Healthy Apple Cobbler Recipe | Diethood

Sweet, homespun, and so easy to make! This Healthy Apple Cobbler hits all the right apple pie notes, without added sugar and fat! You’ll love how the sweet and tart flavor of fresh apples shines through in this not too sweet, and very simple cobbler recipe.

A Simple and Satisfying Baked Apple Dessert

I love apple desserts, don’t you? There’s nothing like a beautiful homemade apple pie, apple crisp, or apple tart, pulled right out of the oven. Apples handle baking beautifully, becoming soft and sweet while still having that tart juiciness. Add a little cinnamon, and you’re in apple heaven!

This apple cobbler is one of the best, because it is so, so simple. And, unlike some of the more decadent apple treats out there, it doesn’t need any sugar to be absolutely scrumptious! Made with sweet-tart apple slices and a light, cakey topping of flour, spices, vanilla, and applesauce, it’s a homespun and healthy dessert that works equally well as a breakfast option.

With winter still upon us, this is one easy recipe you’ll be making again and again. Your house will smell wonderful, and you’ll love serving this wholesome treat with a cup of cold milk, or a cup of hot coffee. Or a Hot Toddy. ? ?

What’s the Difference Between a Cobbler and a Crisp?

You might be wondering if apple cobbler is the same as its more popular cousin, the apple crisp. The answer is: sort of, but there are key differences! Cobblers and crisps are both made with fruit and some kind of carb-y topping. During the baking process, the fruit juices bubble up into the topping, and help it to cook up into a fruity, sweet masterpiece! ? ? ?

The difference between cobblers and crisps is that cobblers usually have a cake-like topping, made with a batter or dough. Crisps use a streusel-like topping, made with crumbly ingredients like oats, nuts, or a bit of flour blended with butter.

In this apple cobbler recipe, we’ll create a light and wholesome batter for the topping, without any added sugar.

The Ingredients You’ll Need

What do you need to make this healthy and wholesome apple cobbler? Just a few easy ingredients, and a little bit of time. Let’s take a closer look:

• Apples: Peel and slice your apples before adding them to the cobbler. Make sure to remove the tough core from each slice.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg add warmth and a hint of sweetness, without any added sugar.
• Flour: Self-rising flour makes this recipe so easy! It already contains the right amount of rising ingredients, so there’s no need for baking powder, soda, or salt.
• Eggs: Three large, whole eggs bring the batter for the topping together.
• Applesauce: My go-to is unsweetened applesauce. I find that it is totally sweet enough, and again, this cuts down on unnecessary sugars in the recipe.
• Vanilla: For the best flavor, use pure vanilla extract.

How to Make Healthy Apple Cobbler

This is a great dish to make with children, because it is so simple. You don’t need any special equipment, either—just a whisk and a bowl!

1. Prep the Oven and Apples. Before you begin, set your oven to preheat to 375˚F. That way, it’ll be hot when you are ready to slide the baking dish in. Next, load your peeled and sliced apples into a large (9×13 inch, or 3 quart) baking dish, or a cast iron skillet. Set the dish aside for now.
2. Make the Topping. Get out a large mixing bowl and a whisk. Combine the flour, beaten eggs, applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in the bowl, and whisk them together until they’re smooth and combined, like pancake batter.
3. Top the Apples and Bake. Pour the topping batter over the apples in the baking dish. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth it out, and cover all of the apples as well as possible. Bake the cobbler for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and the topping is baked through.
4. Enjoy! Let the apple cobbler stand at room temperature for several minutes before serving.

Easy Tips and Variations 

So there you have it – the easiest, seasonal apple cobbler dessert. This is one you’ll want to make again and again—and with these yummy variations and tips, there’s every reason to do just that!

• Apple Options: You can use any good baking apples for this recipe (think tart, flavorful, and firm). Different apples will give you different results, so you can make a lot of different apple cobblers depending on what’s good in your area. My favorite apple choices include Granny Smith, Jonathan apples, Pink Lady, Lady Alice, and McIntosh.
• Watch the Sugar: Depending on how sweet or tart the apples are, you may want to adjust with a bit of sugar or sugar-substitute.
• Flavor Options: Feeling spicy? Add some additional ginger, nutmeg, or cloves! You can also amp up the flavor in the apple filling with a little bit of rum extract, or a tiny splash of brandy.
• Decorate It: A sprinkle of coarse sugar makes a lovely, crunchy topping for this recipe. You could also sprinkle raisins into and on top of the cobbler for a punch of texture, taste, and color.

Storing and Reheating Extras

• Most cobblers, crisps, and pies can be stored at room temperature for two to three days. 
• You could also store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or freezer for 3 to 4 months. If you freeze the cobbler, thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• To reheat your cobbler, just bake it at 375˚F for 10 minutes or so, until piping hot.

Can I Make This in Advance?

• If you’d like to get a head start on this easy dessert, prepare the filling and batter in advance, store them separately, and refrigerate or freeze it until the day of.
• Stored in airtight containers, it will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.
• Thaw frozen apple filling/topping overnight in the refrigerator, before using.

ENJOY!

More Healthy Dessert Recipes