 cup milk
- Prepare the pears by peeling, coring, and slicing them into thin wedges.4 large pears
- In a baking dish or casserole dish, arrange the pear slices evenly, add flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and pinch of salt on top. Toss together to combine and coat the fruit.1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, Pinch of salt
- Drop spoonfuls of the cobbler dough on top of the pears, covering them as much as possible.
- Place the cobbler in the preheated oven, and bake for about 40-45 minutes or until the cobbler topping is golden brown and the pears are tender.
- Remove the cobbler from the oven, and let it cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired!
- Store covered at room temperature for up to two days or in the fridge for up to five days.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this tonight – my husband LOVED it! So easy to make. Was my first time making a cobbler.
We’re so glad it was a success! Thank you for trying it out, Kim. 🥰
Xo,
Alia & Radwa