This easy strawberry cobbler recipe is everything you’ve been looking for. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries, and there’s no rolling out dough – this batter forms its own crust!
With our secret touches, you’ll soon be making the best strawberry cobbler you’ve ever tasted!
I want to thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ve been married to a Southern boy for 44 years and out of the blue before New Year’s he asked me if I could make some strawberry cobbler like his Mama used to make.
He’d never mentioned it in 44 years and I’ve never eaten strawberry cobbler. His mom’s been dead for 10 years – so no hope to get the recipe from her.
I found this recipe on your blog and made it for our New Year’s dessert. Last week, he brought home another big box of gorgeous strawberries and so we had strawberry cobbler TWICE in less than a month.
Sure glad one of my resolutions was losing weight!
BARBIE
Easy strawberry cobbler recipe
As a fourth-generation Southern cook, I’ve made hundreds of cobblers over the years. My favorite is my blackberry cobbler, but this strawberry version comes in a close second.
Just the smell of a fruit cobbler baking in the oven is enough to carry you back to your grandma’s kitchen, waiting for that delicious warm bowl of love that she was about to serve you.
Maybe you picked the blackberries or walked through the strawberry patch and gathered fresh strawberries. This recipe is for you.
It’s a simple, timeless, easy dessert that’s delicious enough and pretty enough for you to serve on any occasion.
Why you’ll love this strawberry cobbler recipe
This cobbler is fabulous whether served warm or at room temperature, so it’s a great make-ahead recipe and the perfect dish to take somewhere—use it for a dinner party dessert or take it to your church potluck.
You’ll spend about 20 minutes putting together a classic Southern dessert that folks will want to fight over.
There are a few secrets to this easy cobbler recipe, which I’ll share below in the steps. And don’t worry—there’s nothing fussy about this recipe at all.
You probably have everything you need right in your pantry. Grab some strawberries, and let’s get started!
Southern strawberry cobbler ingredients
The beauty of most Southern recipes is that you use simple ingredients that you can find at almost any grocery store.
- Fresh Strawberries: while you absolutely can use frozen strawberries, this cobbler is best in the summertime, when fresh berries are so plentiful and you can find naturally sweet strawberries.
- But I’ve made it plenty of times with frozen berries, and no one has ever complained!
- Unsalted Butter: you’ll need a stick of butter. Use good quality butter, not a store brand.
- All-Purpose Flour: if you want to use self-rising flour, skip adding the baking powder.
- Granulated Sugar: regular old white sugar is going to make your cobbler crust so tasty!
- Whole Milk: I prefer whole milk when baking because the fat adds extra flavor.
- Brown Sugar: sprinkle on top of the batter for that extra hit of caramel-like sweetness, adding depth and a delightful finish.
- Vanilla Extract: use good quality vanilla extract, like this one.
Tools you’ll need for this easy strawberry cobbler
We use a standard casserole dish, 9×13, to bake and serve this homemade strawberry cobbler. A regular Pyrex dish works just fine!
But here’s the thing–you can make this cobbler in just about any dish, whether it’s a cast iron skillet, a 9×9 square baking pan, or an oval baking dish.
The only difference may be in the crust texture and the crust to strawberries ratio. A smaller dish is going to give you a thicker crust, and you may need to adjust the baking time.
How to make a strawberry cobbler
Step One. Prepare the strawberries.
Macerate your strawberries in a little sugar while you mix up the batter for the crust.
Step Two. Make the crust.
Melt the butter in the baking dish while the oven is preheating. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (except the brown sugar), then stir in milk.
Gently pour this mixture over the melted butter.
Step Three. Put it together.
Drop the strawberries and their juice onto the batter. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
Step Four. The secret!
Sprinkle brown sugar over the strawberry mixture. It’s just enough to add amazing flavor!
Step Five. Bake and eat!
Bake until the crust is golden brown, then remove it from the oven and let it rest for a bit so the juices can settle. And now enjoy!
Strawberry cobbler substitutions
Strawberries – So, what if you’re craving a homemade cobbler in the dead of winter when strawberries aren’t at their best?
Frozen strawberries can be a great substitute and often come pre-sliced, which is a nice little shortcut.
You’ll want to thaw them before using them and drain the excess juice. When you macerate strawberries, they will produce more juice, and you don’t want to have too much liquid.
Then proceed with the steps listed.
You can also substitute other fruits for the strawberries. I have specific recipes for Peach and Blackberry Cobbler, but peaches or blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or a mixture would also work well in this recipe.
When making fruit cobblers, it’s hard to go wrong!
What to serve with this easy strawberry cobbler
Definitely a big scoop of vanilla ice cream! You could also serve it with homemade whipped cream for a special treat.
How to store Southern strawberry cobbler
Feel free to store the strawberry cobbler on the counter for the first day. After that, if you still have leftovers, cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you want to serve the leftovers warm, reheat them in the microwave or oven, or just bring them to room temperature.
How to freeze strawberry cobbler
Use a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months.
Simple strawberry cobbler recipe FAQs
Can I make this in a cast iron skillet? Yes, you can. If your skillet is bigger or smaller than a standard baking dish, you may need to adjust the baking times.
A smaller dish is going to give you a thicker crust.
What if my cobbler browns before it’s done? You can cover your dish with tin foil to prevent it from browning too much.
Can I use a milk substitute or gluten-free flour? We have not tested this recipe with these variations, but my guess is that it would be fine. Here’s a gluten-free cobbler recipe that you might like to try!
How do you keep cobbler from getting soggy? If your fruit is very ripe and juicy, you can add a little cornstarch when macerating the berries. It’s also important to cook the cobbler long enough and hot enough so the filling gets hot and bubbly.
How do you tell if a cobbler is done? Usually, you can tell by whether the filling is bubbly and the top is a nice golden brown. You can also try using an instant-read thermometer and check the temperature of the crust/topping. The temp should be around 200°F. (This is not a method I’ve ever tried, as I usually eyeball it.)
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Easy Strawberry Cobbler Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 4 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Melt the butter in a 13×9 inch baking dish or 10-inch cast iron skillet. Stir in ¼ cup granulated sugar with the strawberries and set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, then add the remaining cup of granulated sugar and whisk until well blended. Slowly stir in the milk and vanilla extract.
- Once butter is melted, slowly pour in the batter over the butter but do not stir.
- Then gently spoon the strawberries and any accumulated juices over the mixture and DO NOT STIR.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top then bake for 45 mins to one hour until golden brown. Serve hot or room temperature with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTES: This post was originally published March 17, 2011, and on March 4, 2024, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, or new tips.
my family loved it
I’m so glad! Thank you.
Yummy
I’d made a peach cobbler in the past, and decided to try this one instead as a means of earning points with my partner’s family when meeting them the first time. Sure enough, major points were earned. It was a total hit and totally delicious. Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome! I’m glad it went well!
I just made this cobbler and it was AMAZING!!!!! thanks for sharing!!!
Andrea,
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I just made this cobbler and it was AMAZING!!!!! thanks for sharing!!!
I want to thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ve been married to a Southern boy for 44 years and out of the blue before New Year’s he asked me if I could make some strawberry cobbler like his Mama used to make. He’d never mentioned it in 44 years and I’ve never eaten strawberry cobbler. His mom’s been dead for 10 years – so not hope to get the recipe from her.
I found this recipe on your blog and made it for our New Year’s dessert. Last week, he brought home another big box of gorgeous strawberries and so we had strawberry cobbler TWICE in less than a month. Sure glad one of my resolutions was losing weight!
Barbie, I’m so glad you let me know this. Love, love knowing that a recipe can bring back memories from long ago…although I sure can’t compete with anything somebody’s Mama used to make! Thanks for visiting In a Southern Kitchen. Hope you have a wonderful day.