Nothing is as simultaneously simple and satisfying as a baked dessert made from ripe fruit, warm and bubbly from the oven. Pies are classic, of course, but the fun doesn't have to end there: try skipping the piecrust and venturing into easier territory like cobblers, crisps, and crumbles. How are these rustic fruit desserts different? A crisp typically calls for baking fruit with a streusel-like topping that contains nuts, oats, or both. Crumbles are essentially crisps without the crunchy oat or nut element. Meanwhile, cobblers have the same fruit base but are topped with dollops of biscuit dough and baked until golden. While the nuances can be pretty subtle, all three dishes let fruit shine. Here, we've collected our favorite cobbler, crisp, and baked fruit dessert recipes.
Huckleberry Crisps
This dessert can be made with either fresh or frozen huckleberries or blueberries.
Apple Pandowdy
At Boston’s Durgin-Park, squares of buttery crust are pressed into a simmering apple filling partway through cooking to soak up the spiced sauce in this old-school dessert. Get the recipe for Apple Pandowdy »
Zucchini Crisp
Macerating zucchini in sugar creates a syrup that conjures flavors of sweet melons in this surprising dessert. Get the recipe for Zucchini Crisp »
Wine-Poached Rhubarb and Poppy Seed Crisp
Rhubarb takes the spotlight in this bright, rose-colored crisp, sweetened with strawberries and topped with a crunchy poppy seed crumble topping, from Erin Patinkin and Agatha Kulaga of Brooklyn’s Ovenly. Get the recipe for Wine-Poached Rhubarb and Poppy Seed Crisp »
Cherry Tomato and Cherry Cobbler
Cherries and cherry tomatoes bake down together into a savory-sweet layer under a sweet biscuit topping in this recipe from chef Amanda Cohen. Get the recipe for Cherry Tomato and Cherry Cobbler »
Apple Crumble with Hot Custard
We enjoyed this warm and comforting dessert while visiting a sheep farm in new Zealand. Get the recipe for Apple Crumble with Hot Custard »
Get the recipe for Blueberry Crisp
If you are lucky enough to find yourself with an overabundance of blueberries, this easy-to-make crisp is a delicious way to prepare them. It can also be made with peaches, plums, or other summer berries. Get the recipe for Blueberry Crisp »
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