Easy Cast Iron Skillet Cobbler with Frozen Fruit

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Make this easy cast iron skillet cobbler with frozen fruit and pantry staples. Bake it in the oven or on the grill for an old-fashioned dessert that’s perfect year-round.

Some of the best desserts don’t start with a recipe.

They start with a bag of fruit in the freezer.

That’s exactly what happened here.

I had a couple of bags of frozen blackberries on hand and a craving for something simple. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just an old-fashioned cobbler baked in cast iron the way our grandmothers might have made it. I needed one of those recipes that pretty much baked itself while I worked elsewhere. And I found it with this cobbler.

What I love most about this recipe is how flexible it is.

Use blackberries. Use peaches. Use mixed berries. Use whatever fruit you happen to have tucked away in the freezer. The simple batter rises around the fruit as it bakes, creating a rustic cobbler that’s equal parts comforting and delicious.

And because this is Backyard Texas Grill, I tested it in cast iron. The skillet creates those golden, buttery edges that everybody fights over, while the fruit bubbles away underneath.

Even better, you can bake this cobbler in your oven or right on your pellet grill.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels right at home after a backyard barbecue.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Uses frozen fruit straight from the freezer
• No peeling or chopping required
• Simple pantry ingredients
• Works with almost any fruit
• Can be baked in the oven or on the grill
• Rustic cast iron presentation
• Perfect with ice cream

Ingredients

Fruit Layer

• 6 cups frozen fruit
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch

Batter

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup melted butter

How to Make Cast Iron Skillet Cobbler

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven while it heats.

In a large bowl, combine frozen fruit, sugar, and cornstarch. Mix well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and melted butter.

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Add the fruit mixture to the skillet.

Pour the batter evenly over the fruit. Do not stir.

Start checking at the thirty minute mark.

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling.

Allow to rest for 20-30 minutes before serving.

Serve and Enjoy!

This is one cobbler that’s hearty and delicious but also very rustic. It’s not like your everyday pie crust cobbler. This crust is softer and more old-fashioned. The fruit is the real star here and it’s amazing, cooked to perfection, thanks to the sugar and cornstarch. I call this very simple grandma-friendly cobbler a rousing success and look forward to hearing your thoughts after you’ve made it!

Can I Make This on the Grill?

Absolutely. Preheat your pellet grill to 375°F and place the cast iron skillet directly on the grates.

Close the lid and bake for approximately 45-60 minutes, or until the cobbler is golden brown and bubbling around the edges.

The smoke flavor will be subtle, but it adds a wonderful backyard flavor that pairs beautifully with fruit desserts.

Best Fruits for This Cobbler

One of the reasons I love this recipe is that it works with almost any fruit.

Try:

• Blackberries
• Peaches
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Mixed berries
• Cherries
• Apples
• Peaches and blackberries together

Don’t be afraid to mix and match based on what you already have.

A Dessert Grandma Would Approve Of

Recipes like this remind me of the desserts I grew up seeing at church potlucks, family reunions, and holiday gatherings. Nobody was running to the store for specialty ingredients. They used what they had.

• A bag of fruit.
• A little flour.
• Some sugar.
• A cast iron skillet.

That’s really all it takes. That, and a willingness to care more about flavor than appearance. Because, let’s be honest, this one won’t win any beauty pageants.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm with:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Fresh whipped cream
• A drizzle of caramel sauce
• A sprinkle of cinnamon

Or enjoy it exactly as it is. The fruit does most of the work and it’s a perfectly respectable cobbler, all on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen fruit without thawing it?

Yes. In fact, that’s exactly how I tested this recipe.

What fruit works best?

Blackberries, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and mixed berries all work beautifully.

Can I bake this on a pellet grill?

Yes. Bake at 375°F for approximately 45-60 minutes.

Do I need to grease the skillet?

Not usually. The butter in the batter provides plenty of protection.

Why don’t you stir the batter and fruit together?

As the cobbler bakes, the batter rises around the fruit, creating the rustic texture that makes cobbler so special.

Main Dishes to Enjoy with Cobbler

Cast-Iron Cobbler is the perfect ending to a meal featuring one of our delicious mains. Start with:

Drunken Chicken — beer-can chicken with crispy skin and incredibly juicy meat. The smoky, savory flavors pair beautifully with a sweet berry cobbler finish.

Texas Brisket — slow-smoked and fall-apart tender, brisket is the ultimate Texas main. After a long smoke, there’s nothing better than ending the meal with a warm, bubbling cobbler.

Reverse Seared Steak — perfectly cooked edge to edge with a gorgeous crust, reverse seared steak is a showstopper main that deserves an equally impressive dessert.

Pork Tenderloin — lean, juicy, and full of flavor, pork tenderloin comes together quickly on the grill and makes cobbler the perfect sweet ending to a lighter meal.

Pulled Pork — smoky, slow-cooked, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. After hours at the smoker, reward yourself and your guests with a skillet cobbler fresh from the oven.

Spatchcock Chicken on the Grill — butterflied for faster, more even cooking, spatchcock chicken delivers crispy skin all the way around — and cobbler makes it a complete backyard feast.

Meatloaf — comfort food at its finest. Whether it’s smoked or oven-baked, meatloaf and warm berry cobbler is the kind of down-home meal that feels like a Sunday supper at grandma’s.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a fancy dessert. It’s better than that. It’s simple, practical, and forgiving. The kind of recipe you can make with whatever fruit you have on hand and serve to family and friends without a second thought.

And sometimes those are the very best desserts of all.

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make this cobbler and love it please leave a comment or review. Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?