When you want a delicious treat with the satisfying caramel-flavored filling of pecan pie, but without the fuss of making pie crust, pecan cobbler is for you.
When you think of cobbler recipes, you probably think of fruit covered with a simple batter to create a biscuit-like topping when baked in the oven. This recipe takes the best of pecan pie recipes and gives it the cobbler treatment! Once baked, the soft, pillowy topping soaks up all that ooey-gooey pecan filling. It couldn’t be simpler, you only need one pan and one mixing bowl to make it.
Pecan Cobbler Recipe Ingredients
- Pecans: Use big chunks of coarsely chopped pecans for great texture. Toasting them first will give the pecans and cobbler a deeper flavor. Here’s how to toast nuts for the best results in any recipe.
- Unsalted butter: Melted butter is a key ingredient in the base of this cobbler filling, just like it is in pecan pie; it blends instantly with the sugar and keeps the filling smooth and shiny. When deciding between salted or unsalted butter, unsalted butter is best for baking. Keep salted butter on hand for sauces, cooking vegetables or buttering your toast in the morning.
- Brown sugar: Instead of corn syrup, which is traditionally used in some pecan pie recipes, brown sugar sweetens this cobbler filling. The deep molasses flavor complements the nuttiness of the pecans.
- Toffee brickle bits: Toffee brickle bits are crumbled bits of toffee and can be found in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips. This fun twist adds some crunch and a hint of caramel to the cobbler.
- Boiling water: We don’t usually put water in our ingredients list, but in this case, it’s a main ingredient. You add boiling water to the pan right before baking to melt the sugar and liquify the filling.
Directions
Step 1: Melt the butter
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the unsalted butter to a 13×9-inch baking pan. Place the pan in the oven until the butter is melted, three to five minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
Step 2: Make the cobbler batter
While the butter is melting, add the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Pour in the milk and vanilla and stir until smooth.
Step 3: Layer remaining ingredients
Remove the baking pan from the oven. Add the batter to the pan and use a spatula to distribute it evenly. Sprinkle the pecans, brown sugar and toffee bits over the batter.
Slowly pour boiling water over the top of all of the ingredients, but do not stir.
Editor’s Tip: When adding the batter, do not stir the butter into it. The melted butter and the batter should be evenly distributed, yet still separate entities in the pan.
Step 4: Bake the cobbler
Bake the pecan cobbler uncovered until golden brown for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before serving to allow the filling to thicken. Serve warm, topped with ice cream if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Use different nuts: Swap the pecans for walnuts, hazelnuts or use a variety of mixed nuts.
- Add warm spices: Try cinnamon or nutmeg in the batter. Warm spices add another layer of flavor.
- Stir in some chocolate: Fold regular or mini chocolate chips into the cobbler batter before baking. They’ll melt a bit and make this even gooier than without them.
How to Store Pecan Cobbler
This pecan cobbler should be stored, covered tightly, at room temperature for up to two days. Beyond that, it can be refrigerated for an additional three days.
Can you freeze pecan cobbler?
We don’t recommend freezing pecan cobbler, as the filling may crystallize and the texture of the cobbler topping could get soggy.
Pecan Cobbler Recipe Tips
How do I prevent the pecan cobbler filling from being too grainy?
Make sure that you add boiling water to the baking pan, not just hot water. You need the heat of boiling water to start melting the brown sugar before it goes into the oven, to ensure a gooey, smooth filling.
How do you serve pecan cobbler?
Serve pecan cobbler as you would any cobbler and crisp recipes, topped with your favorite homemade ice cream flavors or homemade whipped cream. Because pecan cobbler is quite sweet, you might like to serve it with creme fraiche to add a tangy, savory note.
