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Old-Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler Recipe (Easy)

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Old-fashioned Southern blackberry cobbler is a beloved dessert that captures the heart of Southern tradition. Made with ripe, juicy blackberries and a buttery, soft, and fluffy crust, this classic treat combines the tartness of the berries with a sweet, golden topping. Often served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, it evokes the comfort of home-cooked meals and family gatherings.

This is a image of homemade blackberry cobbler that has been scooped out of the casserole dish and it sitting on a plate in the foreground. The casserole dish is seen sitting in the background.

I still remember it like it was yesterday, walking around the edge of our cow pasture collecting ripe blackberries. Mom, my brother, and I would pick them, eating every other one, and gathering the rest in a small 1-gallon bucket.

It felt like it would take forever to fill it up, especially since I was eating so many as I was picking them. Once we got back to the house, Mom would wash and dry them. We knew what was coming for Sunday dinner and could hardly wait.

this is a image of wild blackberries.

Mom would take those blackberries and make the most delicious old-fashioned Southern blackberry cobbler you've ever tasted. While some people prefer cobbler with a flaky crust, we loved ours with a sweet, buttery, and fluffy crust that had a chewy and slightly crispy exterior. It was absolutely yummy.

Why You Will Love This Homemade Blackberry Cobbler Recipe​

  • Delicious Flavor: The perfect balance of tart, juicy blackberries, and a sweet, buttery crust.
  • Nostalgic Appeal: Evokes the comfort and warmth of home-cooked meals and family gatherings.
  • Simple Ingredients: Made with common pantry staples and fresh blackberries.
  • Easy to Make: This straightforward recipe that even beginners can follow.
  • Versatile: Perfect for any occasion, from casual family dinners to festive gatherings.
  • Textural Delight: Combines a fluffy, buttery crust with a chewy, slightly crispy exterior.
  • Crowd-Pleaser: Loved by kids and adults alike, it’s sure to be a hit.
  • Customizable: Can be served with ice cream, whipped cream, or enjoyed on its own.
  • Seasonal Freshness: Ideal for using fresh summer blackberries.
  • Authentic Southern Charm: A classic dessert that brings a taste of the South to your table.
This image is a closeup of a spoon full of cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream.

What Does Old-Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler Taste Like?

As I mentioned earlier, this old-fashioned blackberry cobbler features a unique topping that you might not be familiar with. It's like a sweet biscuit, with a buttery golden brown, fluffy interior and a slightly chewy, crispy exterior.

This image shows a closeup of the corner of a baked blackberry cobbler and what the golden buttery crust looks like.

The fresh blackberries provide a slightly acidic kick, balanced by their natural sweetness and a touch of added sugar. This well-rounded dessert is highly prized in the South, especially during the summertime.

The combination of the warm, sweet-tart blackberries and the crisp, golden topping creates a comforting and nostalgic dessert that is both simple and profoundly delicious. Whether served on its own or with a side of vanilla ice cream on top, Homemade Blackberry Cobbler is a perfect harmony of sweet, tangy, and buttery flavors.

This image shows blackberry cobbler topped with homemade vanilla ice cream on a plate. There is a canister of ice cream in the background and some spoons.

If you love this Old-fashioned Blackberry cobbler recipe, you are going to love this Old-Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe! You have got to try it this fall.

Where to find Blackberries for your Cobbler

Berry picking is a fantastic family activity that teaches children where their food comes from and how it's grown. The experience of gathering berries and then baking a dessert with the fruits of your labor is both enjoyable and rewarding.

This is a image of a young boy picking blackberries from a row of thornless blackberries.
My son picking blackberries from our Thornless Blackberry patch

Having fresh blackberries will result in the best-tasting cobbler so I am going to give you a few places to look for them. If you cannot find them fresh though, you can use frozen store-bought blackberries.

Wild Blackberries

In the South, wild blackberry bushes grow wild everywhere. They are in people's backyards, along roadsides, and everywhere in between. The downside is the wild blackberries are smaller, and the canes have thorns or brambles on them.

This is image of wild blackberries closeup.

The wild variety is also not quite as sweet as improved or cultivated varites.

Cultivated Blackberries

Another option is to grow your own blackberries. This is what I do to have a ton of fresh berries. As they are coming off the bushes in the summertime, I freeze them to be able to enjoy them year-round.

This is a closeup of a lady picking thornless cultivated blackberries.
This picture is my wife picking a ripe blackberry from our bushes

They are easy to grow and many of the improved varieties offer no thorns, bigger berries, and sweeter berries (although some still have thorns). A few of my favorite varieties are Ouachita, Ponca, and Navaho. 

​Blackberries from a U-Pick Farm

Another place to find fresh berries is from a U-pick farm. This may not be an option where you live but in my area, there are a few farms that grow cultivated blackberries for you to come pick for yourself.

This is a image of a man picking blackberries at a u-pick farm.

You pick the berries, then pay for them per pound that you have picked. The berries are similar to the cultivated varieties I have mentioned above. 

Roadside Produce Stands

Also, some roadside farm stands may sell fresh berries during the summer months and some grocery stores will carry them as well.

Frozen Blackberries

Ultimately though, if you cannot find fresh ones, you can use the frozen ones from the freezer section at your grocery store. Just make sure to leave them frozen and not to thaw them out before baking.

What You'll Need to Make This Recipe

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's start with the basics:

​Basic Ingredients for Old-Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler

​Blackberry Mixture

  • Fresh or frozen Blackberries (If using Frozen leave them frozen and don't let them thaw before baking).
  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Melted butter
  • Lemon Juice
This image is shows all the ingredients needed to make the blackberry mixture for the fruit cobbler.

Cobbler Batter

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Sea salt or kosher salt
  • Milk
  • Melted butter
  • Pure vanilla extract- I prefer to use Sweet Southern Farms (a small batch locally made extract) Use ode "SOUTHERNFOODJUNKIE for a 10% discount.
This image shows all of the ingredients to make the cobbler batter for the fruit cobbler.

Note: See the Recipe Card at the Bottom for amounts

Equipment You'll Need

  • Mixing bowl (Large bowl)
  • Small bowl
  • 9 x 13 baking dish
  • Spoon
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Serving Spoon
  • Cooling Rack

Note: For a complete list of all the tools that I recommend, check out this article on Best Kitchen Essentials.

How To Make Homemade Blackberry Cobbler

​Step-by-step instructions

To Start: Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees Fahrenheit 

Preparing the Blackberry Mixture: Rinse the blackberries thoroughly under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. 

Place them in a mixing bowl. Pour melted butter over the top and mix well. Sprinkle blackberries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. This helps to sweeten the berries and create a thickened blackberry filling as they bake. Toss blackberries until they are evenly coated. 

This is a image showing pouring melted butter over the blackberries to make the blackberry mixture.
Pour butter over berries
This image shows adding the sugar to the blackberries to make the blackberry mixture for the cobbler.
Add sugar
Then add cornstarch and lemon juice

Make The Cobbler Topping: In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together. Then, stir in milk melted butter, and vanilla extract until combined.

This image shows using a whisk to mix all of the dry ingredients together before adding in the wet ingredients to make a blackberry cobbler.
Mix the dry ingredients
This image shows adding the melted butter to the cobbler batter.
Then add butter and vanilla extract
This image shows adding milk to the dry ingredients to make the cobbler batter.
Next, add in the milk
This image shows whisking the batter together before pouring it over the blackberry mixture to make easy homemade blackberry cobbler.
Mix ingredients

Pro Tip: It is ok if the batter is slightly lumpy. Do not over-stir it.

Assemble the cobbler: Pour the prepared blackberries into a greased baking dish, spreading them evenly. Pour the batter over top of the berries until it is evenly distributed. 

This image shows what the blackberry mixture looks like after it has been mixed up and poured into a greased backing dish before adding the batter on top.
This image shows pouring the batter over top of the blackberry mixture for blackberry cobbler.
This image shows what it looks like once you pour the batter over top of the blackberry mixture in the baking dish before it goes into the oven.

Bake the Cobbler: Place the fruit cobbler in the preheated oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

This image shows putting the Old-fashioned Southern Blackberry cobbler into the oven to bake.

Cool and Serve: Remove the cobbler from the oven and let it cool on a cooling rack for about 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly.

This image shows taking the golden brown blackberry cobbler out of the oven to let it cool before eating it.

How To Serve

Serve warm with a scoop of Homemade vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. You can also top with a little lemon zest for an added flavor pop!

This is a image of old fashioned blackberry cobbler topped with homemade vanilla ice cream.

​Substitutions

You can substitute other berries for the blackberries in any combination. Blueberries work great for this recipe. Also, you could use half raspberries and half blackberries for a delicious blend of sweet and tart flavors, enhancing the dish's texture and color. This would work great for the 4th of July time of the year for a red, white, and blue theme summertime cookout. 

How To Store Blackberry Cobbler

Cover the uneaten blackberry cobbler tightly with plastic wrap, or aluminum foil, or put it in an air-tight container. Place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. 

​FAQ's

Can I use frozen blackberries instead of fresh ones?

Yes. You can use frozen but make sure to leave them frozen before baking.

What if I prefer a less sweet cobbler?

You can reduce the amount of sugar in both the blackberry filling and the cobbler topping to suit your taste.

How can I prevent the cobbler topping from becoming too soggy?

If the cobbler topping becomes too soggy, next time you make it add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to the berry mixture.

Can I freeze blackberry cobbler?

Yes, you can freeze baked blackberry cobbler. Make sure to cool it completely to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing. You can also put it in a freezer-safe container. It will last 2 to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, place it in the oven in the casserole dish it was in or in an oven-safe pan.

Yield: 10

Old-Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler Recipe (Easy)

This is a image of Old Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler on a old white plate. You can see a silver spoon in the left side background.

Old-fashioned Southern blackberry cobbler is a beloved dessert that captures the heart of Southern tradition. Made with ripe, juicy blackberries and a buttery, soft, and fluffy crust, this classic treat combines the tartness of the berries with a sweet, golden topping.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

Blackberry Mixture

  • 4 cups of Blackberries
  • ½ cup of white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter

Cobbler Batter

  • 2 ½ cups of All Purpose Flour
  • 1 ½ cup of White Granulated Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 cups of whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons of melted butter

Instructions

    1. To Start: Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees Fahrenheit 
    2. Preparing the Blackberry Mixture: Rinse the blackberries thoroughly under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Place them in a mixing bowl. Pour melted butter over the top and mix well. Sprinkle blackberries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. This helps to sweeten the berries and create a thickened blackberry filling as they bake. Toss blackberries until they are evenly coated. 
    3. Make The Cobbler Topping: In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together then stir in milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until combined. It is ok if it is slightly lumpy. Do not over-stir it
    4. Assemble the cobbler: Pour the prepared blackberries into a greased baking dish, spreading them evenly. Pour the batter over top of the berries until it is evenly distributed. 
    5. Bake the Cobbler: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
    6. Cool and Serve: Remove the cobbler from the oven and let it cool on a cooling rack for about 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly.

Notes

  • Cook times can vary depending on oven type and baking dish. Adjust accordingly. If the center is not set, you will need to add more baking time.
  • It is possible to substitute other berries such as Blueberries or Raspberries. You can also do any combination of the three.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

I hope you enjoy this awesome simple Blackberry Cobbler recipe. It is one of my favorite summer dessert recipes and I am sure it will also become a favorite of yours. 

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