Pecan cobbler is a dessert that bakes nuts together with sweet corn syrup and sugar on top of a biscuit crust. Both the filling and the crust are typically made from scratch by the chef prior to baking. Basic recipes can be adapted to suit any taste preference, and may also include fruit, chocolate, and caramel.
The cobbler is a type of deep dish dessert that is a variation on traditional pie. It was popularized in the American West during the 19th century by pioneers in need of a quick sweet dish that made use of whatever ingredients were available and could be cooked over an open camp fire. Sweet fruits and nuts are cooked together beneath a flaky layer of basic biscuit dough. Depending on the recipe used and the preferences of the chef, the biscuit dough may be layered on the bottom of the cobbler dish as well as on top of the filling, or it can be dropped by rounded spoonfuls over the filling only.
Additional ingredients used in pecan cobbler typically include corn syrup, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. These are mixed together with several cups of coarsely chopped pecan halves and poured into a deep baking dish. They are then layered on top of a biscuit dough and allowed to bake in a warm oven. This recipe may also be cooked in a Dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet fitted with a lid over an open fire. Suitable temperatures can be achieved by nestling the crockery in hot, glowing coals until the crust is golden brown or until the filling appears set.
The pecan cobbler recipe varies from traditional cobbler in that the pecan filling is added to the baking dish last. This mixture is allowed to cook on top of the ingredients for the crust, which then rise to form around the pecan filling. The crust, which is generally made from butter, flour, and water, may be mixed together and kneaded like dough before rolling out onto the cooking surface. It may also be assembled in a dump cake fashion in which ingredients are prepared individually and then layered, one on top of the other, in the baking dish instead of in a mixing bowl.
This basic recipe can be adapted to include chocolate, caramel, or apples. Additional ingredients should be layered together with the filling prior to the baking process. The finished pecan cobbler may be served warm, alone or with sweet cream.
