BHA & BHT Free Apple Cobbler
Warm, bubbling apple filling beneath a golden, crumbly biscuit topping — this cobbler is the kind of dessert that makes a whole kitchen smell incredible. BHA and BHT are synthetic preservatives that sneak into a surprising number of packaged baked goods and processed fats, so making a cobbler from scratch is genuinely one of the easiest ways to sidestep them entirely. Every ingredient here is straightforward and recognizable: fresh apples, cold butter, whole milk, and a handful of pantry staples — nothing processed, nothing with a preservative label to decode. The filling gets its depth from cinnamon, nutmeg, and a squeeze of lemon juice, while cornstarch helps it thicken into that glossy, jammy consistency that pools perfectly around the biscuit edges. Cold butter worked into the flour by hand creates a topping that bakes up tender in the middle and slightly crisp on top, with a satisfying golden crust that's hard to resist. A sprinkle of turbinado sugar before it goes into the oven adds just a little extra crunch and sweetness to finish things off. Let it rest for a few minutes after baking and the filling settles into something truly special — serve it as-is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the filling
- 3 lbs apples (about 6 medium), such as granny smith or honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
For the biscuit topping
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cut into ½-inch cubes
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tbsp turbinado sugar or coarse sugar (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples with the granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until the apples are evenly coated. Transfer the filling to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
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