Turn your leftover applesauce into something cozy and delicious with this easy Applesauce Cobbler — made with fresh Granny Smith apples and homemade chunky applesauce for the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Ready in under an hour!
If you love warm, comforting desserts that fill your kitchen with the scent of baked apples and cinnamon, this Applesauce Cobbler is for you! This recipe combines my homemade chunky applesauce with crisp Granny Smith apples for a delightful fall dessert that’s simple yet full of flavor.
This cobbler comes together in under an hour using pantry staples and just a few fresh apples. It’s a great way to use up leftover applesauce, and the texture is incredible — tender apples on the bottom with a golden, buttery topping that’s slightly crisp on the edges. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate fall treat.
Why This Recipe Works
Uses homemade or store-bought applesauce – Two cups of chunky applesauce adds moisture and depth of flavor to the filling.
Fresh Granny Smith apples add texture – Their tart flavor balances the sweetness of the cobbler perfectly.
Simple pantry ingredients_ No fancy equipment required — just a few basics for a buttery, golden topping.
Ingredients
- Chunky applesauce – I found that this recipe works best with homemade applesauce. The applesauce adds natural sweetness and body to the filling.
- Granny Smith apples – Their tart flavor prevents the cobbler from being overly sweet.
- Sugar – I use a mix of brown and granulated sugar for this recipe. The sugar helps sweeten both the fruit layer and the cobbler batter.
- Apple Pie Spice: I love the flavors that apple pie spice gives to the warm apple cobbler.
- Lemon Juice – This helps break down the apples and balance the sweeteness.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the cobbler batter.
- Baking powder: This helps the batter rise and stay light.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter: Adds rich flavor and helps brown the top.
- Milk: Creates a smooth, pourable batter consistency.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Once oven is preheated, melt the half stick of butter in a 9- x 11-inch baking dish.
While butter is melting, peel and chop the apples. Place the apples in a bowl and mix in the brown sugar, apple pie spice, and lemon juice. Mix and then add in the homemade chunky applesauce. Mix again and set to the side.
Using a stand mixer, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then, add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Remove the baking dish from the oven. Pour batter over hot butter pan (do not stir). Then pour apple mixture over batter (do not stir).
Bake at 375° Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
FAQs
Absolutely! While I love using my homemade chunky applesauce, store-bought works great too. You will want to reduce the amount of applesauce by 1 cup instead of 2. And make sure you choose unsweetened if you prefer a less sweet dessert.
Yes — bake it, cool completely, and store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or pop the dish back in the oven to warm before serving.
Yes! Try Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Jonagold for a slightly sweeter cobbler.
Yes, you absolutely have to peel the apples. Leaving the peel on gives an odd texture.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my tips and tricks whenever I make an apple cobbler.
- Leave some texture in your applesauce – Chunky applesauce adds bite and keeps the cobbler from feeling too soft.
- Don’t overmix the batter – Stir until just combined to keep the topping light and fluffy.
- Add crunch: Sprinkle a little coarse sugar or chopped pecans on top before baking for extra texture.
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Applesauce Cobbler
Equipment
- Measuring Spoons
- Peeler
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- 9 x 11 Baking Dish
- Oven
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Unsalted Butter
- 3 Granny Smith Apples
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Apple Pie Spice
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 cups Chunky Applesauce
- 1 cup Flour
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup 2% Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
- Once oven is preheated, melt butter in a 9- x 11-inch baking dish.¼ cup Unsalted Butter
- While butter is melting, peel and chop the apples. Place the apples in a bowl and mix in the brown sugar, apple pie spice, and lemon juice. Mix and then add in the homemade chunky applesauce. Mix again and set to the side.3 Granny Smith Apples, ¼ cup Brown Sugar, 1 tablespoon Apple Pie Spice, 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, 2 cups Chunky Applesauce
- Using a stand mixer, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then, add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.1 cup Flour, ½ cup Granulated Sugar, 1 tablespoon Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 1 cup 2% Milk
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Pour batter over hot butter pan (do not stir). Then pour apple mixture over batter (do not stir).
- Bake at 375° Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Leave some texture in your applesauce – Chunky applesauce adds bite and keeps the cobbler from feeling too soft.
- Don’t overmix the batter – Stir until just combined to keep the topping light and fluffy.
- Add crunch – Sprinkle a little coarse raw sugar or chopped pecans on top before baking for extra texture.
- Toppings – Add a pinch of nutmeg or drizzle of caramel sauce before serving for a cozy twist.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!