25 Fruit Crumbles, Crisps, and Cobblers

Crumble, Crisp, and Cobbler Recipes

These simple desserts offer the comfort of fruit pies but without the work of making a piecrust. Cobblers have a softer biscuit-like topping and texture, while crumbles and crisps have a crunchy, buttery, streusel-like topping that provides a contrast to the soft fruit in the filling.

First up, apples are combined with maple syrup instead of sugar in this fruit crisp to impart sweet, but not too sweet, distinctive flavor. Add a small scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream to this crisp when it's warm from the oven.

View Recipe: Maple-Walnut Apple Crisp

Photo: Randy Mayor

Rainier Cherry Crumble

Rainier cherries are sweet enough on their own that the filling for this crumble needs no extra sugar. The topping is crunchy and nutty, and the filling is sweet, warm, and gooey, for a perfect comforting dessert. You don't even need a cherry pitter: Hit each cherry with the flat side of a chef's knife (like crushing garlic cloves), and the pit pops right out.

View Recipe: Rainier Cherry Crumble

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Blueberry Crisp

Ripe, fresh blueberries are perfect for this dish, though frozen berries will also work. But keep them frozen, and bake the crisp 10 or 15 minutes longer as needed. Thawed berries are too fragile to toss and give off lots of liquid.

View Recipe: Blueberry Crisp

Photo: John Autry

Plum Cobbler

Some folks like the homey appeal of one large cobbler baked in a glass or ceramic casserole dish. Baking in individual-sized dishes is another option that makes a statement at the table. Any of our recipes can be baked in ramekins or other earthenware, but if you opt for that route, they won't need to bake as long. For example, these individual Plum Cobblers only bake 35 minutes.

View Recipe: Plum Cobbler

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cranberry and Apple Crumble

This simple winter dessert satisfies. We used Braeburn apples, but Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, or any other tart variety will do. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

View Recipe: Cranberry and Apple Crumble

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cast-Iron Apple Cobbler

Entertaining a smaller crowd? This homey apple cobbler recipe can be easily halved and baked in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet.

View Recipe: Cast-Iron Apple Cobbler

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pear, Apple, and Cherry Crumble

Turbinado sugar is typically sprinkled on bakery cookies. We've incorporated it into the crumble's topping, where its course crystals provide a satisfying crunch.

View Recipe: Pear, Apple, and Cherry Crumble

Photo: Anna Williams

Cherry-Almond Crisp

Fresh tart cherries can be hard to find, which is why we add some dried ones to boost the flavor of this crisp. If you have access to fresh tart cherries, use 3 pounds and omit the dried fruit. Serve with vanilla low-fat ice cream, if desired; a small (1/4-cup) scoop will add 55 calories and 0.5 grams of saturated fat to each serving.

View Recipe: Cherry-Almond Crisp

Photo: Anna Williams

Stone Fruit Cobbler

Tender and buttery, this cobbler’s crust is a nice foil for the intense filling. You can bake in any 2-quart baking dish, from round to rectangular. For a special treat (and an extra 55 calories and half a gram of saturated fat), top with a small scoop of vanilla low-fat ice cream.

View Recipe: Stone Fruit Cobbler

Photo: Randy Mayor

Pear Crisp with Amaretti Topping

Choose slightly under-ripe, firm pears for this crisp. Amaretti cookies, Italian almond macaroons, can be found at specialty stores and gourmet grocers.

View Recipe: Pear Crisp with Amaretti Topping

Photo: John Autry

Blueberry-Peach Cobbler

Our Blueberry-Peach Cobbler is like a blueberry muffin canoodling with fresh peaches. Be sure to use peaches that aren't superripe for this recipe so they'll hold their shape when cooked. The baking dish will be brimming with fruit and topping, so it's a good idea to place it on a foil-lined baking sheet before putting it in the oven.

View Recipe: Blueberry-Peach Cobbler

Photo: Randy Mayor

Apple Crumble with Golden Raisins

Baked apple sweetened with raisins, orange juice, and cinnamon is graced with a simple crumb topping. We used tart Granny Smith apples; for a slightly sweeter flavor, try Braeburn apples.

View Recipe: Apple Crumble with Golden Raisins

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Peach, Plum, and Apricot Crisp

Stone fruits work their magic with this dessert. Serve warm with vanilla low-fat ice cream.

View Recipe: Peach, Plum, and Apricot Crisp

Photo: Randy Mayor

Cranberry-Cherry Crumble

Fresh (or frozen, depending on the season) cranberries combine with frozen dark sweet cherries for a colorful filling topped with an almond, oat mixture.

View Recipe: Cranberry-Cherry Crumble

Photo: Randy Mayor

Banana-Mango Crisp

When it comes to bananas, think beyond bread. Go tropical with this easy fruit crisp featuring banana, fresh mango, and a crumbly topping of oats, brown sugar, coconut, and ginger. Sinced they are baked, slightly green bananas work wonderfully in this recipe.

View Recipe: Banana-Mango Crisp

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Coconut-Peach Cobbler with Bourbon-Pecan Ice Cream

There's nothing about this dessert that isn't excellent. From the rich and nutty ice cream, to the coconut-cookie crust, to the sweet and fresh peach filling, it'll knock 'em dead every time. The best part? You can make each component ahead of time, and assemble and bake just before serving.

View Recipe: Coconut-Peach Cobbler with Bourbon-Pecan Ice Cream

Photo: Randy Mayor

Red Wine Pear Crisp with Spiced Streusel

Pears and red wine combine beautifully in this dessert. Make sure that the pears are firm and not too ripe, or they will become mushy when cooked with the wine. Bosc and Anjou pears work well.

View Recipe: Red Wine Pear Crisp with Spiced Streusel

Photo: John Autry

Lattice-Topped Blackberry Cobbler

The level of natural sugar in most fruits is set when harvested, so sample the fruit before making your cobbler. If the fruit is underripe and tastes tart, you can add an extra couple tablespoons of sugar to the fruit filling. Using whole almonds in this topping gives it a little color from the skins, but substituting sliced or slivered almonds will work in this recipe, as well.

Serving Suggestion: Although the cobbler is tasty on its own, if you want to serve it with low-fat ice cream, reduce the serving size to about ½ cup.

View Recipe: Lattice-Topped Blackberry Cobbler

Photo: Randy Mayor

Berry-Peach Cobbler with Sugared Almonds

A delicious combination of blueberries, blackberries, and peaches yields a sweet, juicy dessert that's the epitome of summer.

View Recipe: Berry-Peach Cobbler with Sugared Almonds

Photo: Randy Mayor

Apple-Cranberry Walnut Crisp

The combination of oats, whole wheat pastry flour, and walnuts makes the topping taste a little like a granola bar. This dish can be made ahead and warmed in a 250º oven while you eat dinner.

View Recipe: Apple-Cranberry Walnut Crisp

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Triple-Berry Crisps with Meringue Streusel

This fresh berry dessert uses a baked meringue that's crumbled and stirred into the streusel. The filling uses crystallized ginger and orange rind for a decidedly tart flavor that contrasts with the sweet topping. Because the meringue needs to sit in the oven at least 12 hours, make it a day before serving.

View Recipe: Triple-Berry Crisps with Meringue Streusel

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Juicy Apple Crisp

We up the juiciness factor for this apple crisp by adding undiluted apple juice concentrate to the filling.

View Recipe: Juicy Apple Crisp

Photo: Randy Mayor

Mixed-Fruit Cobbler

In this cobbler, whole-wheat flour does double duty. We've used it as the basis of a truly tender "cobbled" topping and as a thickener for the juicy fruit filling.

View Recipe: Mixed-Fruit Cobbler

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Green-Tomato-and-Raspberry Cobbler

Green tomatoes make a surprise appearance in this dessert. In the winter, you can substitute cranberries for the raspberries.

View Recipe: Green-Tomato-and-Raspberry Cobbler

Photo: Randy Mayor

Apple and Blackberry Crumble

This tasty fruit dessert is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while reaping the nutritional benefits of fresh apples and blackberries. Because this fruit isn't heavily sweetened, we recommend serving with light vanilla ice cream or custard.

View Recipe: Apple and Blackberry Crumble