The easy plum and apple cobbler is simultaneously simple to make and satisfying to eat. With the ripe fruit oozing garnet juices into the warm, crispy biscuit crust, we love to have the baked dessert as soon as the oven dings!
In my mind, the switch to cozy, comforting food happens the minute I say hi to September. I know we’re barely bidding adieu to summer, but, for me, the seasons have turned, with mangoes, peaches, plums, and melons dwindling and apples and pears pouring in.
So, before autumn sets in, I’m tossing the last of the season’s plums in sugar and spice and everything nice. And there is no better recipe for it than a cobbler. It's easy, vegan, and healthy.
Jump to:
What's the difference between a cobbler and a crumble?
The difference between a cobbler and a crumble (and a crisp) is very subtle. All of them bake fresh fruits but each one does it in its own nuanced way. A cobbler typically uses a deep dish and has a biscuit or pie dough layered on top of the sugared and spiced fruit. A crumble, on the other hand, has a streusel-like topping very much like a crisp.
So, what’s the difference between a crumble and a crisp? The streusel layer of a crumble doesn’t have any oats or nuts. Crisps often use oats, nuts, or both. As I said, the lines are blurry, but each one does delicious justice to the fruit.
Give the magical plum and apple crumble a whirl. It’s:
Healthy and vegan-friendly
Cozy and comforting
Instantly relaxing heady aroma
Insanely yummy, crumbly, crusty top
Warm, bubbly, and addictively delicious fruits
How to make a plum and apple cobbler?
First, make the plum crumble filling.
- Deseed and slice your plums (don’t peel them), along with the apples.
- Toss the fruits with coconut sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and some vanilla extract.
- Place in the baking dish.
Next, make the cobbler topping.
- Sift all-purpose flour with a pinch of salt and baking powder.
- Mix it with coconut sugar.
- Add melted coconut oil and, using a fork, combine till you have a crumbly mixture.
- Pour in the coconut milk and mix till you have a very thick batter.
Last, bake the cobbler
- Since the batter is viscous, you’ll have to drop spoonfuls of it on the fruit filling.
- Sprinkle some raw sugar on top for that extra crunch.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes till the crust is nicely done and golden, and the juices are bubbling and seeping through.
Plum and apple cobbler recipe FAQs
I used an 8-inch cast-iron pan to bake this, but any oven-proof dish you have, from a pie dish to a cake tin, will work here.
Cornstarch thickens the plum and apple juices as the cobbler bakes, making sure it is not too runny. I realized after the cobbler was baked that I could have gotten away with less of the cornstarch. A tablespoon is more than enough for the quantity of fruits mentioned in the recipe, but if you love a thicker, lush texture, increase the amount.
Cobblers are meant to be served warm and with melting scoops of vanilla ice cream on the side. It’s just that kind of dessert: moist inside with a crispy crust on top, sopping up all the sweet, cinnamon-scented juicy fruit.
This plum apple cobbler is vegan and refined sugar-free. To make it healthier, I recommend replacing the all-purpose flour with any whole-grain flour. Also, instead of a scoop of ice cream, serve with plain Greek yogurt or even frozen yogurt.
Yes! Buckwheat is one option, but you can use any gluten-free flour you prefer.
Plum and Apple Cobbler Recipe Variations
Fruits: My love for cobblers stems from the fact that you can easily swap any of the ingredients. Don’t have apples? Stick to plums. Don’t have plums? Try any stone fruit – peaches, apricots, pears, figs, or a mix of all!
Sugar: The coconut sugar in my cobbler recipe gave the topping a caramel-ish color. You can, of course, use regular brown sugar, like it is usually done, or even white sugar.
Milk: I wanted to bake a dairy-free plum apple cobbler because I knew the dollops of ice cream would have enough dairy for me. That’s why the coconut milk. You can stick to the traditional cobbler recipe and use regular milk or cream.
What can I make with lots of plums? Recipe ideas:
Plum Poppyseed Cake
Plum Apricot Sourdough Galette
Gluten-free Chai Spiced Plum Galette
📖 Recipe
Easy Plum And Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1.5 tsp Baking powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Coconut sugar You can use any sugar you prefer
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil, melted You can also use melted butter
- 1/2 cup Coconut milk
Filling
- 10 Plums, deseeded and sliced
- 2 medium-sized Apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
- 1/2 cup Coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp Raw sugar for sprinkling on top Optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180C. Keep an 8" cast iron pan or pie dish handy.
Topping
- Sift all-purpose flour with a pinch of salt and baking powder.
- Mix in coconut sugar.
- Add melted coconut oil and, using a fork, combine till you have a crumbly mixture.
- Pour in the coconut milk and mix till you have a thick batter.
Filling
- Gently toss the sliced fruits with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon powder, and vanilla extract.
- Spoon into your baking dish.
- Place dollops of the topping batter on the fruits. Sprinkle some granulated sugar on top for extra crunch.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes at 180C, until the topping is golden and the fruits are juicy and bubbling.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Emma says
I live in Portugal, where the plums are sweet and plentiful. This recipe was a perfect ending to a meal with friends who are vegan. It was not too sweet and was everyone had seconds. Will stay in my rotation!
Natasha Minocha says
Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback, Emma! Those plums sound delightful. Have a lovely summer and happy baking! 🙂
ari says
Tried this cobbler today as I had some apples to use up as quickly as I could. I had been craving a cobbler for a while, even if I hadn't ever tried one, so today I decided to give it a go. I used about 4 small apples, threw in a couple of plums and then followed the recipe to a tea. I just made it gluten free by using buckwheat flour! I was scared it wouldn't turn out as well but it was INCREDIBLE! and my dad who's very skeptical about vegan recipes couldn't even guess it was vegan! it's a win-win for me! thank you so much for this recipe!!
Natasha Minocha says
Oh wow, Arianna! Your message made me so happy!! Thank you very much for trying this recipe and sharing your wonderful feedback with me. You made my day and wish you a fabulous one too! xx