Southern Blueberry Cobbler – Old Fashioned Summer Dessert

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This southern blueberry cobbler recipe is a sweet dessert recipe that will be a family favorite. It has a flaky biscuit with delicious fruit poking through the crust. You get berry juices and lots of delicious blueberries in every bite.

old fashioned blueberry cobbler on plates topped with ice cream

What’s better than a big scoop of ice cream on top of freshly baked old-fashioned blueberry cobbler? Not a whole lot! Take this easy dessert to a potluck or picnic, or just make it for dessert this weekend.

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This favorite summertime dessert is a classic Southern recipe featuring juicy blueberries under a sweet biscuit topping. The crispy top and the fruity inside make it absolutely perfect with ice cream!

Strawberries are the quintessential summer fruit, but I love blueberries best. I make them into blueberry muffins, cakes, pancakes, smoothies, and of course, delicious cobblers!

Love fruit cobbler? Check out my Lazy Day Peach Cobbler or Easy Apple Cobbler!

Reader Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the best tasting cobbler! The topping is slightly crispy and very delicious! The berries are perfectly tender and sweet! We used whipped cream instead of vanilla ice cream. Easy to make and very easy to eat!
— Lils Grandma

Key Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Blueberries – Fresh blueberries work best in cobblers. But frozen blueberries will work too, although the filling will end up a little bit runnier.

Lemon – Fresh lemon and grated lemon zest will elevate the dessert, but if you don’t have a lemon use bottled lemon juice.

Butter – The unsalted butter should be diced into cubes and then softened to room temperature.

Additionally, the recipe needs baking staples, including sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and milk.

labeled ingredient photo for blueberry cobbler

How to Make Southern Blueberry Cobbler

1. Prep

An hour or so before making this dessert get a stick of butter out of the fridge. Cut the butter into pieces and let it sit at room temperature to soften. If you are using a fresh lemon, zest it and squeeze it for fresh juice.

When you are ready to make the cobbler preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Make the Filling

Wash the fruit and make sure there aren’t any stems left on them. Then put them in a large bowl and add the lemon juice and zest. 

blueberries with sugar

Combine the 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Then combine it with the berries and toss. If you are using frozen blueberries, add an extra tablespoon of flour.

Spoon blueberry mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread them out to fill the entire baking dish.

3. Make the Crust

Combine the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter pieces to the bowl and blend them into the flour mixture until it is crumbly. A pastry cutter works well, or use a fork to cut it in.

Add the milk a little at a time and stir after each addition. The batter will be thick. Spoon it on top of the blueberries, spreading it out slightly. It will spread and cover most of the berries as it cooks.

blueberry cobbler before baking

Put the dish on a baking sheet in case some of the filling bubbles out as it cooks. Then bake the cobbler for 40 minutes in the preheated oven or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Serving Ideas

This southern blueberry cobbler tastes best when it is still warm! So let the cobbler cool slightly, then top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a delicious treat. The warm berry juices will combine with the slowly melting ice cream for an explosion of flavor from this family-friendly dessert!

Southern blueberry cobbler in a dish

How to Store

The leftover cobbler should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 2-3 days. To reheat the cobbler, microwave it for 1 minute or bake it in a 375 degree F oven for 5 minutes.

Tips for the Best Blueberry Cobbler

Be sure to check out the step by step instructions

  • Some blueberries are sweeter than others. I recommend taste testing a few, and if they are very tart, then add a little more sugar to the filling. Up to 1/2 a cup will be fine.
  • It is easier to cut the butter into small squares as soon as you get it out of the refrigerator instead of after it has softened.
  • This recipe has just a touch of cinnamon flavor. You can double the amount of cinnamon and add 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg if you prefer.
  • Leftovers should be refrigerated.

More Summer Blueberry Dessert

I love blueberries. In fact, they are my favorite summer fruit! Check my recipes for Blueberry Upside Down CakeBlueberry Galette, and Blueberry Cheesecake for recipes your family will love!

Blueberry cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

FAQ

Is cobbler the same as pie?

No, pie and cobbler are different desserts. Pie is made with a top and bottom pie crust that is rolled out and flakey. Cobbler is made just with a top crust, which is more biscuit-like.

How do you know when the cobbler is cooked?

The cobbler is cooked when the top crust is golden brown. In addition, the fruit filling will be bubbly and might even come up through the crust.

Can I use frozen fruit to make a cobbler?

Yes, frozen fruit works fine in a cobbler, and it doesn’t need to be thawed first. A cobbler made with frozen blueberries will be runnier than one made with fresh fruit. But it will still taste amazing.

closeup of old fashioned blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream
4.43 from 28 votes

Southern Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

Published By Anne
Southern blueberry cobbler has a flaky biscuit topping with delicious fruit poking through the crust. You get berry juices and delicious blueberries in every bite.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings: 8
Print Save Rate Pin

Ingredients
 

Filling Ingredients

  • 6 cups blueberries fresh *see notes for frozen berries
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional, (about 1 lemon’s worth)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Cobbler Topping Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter room temperature, and cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoons coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for sprinkling optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Clean berries and add them to a large bowl.
    6 cups blueberries
  • Add lemon juice and zest, and stir to combine.
    1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over berries and toss to coat. (If you are using frozen berries, add an extra tablespoon of flour).
    1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Put the blueberry mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  • Whisk together flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Cut butter into pieces and blend into flour mixture until small crumbles form. Use a pastry cutter or forks to cut the butter in.
    1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter
  • Gradually add milk and stir after each addition until well mixed.
    1/2 cup milk
  • Spoon the batter onto blueberries and spread slightly. The mixture will be thick but will spread while baking. If desired, sprinkle a small amount of coarse sugar on top to make the crust sparkle.
    1/2 teaspoons coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for sprinkling
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Let the cobbler cool slightly, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • For frozen berries, increase the flour in the filling to 2 tablespoons total. The cobbler will be runnier if made with frozen fruit.
  • Some blueberries are sweeter than others. I recommend taste testing a few, and if they are very tart, then add a little more sugar to the filling. Using up to 1/2 a cup of total sugar in the filling will work fine.
  • It is easier to cut the butter into small squares as soon as you get it out of the refrigerator instead of after it has softened.
  • This recipe has just a touch of cinnamon flavor. You can double the amount of cinnamon and add 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg if you prefer.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Nutrition Information

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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top view of Southern blueberry cobbler
anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

3 thoughts on “Southern Blueberry Cobbler – Old Fashioned Summer Dessert”

  1. 3 stars
    This is the best tasting cobbler! The topping is slightly crispy and very delicious! The berries are perfectly tender and sweet! We used whipped cream instead of vanilla ice cream. Easy to make and very easy to eat!

    Reply

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