This Southern Blackberry Cobbler is a summertime staple that's sweet, tart, and bursting with blackberry flavor. It's made with a buttery, hand-rolled crust that's golden and flaky, blanketing a juicy blackberry filling that bubbles up with every bite. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you've got a Southern dessert worth remembering.
Whether you picked the berries yourself or found them on sale like I did, this cobbler is simple to make, deeply nostalgic, and perfect for everything from Sunday dinner to weekday cravings.
Looking for more fruit-forward treats? Try Easy Peach Cobbler, Strawberry Buttermilk Biscuits, or Classic Strawberry Shortcake.
Before You Bake, Read This!
💬 The Vibe: This cobbler feels like warm evenings on the porch, fresh berries from the backyard, and plates passed around the table after church. It's comfort food, through and through.
🔑 What You Gotta Know: Use fresh blackberries. Frozen berries will release too much liquid and make the crust soggy. Don't overmix the dough. You want it soft, tender, and just sticky enough to hold.
🍴 Best Bite Alert: The warm filling meets a golden cinnamon-sugar crust, and the ice cream melts right into the juicy berries. Pure Southern magic.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fresh + Flavorful - Juicy blackberries, citrusy lemon zest, and warm spices in every bite.
- Homemade Crust - Buttery, flaky, and made from scratch (but still easy)!
- Crowd Favorite - Perfect with ice cream and always a hit at Sunday dinners or cookouts.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Fresh Blackberries - The main ingredient, you'll need at least six cups to make the fruit filling. Use organic or conventional, whichever you prefer, and wash/clean your berries well to remove any debris.
- All-Purpose Flour - Creates structure and flakiness.
- Baking Powder - Adds lift and tenderness.
- Sugar - Sweetens the dough and balances tart berries.
- Salt - Balances the flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg - Adds warmth.
- Butter - Cut into cubes for flakiness.
- Heavy Cream - Binds and enriches the dough.
- Cornstarch - Thickens the blackberry filling.
- Lemon Zest - Brightens the fruit with citrus.
👉🏾 See the recipe card below for exact quantities and full instructions.
How to Make Southern Blackberry Cobbler
Make the Dough: Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add heavy cream and stir just until it forms a soft dough.
Turn out onto plastic wrap and roll into a 9-inch circle between two sheets. Chill while you prep the filling.
Make the Filling: In a large bowl, gently stir together blackberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest.
Pour into your buttered baking dish.
Assemble & Bake: Remove dough from fridge and cut a 2-inch steam vent in the center using a cookie cutter. Place the dough on top of the filling.
Brush the crust with a little cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if using.
Bake for 55-60 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Let cool for 30 minutes before serving warm with ice cream. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Be sure not to overwork the dough to prevent it from being tough. Just mix it enough until it sticks together to form a soft dough.
- Topping the crust with cinnamon sugar is optional, but it really gives it an additional layer of flavor. Just mix 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon with 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar to make it yourself, or use the premixed spice blend.
- Use fresh blackberries and not frozen. You could substitute fresh raspberries or a mixture of them both in the same unit of measure.
Storage Tips
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm in the microwave or oven before serving.
- Freezing: This cobbler doesn't freeze well. Enjoy it fresh!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh is best for this recipe. Frozen berries can release too much liquid, making the filling watery and the crust soggy.
Use two forks or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture. Work quickly so the butter stays cold.
Yes! You can prep the dough up to 6 hours in advance. Keep it wrapped and chilled in the fridge until ready to use.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get comforting new recipes from us every week!
More Southern & Fruit-Filled Favorites
- Classic Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
- Blackberry Macarons
- Creamy Berry Trifle Dessert
- Blackberry Thyme Mocktail
- Easy Peach Cobbler
- Frozen Blueberry Muffins
- Strawberry Buttermilk Biscuits
Did this blackberry cobbler bring back memories for you too?
Drop a comment below, tag @SimplyLaKita on Instagram, or pin it to save for later.
📖 Recipe
Southern Blackberry Cobbler
Video
Ingredients
- Cobbler Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
- ¾ cup cold heavy cream
- Cobbler Filling:
- 6 cups fresh blackberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- additional heavy cream for brushing the top of the crust
- cinnamon sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. and butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg until combined.
- Using a pastry blender, fork, or clean hands, add the 6 tablespoons cubed butter to the flour mixture and blend the butter into the flour mixture until the butter is about pea-sized and the flour mixture resembles a coarse meal.
- Pour the ¾ cup heavy cream over the flour mixture and stir until it is fully combined and forms a soft dough. The dough will be soft and sticky, do not overwork or it will be tough. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper and cover it with another sheet.
- Use a rolling pin to gently roll the dough into a 9-inch round shape. Place the dough on a baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator while preparing the blackberry filling.
- In a large bowl, make the filling by gently stirring together the 6 cups fresh blackberries, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon lemon zest until mixed together. Pour the filling into the prepared baking dish.
- Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and cut a 2-inch wide hole in the center with a cookie cutter to create a steam vent. Carefully place the dough on top of the blackberry filling and brush lightly the top of the dough with heavy cream and evenly sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Place the pie into the oven to bake for about 55 to 60 minutes, until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbling. Carefully remove the cobbler from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes before serving. Serve the blackberry cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure not to overwork the dough to prevent it from being tough. Just mix it enough until it sticks together to form a soft dough.
- Topping the crust with cinnamon sugar is optional but it really gives it an additional layer of flavor. Just mix together 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon with 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar to make it yourself or use the premixed spice blend.
- Use fresh blackberries and not frozen. You could substitute fresh raspberries or a mixture of them both in the same unit of measure.
Original post date 01/31/2018. Updated 03/17/2023 and 07/17/2024.
moop brown says
This recipe looks really tasty and like the perfect comfort dessert. Thanks for sharing.
LaKita says
Thank you so much!!
Erin says
Great tip on not overworking the dough! I tried it and this cobbler came out sooo good. My family ate it in one sitting. 😀 Thanks!
LaKita says
Thank you Erin, it makes me so happy to hear your family enjoyed the cobbler!!!
Katie Crenshaw says
I made this blackberry cobbler and served it warm with vanilla ice cream. Everyone loved it. It turned out so delicious.
LaKita says
Thank you so much Katie, perfect with vanilla ice cream!!!
Carrie says
What a tasty to showcase those sweet summer blackberries! 🙂 You just can never go wrong with a classic cobbler. Can't wait to bake one up soon.
LaKita says
Thank you Carrie, I agree homemade cobbler is the best!!