Southern Banana Cobbler (Printable)
Caramelized bananas nestled beneath a golden buttery crust, served warm for pure Southern comfort.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Banana 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 vanilla extract
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 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 vanilla extract
→ Optional Garnish
17 - Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter or nonstick spray and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter 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 saucy. Remove from heat and spread the filling evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium 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. Be careful not to overmix.
04 - Spoon the batter in large dollops over the banana filling. Use a spatula to gently spread it out, leaving some gaps exposed for a rustic, golden finish.
05 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the crust comes out clean.
06 - Allow the cobbler to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The caramelized banana filling tastes like warm banana pudding met a buttery crumble and they fell in love.
- It uses pantry staples and takes almost no effort, which means you can pull it together on a weeknight without thinking twice.
02 -
- Stir the bananas gently with a spatula instead of a whisk, because vigorous stirring turns them into mush instead of tender crescents.
- The cobbler topping will look a bit thin and that is completely normal, since it bakes into a soft cake like layer over the fruit.
03 -
- Toss the sliced bananas in lemon juice before cooking to prevent browning and add a brightness that balances the rich sugars.
- Let the melted butter cool slightly before adding it to the batter, because hot butter can cook the flour and create odd textures.