Cherry cobbler with hint of brandy with coconut-cardamom biscuit topping.
Hot summer days call for lazy desserts. As I write this, the air is heavy, with hints of the thunderstorms that sweep through in the late afternoons. The breeze picks up, and I can feel it moving along my inner arm, swirling around the crook of my elbow. The bliss of a lazy Saturday in late July.
I sink into my cushioned patio chair and think about cobbler. It’s the perfect summer dessert: easy to make, and really composed of two desserts. A twofer. A biscuit top, dusted with sugar, capping syrupy fresh fruit.
Right now, bright, shiny cherries are everywhere, so that’s my natural leaning today. But blackberries, blueberries, and even peaches work as well. See what looks good at your farmer’s market. I added brandy to mine, but feel free to add some fresh herbs if that’s your preference. Oh, and I added a touch of coconut to the biscuit topping for a macaroon feel, but only because I had some in my cupboard.
Enjoy, but don’t go to a lot of trouble with this cobbler. Summer is a time to kick back and savor the day.
A Few Cooking Notes:
Most biscuit toppings call for butter, and quite a bit of it. I chose to substitute the traditional butter with buttermilk. If you prefer a more buttery crust, no problem, just substitute 1/4 cup unsalted butter for the 1/4 cup buttermilk.
Cherry Cobbler + Coconut Biscuit: #SundaySupper
Ingredients
Cherry Filling
- 5 cups sweet cherries
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon instant tapioca
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 3 tablespoons brandy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch kosher salt
Coconut Biscuit Topping
- 3/4 cups flour 3 3/4 ounces
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or regular sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- pinch kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon turbinado sugar
Instructions
Cherry Filling
- Pit the cherries using a cherry pitter. You should end up with about 4 cups cherries.
- Toss in the remaining Filling ingredients, and allow to sit on the counter while you make the biscuit dough.
Coconut Biscuit Topping
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, coconut and salt together in a medium bowl. Toss with a fork and rub between your fingers to mix the coconut into the dry ingredients.
- Mix the yogurt and buttermilk together in a small bowl and add to the dry ingredients. Mix well with a fork until it comes together into a dough.
- Pour the cherries into a baking dish (I used one that was 6" X 8"), and spoon the dough on top. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar for a little crunch.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until the biscuit topping is lightly browned, and the cherry filling is bubbly.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This week’s Sunday Supper celebrates farmer’s markets and local produce. Check out the great recipes below for ideas of what to do with your latest CSA stash, or trip to the market, and join us tonight at 4 pm (California time) for a Farmer’s Market twitter chat!
Celebrating Farmer’s Markets and Local Produce
Appetizers & Salads
Garlic Scape Dip from The Girl In the Little Red Kitchen
Onion Bacon Jam with Bread n’ Brie from Gotta Get Baked
Kale & Pepita Pesto from girlichef
Garden Quinoa Salad from The Urban Mrs
Grilled Cherry Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad from Pescetarian Journal
Watermelon-Feta Salad with Pomegranate Drizzle from The Weekend Gourmet
Soups & Sides
Watermelon Gazpacho from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Classic Gazpacho from Curious Cuisiniere
Pea Soup from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Pickled Garlic Scapes from kimchi MOM
Cheesy Zucchini Hodge Podge from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Succotash from Magnolia Days
3 Easy Japanese Spinach Recipes from NinjaBaking.com
Michigan-Made Meal with Seasoned Potato Chips from Foxes Love Lemons
Entrees
Summer Veggie Pizza from Country Girl In The Village
Tomato Pie from The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
Kitchen Sink Vegetable Curry from What Smells So Good?
Margherita Pizza from Growing Up Gabel
Cheesy Zucchini Fritters from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Three Sauces with Summer Herbs to Transform a Simple Grilled Dinner from Cook the Story
Vegetable Quesadillas from Cookin’ Mimi
Mushroom Scallion Risotto from Vintage Kitchen Notes
Lemony Summer Linguine with Grilled Vegetables from Neighborfood
Pasta alla Norma Nuda from Juanita’s Cocina
Arugula Pizza from Family Foodie
Desserts
Peach Cobbler from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Coconut Cherry Bars from Killer Bunnies, Inc
Lightened Up Peach and Blueberry Cobbler from Peanut Butter and Peppers
Cherry Brandy Cobbler from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Peach Maple Ice Cream from Pies and Plots
Cherry Clafoutis from Food Lust People Love
Roasted Figs with Caramel, Honey Ice Cream and Aged Balsamic from Crazy Foodie Stunts
Peach Ice Cream Paletas from Basic N Delicious
Gluten Free Sour Cherry Cake from No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
This really sounds delicious Susan, I love cobbler and have to make this one.
apuginthekitchen recently posted..Kreative Bloggers Award
Thanks so much Suzanne! Hope you’re having a great summer weekend!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
This looks so delicious. Love the addition of dried cherries.
Debra recently posted..The Garden Tour
Thanks so much Debra! Can you tell I love cherries? I have dried cherries around all the time for a snack.
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Oh, the flavors in this cobbler Susan! I can this all summer. I adore cherries, who doesn´t right?, but I never had them with coconut. Gorgeous pics!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes recently posted..Mushroom Scallion Risotto – #FarmersMarket #SundaySupper
Thanks so much Paula!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
I can’t think of what I like most about this. The cherries, the added brandy, or the brilliant use of coconut in the biscuit topping.
Thanks Renee! Cobblers are soooo easy to add things to without going to any trouble.
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
I love, love, love the coconut topping! What a marvelous idea!! Looks incredible!!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers recently posted..Lightened Up Peach and Blueberry Cobbler #SundaySupper
Thanks Jennifer! Coconut is one of my new favorite foods. I’ve avoided it my whole life, and just started using it about a year ago. It’s so fun to find the ways to use it now 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
You had me at coconut biscuit topping…and brandy.
Oh yeah, don’t forget that brandy 🙂 Thanks Jen!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Oh, what an amazing cobbler! I love that you added coconut to your topping…YUM!!!
Thanks so much Liz! I recently realized that I liked coconut and now I’m adding it to everything 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
There’s so much to like about this recipe. I love the cherries, brandy, topping…. yum.
TasteFood recently posted..Pear, Plum and Blueberry Crisp with Walnut Streusel
Thanks so much, Lynda!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Yummy in my tummy cherry goodnes!
Debra Elliott recently posted..“Homemade with Love” Review
Thanks Debra!! Every summer I’m waiting for cherries and tomatoes. Not together, of course. But they’re my two favorite summer foods 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
That is SUCH a cool idea, the flavours and textures totally work with each other too
Thanks much Sarah!!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
All I can say is, WOW! I love the image of that Cherry Brandy Cobbler appearing as your web page loads. What a gorgeous site you have (love the photos).
Alaiyo
Thanks so much Alaiyo!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Your cobbler looks insanely good, Susan. I want some now! Oh, well, I’ve got your recipe…By the way, I am inspired that you gave up the corporate life in favor of culinary food-writing and photography. Thank you for the inspiration <3
Thanks Kim. I so don’t miss the corporate life, but I honestly did enjoy it for a very long time. I needed that level of stimulation and thrived on it. And then suddenly I realized that instead of giving me energy, it was robbing me of it. I love the creative focus to my life now, and am excited about where it may lead next 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Oh my gosh, Cherry cobbler/crisp/pie/whatever is probably one of my all-time favorite things about summer. This Coconut Biscuit Topping is so killing me, though…I NEED to try it!
thanks Heather! I think you’d like the coconut topping – so good 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Nothing better than a cobbler during the summer! I love the idea to use buttermilk in place of the butter. Totally trying that next time!
Thanks Camille! It makes it a little more dense, I think. So the texture is definitely different, but honestly I didn’t miss the butter at all.
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Oh wow! With brandy? I’m totally sold! Now where do we normally get coconut sugar? Sounds very yum!
Thanks Linda! I get my coconut sugar on the same shelf where regular sugar is at my grocery. They have agave, etc all in the same area. If you don’t find it, no worries, just use regular sugar!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Cobblers are totally the perfect summer dessert! I haven’t conquered pie crust yet so the simplicity of making a biscuit topping and dropping it onto fruit is right up my alley. This looks incredible! Cherries are my favourite summer fruit. The Okanagan region of British Columbia grows the most incredible bing cherries and as soon as they’re available, I can’t stop eating them. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked recently posted..Onion Bacon Jam with Bread ‘n Brie for #SundaySupper #FarmersMarket
This is the perfect dessert if you don’t want to mess around with a pie crust! I think cherries are my favorite summertime fruit too 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
I am sitting on that patio with you and thinking about cobbler and fresh fruit. Mmmmm. It’s baking sweet cherry fragrance into the breeze. Thank you.
I love that you used two kinds of cherries in this, Susan. The deep dark jewel tone red is gorgeous.
Stacy recently posted..Cherry Clafoutis for #SundaySupper
Thanks Stacy! I keep thinking about your amazing neighborhood market and the photos of the cherries you posted. I would be there every day grabbing up cherries and everything else 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Cherry Brandy Cobbler with Coconut Biscuit Topping #SundaySupper
Love it! This is amazing 🙂
madscar recently posted..Dolphin Tattoo Designs
Oh wow brandy in a cobbler, sounds incredible
Holy wow that biscuit topping looks amazing. I love the coconut. I just want to go swimming in it!
Shannon R recently posted..Año Nuevo State Reserve
I’m not a big fan of biscuits, but I will just eat all of this filling! Adding brandy was a great idea!
Yum! Great coconut topping!
Jane’s Adventures in Dinner recently posted..Celebrating This Month’s Flavour: Fish Tacos
OH I would love to be sitting on my porch right now eating a bowl of this! The love cherry filling and that biscuit looks SO good! Great idea to substitute buttermilk for the butter. I’m going to have to try that! Great dessert!
mjskit recently posted..Peach Pecan Ice Cream
cHERRY and coconut sound so good together!
Cindys Recipes and Writings recently posted..Cheesy Zucchini Fritters #SundaySupper
Double whammy here. You had me at brandy with your cherries and double hooked me with the coconut in the topping! Awesome!
What a gorgeous cobbler! I love the buttermilk in the topping and the coconut is such a great accent to the cherries.
Thanks so much April! Coconut is my newest ‘flavor’ to fall in love with, so I’m adding it to all kinds of things 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Mountain Baking: My Best Blueberry Coffee Cake (Lightened)
I love the idea of combining the cherries with a little brandy in the cobbler. And the topping looks excellent, with tenderness from the dairy, flavor from the coconut sugar, and the sparkle and crunch of the bit of turbinado sugar on top. I like the healthy touches of the buttermilk and coconut sugar, too.
Mary @ Fit and Fed recently posted..Two Summer Picnics
Would using canned tart cherries instead of fresh alter the recipe in any way?
I’m so glad you asked, Angie. The recipe is for sweet cherries, not tart. If fresh ones aren’t available, I’ve used frozen. I’ve not used canned sweet cherries – mainly because what I see is mostly pie filling. I’m going to modify the recipe right now to read sweet cherries instead of just cherries. Thank you so much for your question!!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Maple Candied Carrots with Currants: #FallFest