Apple Cobbler

Apple Cobbler 

It's spring cleaning time, and one of the first places I wanted to clear out was the freezer. Lodged near the back was a quart of apple slices that I had frozen during the fall harvest. Apples are such a versatile fruit that my options for using these was nearly limitless. The time I had to spend in the kitchen, however, was not. I opted to make a deep dish cobbler. 

What makes cobbler different from, say, a crisp or a crumble? Crisps and crumbles have a streusel topping; cobbler is characterized by its crust of biscuits or dumplings, which soak up spiced and sweetened apple juice as they bake. The apples that I used were a mixture of sweet and tart apples that normally would be used in a cider blend. Any good baking or pie apple can be used to make the filling.

Apple Cobbler 

Filling:
4 cups sliced peeled apples
3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Topping:
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. oatmeal
1/3 c. softened butter or shortening
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together apple slices, brown sugar and spices. Spray a 3 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, and pour apple mixture into prepared casserole. Set aside.

In medium bowl, whisk together flour, oatmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Add softened butter or shortening, and use a pastry cutter to cut into the flour mixture. Fold in milk, one tablespoon at a time, until mixture just holds together.

Drop flour mixture on top of apples using a tablespoon, covering entire surface with biscuits. Bake in preheated oven for 35 - 40 minutes. Biscuits will be lightly browned. Serve warm, spooning apples over biscuit. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired. Serves 6.

Apple Pandowdy

Dutchess of Oldenburg apples are an early ripening heirloom variety

Apple Pandowdy

I grow heirloom apples. One variety that ripens very early is the Dutchess of Oldenburg. This particular apple is the size of a crabapple, but it has the genetics of a MacIntosh. So even though it requires harvesting, peeling and coring a large number of the apples to make anything, the end result is well worth the effort.

Because the apple variety is several hundred years old, I decided that it was best used in a traditional American recipe, using traditional American tools. Apple pandowdy baked in a cast iron skillet was the logical - and tasty - conclusion.

What is a pandowdy? It's basically a one-crust pie. The filling is heaped into the skillet, and pie pastry is latticed over the top. When the pandowdy is scooped out, the flaky crust mixes into the filling, absorbing all of the spicy and fragrant juice. Because apples are high in pectin, you don't need to add any thickening agents such as corn starch or Clear-Gel. However, if you like a really firm filling, you are free to do so.

You don't need a cast iron skillet for this recipe. If you have a traditional casserole dish (or if you sprang for one of those Copper Chef square pans) you can use these deep dishes to make your pandowdy. The beauty of cast iron is that it distributes heat evenly so your filling and crust aren't overbaked in one area and undercooked in another.

Pandowdy baked in a cast iron skillet

Pastry:

1 c. all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

6 tbsp. vegetable shortening

2 - 3 tbsp. ice water

Filling:

1 gallon (8 cups) apple slices

3/4 c. light brown sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

To make pastry: whisk together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, add shortening one tablespoon at a time, cutting in thoroughly until mixture resembles small pebbles. Add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, and blend until dough holds together. Remove pastry from bowl, shape into a ball and flatten into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour before rolling out.

While your pastry chills, prepare the apple filling. Place sliced apples in large bowl and add lemon juice. In small bowl, mix together brown sugar, spices and salt. Add to apples; use a wooden spoon to stir and coat apples with sugar, spices and lemon juice.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a deep casserole dish or a seasoned cast iron skillet with nonstick spray. Add apples to skillet; heap excess in the middle to avoid having the filling spill over the edges.

Remove pastry from refrigerator, unwrap, place on lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/8" thick. Cut into strips 1/2" wide; create a lattice over the top of the filling.

Bake the pandowdy for 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is a golden brown.