Surely you’ve heard of peach or apple cobbler, but what about a cobbler made with nectarines? This nectarine cobbler recipe is incredibly simple, as it doesn’t involve peeling or cooking down the nectarines first.
While some cobblers are fruit with a biscuit-like topping, this one is more of a cake. Just add sugared sliced nectarines atop the batter in the baking dish. As it bakes, the nectarines nestle into the cobbler dough, lending sweet tanginess to every bite.
Ingredients for Nectarine Cobbler
- Nectarines: Juicy and delicious, nectarines turn into a wonderfully fruity filling for this cobbler recipe, without the hassle of peeling that peaches often require.
- Sugar: Sugar sweetens both the nectarines and the batter portion of this cobbler.
- Butter: The butter helps keep the batter from sticking to the baking dish. It also adds richness to the batter.
- Flour: Flour is the main ingredient in the cakey part of this nectarine cobbler recipe. You can swap in a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend if you like.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the dough rise, which makes this dessert nice and fluffy.
- Nutmeg: Ground nutmeg, which pairs beautifully with stone fruit, adds an earthy, slightly sweet note to the cake-like portion of this dessert.
- 2% milk: Milk’s main purpose here is to bind the dry ingredients into a batter.
- Vanilla ice cream (optional): Because ice cream makes any warm dessert even better, especially as the ice cream starts to melt. Feel free to use sweetened whipped cream instead.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare nectarines
Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, combine the nectarines and 2 tablespoons of the sugar.
Step 2: Prepare the cobbler
Pour the melted butter into a 2-1/2-quart baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and the rest of the sugar. Stir in the milk until the ingredients are just combined, then pour that mixture over the butter in the baking dish.
Step 3: Bake the cobbler
Top the mixture with the sugared nectarines, then bake until the cobbler is golden brown, or about 50 to 55 minutes. Serve the cobbler warm with ice cream, if desired.
Nectarine Cobbler Variations
- Add fruits or berries: Use other fruits in place of or in combination with the nectarines. Peaches, cherries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries; this nectarine cobbler recipe is ideal for using up some of those fruits that grow in abundance for just a short time and need to be eaten ASAP!
- Make it vegan: Use non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, as well as a vegan butter substitute, to make this recipe suitable for a vegan diet. And don’t forget the vegan ice cream!
- Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar: Sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and sugar or brown sugar on top once you pull the dessert out of the oven, or even a few minutes ahead of time, then place it back in the oven for a few minutes to melt.
How to Store Nectarine Cobbler
To store any leftover nectarine cobbler, allow it to cool completely, then cover it. Place the dessert in the refrigerator and enjoy it within four days.
Can you freeze nectarine cobbler?
Yes, nectarine cobbler can be frozen for up to three months, but it could be messy or soggy. When it’s cool, freeze the cobbler in the baking dish with plastic wrap over the top, followed by a layer of foil. When it’s frozen solid, you may be able to lift the cobbler out in one hunk and place it in a zippered freezer bag with the air pressed out. Another option is to wrap the frozen blocks of cobbler in plastic wrap, then place them in airtight freezer-worthy containers. Thaw the cobbler in the refrigerator and reheat it, covered, in a 300° oven.
Nectarine Cobbler Tips
What’s the difference between a cobbler and a crisp?
Both cobblers and crisps use fruit and many of the same ingredients, but they’re structurally a little different. A crisp has a crumbly topping that often includes oats that crisp up when baked, hence the “crisp” in the name. A cobbler often has a biscuit-style topping that looks like a cobbled road when baked. This nectarine cobbler recipe is a little different in that the fruit is on the top instead of the bottom, and its juices seep into the cake- or biscuit-like portion beneath it.
Can I use peaches instead of nectarines here?
Yes, peaches and nectarines can be used together or even interchangeably in this nectarine cobbler recipe. Their flavors are similar; just choose juicy, ripe peaches rather than ones that are a bit hard or under-ripe. (Peaches don’t ripen once harvested.)
Can I eat this cobbler cold?
Yes, this nectarine cobbler is tasty straight out of the fridge, or when you’ve let it sit out for a few minutes. It’s delicious cool, warm or hot, and as good for breakfast as it is for dessert.