Refined Sugar Free Cobbler

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This easy refined sugar free cobbler needs just 5 minutes to prep. It is so delicious that no one will ever know that it is sweetened with maple syrup! You can use peaches, blueberries or blackberries for this great recipe. 

A wonderfully delicious healthy dessert

There is nothing like freshly picked berries. We did a lot of blueberry picking last year so I was able to try out some new recipes using fresh berries over the summer. This healthy refined sugar free cobbler was one of our favorite recipes and I’m so glad I wrote down the recipe to be able to share it with you. 

But don’t be fooled, even with the minimal ingredients and healthy alternatives used in this cobbler recipe, the taste is incredibly delicious. It is one of our favorite summer desserts, your family will love it.

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Ingredients used to create healthy refined sugar free cobbler

There are two parts to this cobbler, the berry base and the delicious topping. But don’t worry, it is such a simple recipe and it whips up super quickly. The ingredients are very simple and I’m willing to bet you already have most of them on hand. This is a slight variation from a traditional cobbler, but it is so good. 

Berry Cobbler Base:

• Fresh fruit of your choice – you can use fresh peaches, blueberries or blackberries. Fresh is delicious, but if you don’t have fresh you can use frozen, but allow them to thaw at room temperature before using.
• maple syrup
• lemon juice

Cobbler Topping:

• Butter
• Whole wheat flour(soft white, freshly milled if you have it)
• Baking Powder
• Milk(nut milk is fine)
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg(optional, great for peaches though!)

Tools needed to make this recipe

When I say that this recipe is super simple – I mean it! You will need very few items to make this recipe. A bowl for mixing the topping, a stirring utensil, a couple measuring cups/spoons and a cast iron skillet or 8×8 baking dish. If you have a different size baking dish you can use that, but just watch your cobbler closely while it cooks. 

How to make refined sugar free cobbler

Healthy cobbler is one of my favorite dessert recipes to make. Prepare for about 5 minutes of prep and a baking time of about 25-30 minutes.

Start by preheating your oven to 350* farenheit.

If you are using fresh peaches, peel and slice them thinly. If you are using fresh blueberries or blackberries, no prep is needed beside normal washing. 

(You can use frozen fruit in this cobbler recipe, but they will need to be thawed at room temperature before you begin. You can also use canned fruits(drained), but make sure that they don’t have added sweeteners if you are wanting to keep this cobbler on the healthier side.)

Measure the fruit and drizzle with 2 tbsp. maple syrup and ½ tbsp. lemon juice, toss and set aside. 

Melt butter in cast iron skillet over low heat. If using a baking dish, melt the butter in the dish by putting it in the preheating oven for a few minutes.

Combine flour, baking powder, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt in a medium mixing bowl. 

Pour the flour mixture over top of the melted butter and stir gently, this will make our “pie crust” for the cobbler.

Next, layer the fruit mixture on top of the flour mixture in the baking dish or cast iron skillet. 

Sprinkle with a tiny pinch cinnamon and/or nutmeg if desired. 

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is browned. The berries will fall to the bottom of the dish and the flour mixture will rise in some parts, this is what you want. 

Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes and serve.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Cobbler Topping Ideas

If you want to spice things up and add some fun toppings to your healthy cobbler, here are some ideas to get your started. 

Vanilla ice cream

Who doesn’t love cobbler with a scoop of delicious vanilla ice cream? I especially love when the cobbler is warm, right from the oven and the ice cream melts slightly over the fruit. YUM!

Fruit

Of course there is fruit already in the cobbler, but it wouldn’t hurt to sprinkle a few extra fresh blueberries or blackberries on top! 

Nuts

Try sprinkling some nuts over the top. Pecans, walnuts and almond slices would all taste amazing! Try pulsing the nuts in a food processor to get them to a nice size for a topping.

Whipped Cream

Definitely a no brainer! What dessert doesn’t taste even better with a dollop of whipped cream on top? I know, you are probably thinking, “I thought this was supposed to be a healthy dessert?!” I hear ya! But whipped cream can be made in healthy ways, like with grass-fed raw milk cream and a little bit of honey. Super yummy, I’ll have to share my recipe soon!

Refined Sugar Free Cobbler Substitutions

If you are curious about substitutions for this recipe, here are a few of my suggestions. 

Sweeteners: If you are not a fan of maple syrup or just don’t have any on hand, feel free to swap the maple syrup for honey in this cobbler recipe. Another great option is coconut sugar or maple sugar. Both of those are more processed than maple syrup or honey, but they can be great options if you don’t want to use the other sweeteners recommended.

Oil/Butters: Coconut oil can be used a substitute for the butter in this recipe. Also vegan butters work great as well. I prefer to use grass-fed butter in my recipes for the most health benefits, but I wanted to give you other options.

Tips for making the best refined sugar free cobbler

Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the best cobbler possible.

Make sure not to skip any of the ingredients: have carefully crafted this recipe to work with minimal ingredients, but each one plays an important part in the recipe. If you love a ton of topping, I suggest doubling the topping mixture and baking for a little longer. This will give you a thicker cobbler.

Flour: You may noticed that this recipe calls for whole wheat flour. I created this recipe specifically to work for freshly milled whole wheat flours, like the ones I use to make all of our own breads and muffins at home. However, if you aren’t into milling the wheat fresh just yet, store bought whole wheat will work. Furthermore, if you don’t have either, all-purpose flour can also be substituted in this recipe. But keep in mind that all-purpose flour is anything but healthy.

Canned Fruits: If you are using canned fruits, it is really important that you drain them well. Too much liquid will cause the cobbler to be too runny and not set up properly. For instance, if using peach filling there is typically water, maybe some juice and other ingredients. Also, make sure that the canned fruit doesn’t have a lot of added sugars and such, if a healthy dessert is a priority for you.

Peaches: if you are using fresh peaches and they seem like particularly juicy peaches, it may be a good idea to set them on a paper towel to drain some of their juices before moving forward with the peach cobbler recipe.

Cool before eating: I know it will be tempting to dive in as soon as the cobbler is out of the oven, but it is best to allow it to cool and set up a little.

Storing berry crisp: Store leftover cobbler in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheating in the microwave works great.