Comforting and Cozy Blackberry Pear Cobbler

What could be a more perfect treat on a cold and rainy January day? Well, actually I can think of several warm, cozy, cold-day sweets that would do just the trick. This cobbler came together because I had a large basket of blackberries sitting in my refrigerator and a mountain of pears, a Japanese variety, making a home in my fruit bowl. I’ve been up to my ears in both, throwing handfuls of blackberries in my oatmeal and cereal in the morning, and slicing up pears for salads. Not to mention grabbing pears to-go on my way out the door in the morning! Sometimes, when I see my favorite fruit, I just go a little nuts and come home with way too much. But, hey if a cobbler, pie or tart eventually makes its way into my oven and on to my counter, what’s the harm, right?

Well, it’s been one of those days when things feel just not quite right. Indescribable, really. It could be the weather. Maybe it’s the rain. Or the gloomy, gray, overcast sky. I don’t know. I’m feeling the blahs. The sad blahs, I guess. Even though I love the rain, and we have yet to get enough of it, sometimes it just makes me sad. We all have things that make us feel better and baking is probably one activity that many of us have in common. For me, it’s relaxing, meditative at times and comforting. Today, this blackberry pear cobbler was just the thing I needed.

Comforting and Cozy Blackberry Pear Cobbler

Filling:

2 pints of fresh blackberries

3 pears sliced into ½ wedges

1 tbsp flour

½ tsp vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

zest of one lemon

½ cup sugar

Topping:

¾ cup flour

¾ tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

good pinch of salt

1 tbsp plus 1 tsp sugar

2 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter – cut into small bits

1/2 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt

Preheat oven to 350

Combine all filling ingredients and transfer to a 9 or 10-inch pie plate or ceramic baking dish. Let sit for 15 minutes or so.

Make the topping:

Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and sugar together into a bowl. Add butter bits and using a fork or your fingertips blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the buttermilk or yogurt and stir just until combined.

Place dough by rounded tablespoons on top of filling mixture making sure to leave some space for filling to come through.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until topping is golden and filling is bubbly.

Tagged as: blackberry pear cobbler, comfort desserts, fruit cobbler