Red Berry Cobbler

The red berry cobbler is a typically American dessert, consisting of a filling of fresh fruit covered with a soft and rustic dough crust. It’s a dessert suitable for all seasons but is particularly enjoyed in the summer. Here’s how to prepare it with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 600 g of mixed red berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
• 200 g of granulated sugar, plus a bit extra for sprinkling
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 120 g of cold butter, plus a bit extra for greasing the baking dish
• 250 g of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 150 ml of milk
• Icing sugar for garnishing (optional)
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 190 °C and grease a suitable baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix the red berries with 100-150 g of sugar (depending on the sweetness of the fruit) and lemon juice. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish.
3. In another bowl, mix flour with the remaining sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold butter, cut into pieces, and work the mixture with your hands or a pastry cutter until you get a crumbly dough.
4. At this point, gradually pour in the milk, mixing until you have a smooth but still slightly sticky dough.
5. Spoon the dough over the red berries, not completely covering them, to allow the fruit to peek through here and there.
6. Sprinkle the surface with a little granulated sugar.
7. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until the surface of the cobbler is golden and the fruit begins to bubble out slightly.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. If desired, you can sprinkle with icing sugar.

Serve the red berry cobbler warm or at room temperature, accompanied, if you like, by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Trivia

The term “cobbler” refers to American settlers who recreated the English pudding with local fruit and a simpler crust, similar to poorly laid “pavements” (cobbles), hence the name. Over time, the cobbler has become a classic recipe of American comfort cuisine, available in numerous variations depending on the seasonal fruit.