Southern Banana Cobbler (Printable)
Caramelized bananas under a golden buttery crust — a comforting Southern classic ready in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Filling
01 - 4 ripe bananas, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - Pinch of kosher salt
→ Cobbler Topping
10 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
14 - 1/2 cup whole milk
15 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Optional Garnish
17 - Vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced bananas, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring gently, until the bananas soften and the mixture becomes syrupy. Remove from heat and spread the filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the whole milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract, then stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the topping tender.
04 - Spoon the batter in generous dollops over the banana filling. Use a spatula to gently spread it, leaving some gaps exposed so the filling bubbles through for a rustic, golden finish.
05 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cobbler topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the crust comes out clean.
06 - Allow the cobbler to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Scoop warm into bowls and top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The caramelized banana filling tastes like banana pudding met a warm hug and decided to stay forever.
- It uses pantry staples you probably already have, which means no emergency grocery store runs.
- The cobbler topping gets these gorgeous golden crispy edges while staying tender underneath.
02 -
- Do not overmix the cobbler batter or it will turn tough and bready instead of tender and craggy.
- The filling will look very liquid in the skillet but it thickens as it bakes, so trust the process.
03 -
- Let the cobbler sit for the full 15 minutes before serving because the filling continues to set and the flavors deepen as it cools slightly.
- Serve it in shallow bowls rather than plates so you do not lose any of that precious sauce.