Easy and Delicious Gluten-Free Blueberry Cobbler
We think these words are the perfect way to describe this fresh blueberry cobbler that is gluten-free and adaptable in so many ways:
Delicious – This gluten-free blueberry cobbler is literally summer on a plate. It’s just begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.Perfectly sweet – But not too sweet!Cakey & flaky – Gluten-free and biscuits aren’t usually used in the same sentence, but this recipe is the exception. The secret? Cutting cold butter into the flour, using just enough sugar to keep things tender, and adding a splash of vinegar to the milk to activate the leavening. These steps create a biscuit topping that has a little crunch on the outside but stays tender inside.Easy – If you’ve never made a cobbler before, now is your time to shine. Unlike other more technical desserts, you don’t need any special equipment or skills to make a fresh and delicious warm berry cobbler. Just show up with a desire to make a mouth-watering dessert that everyone will love!Adaptable – It’s easy to adapt this blueberry cobbler to fit a wide range of diets. It’s already free of gluten, soy, nuts, and eggs so, with just a few swaps, which we share below, you can make it dairy-free and vegan, and also insert your favorite flavors.
Ingredients to make Gluten-Free Blueberry Cobbler
Fresh blueberries – you can make this recipe year-round, but it really is spectacular when you make it during peak blueberry season from June through AugustLemon juice + zest – you’ll need 1 lemonGluten-free flour – we like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour or King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten-Free Flour. You can also use regular all-purpose flour if you don’t need the bread to be gluten-freeSugar – you’ll need both brown sugar and cane sugarButter – use unsalted and COLD butter; for a vegan and dairy-free version, use vegan butter (we like this one from Miyokos Creamery)Milk – use dairy or unsweetened non-dairy milk; for vegan, opt for non-dairy milk of your choice such as almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milkWhite vinegar – this is what helps activate the leavening in the biscuitsVanilla extractCinnamonBaking powderBaking sodaSalt
The BEST Cobbler Starts with the Juiciest Blueberries
The beauty of making a cobbler in summer is that you can take advantage of the bounty of fresh berries. Not only are blueberries at their peak of delicious taste in summer, but they are also cheaper, easier to find, and plump-full of sweet juice.
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Ask anyone what some of the healthiest foods on the planet are, and blueberries always top the list. It is pretty common knowledge that blueberries are an easy-to-get-your-hands-on top source of beneficial antioxidants. High-antioxidant foods, like blueberries, help protect against cell damage and chronic inflammation, which are conditions that can lead to unwanted disease over time. Blueberries are also exceptionally high in fiber (4 grams in 1 cup), vitamin C, and manganese – all nutrients that contribute to overall health and especially heart health.
Fluffy, Gluten-Free Biscuits – the Best Topper for Blueberry Cobbler
Without gluten and eggs, how do you make biscuits that have the perfect texture and rise? Well, we employ two things here that solve those issues. First, we call for cold butter pieces that you “cut in” to the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives so that the result is tiny pieces of unmelted butter that will melt and distribute as the biscuits bake. Second, we add a splash of vinegar to the milk to activate the leavening. These steps create a biscuit topping that has a little crunch on the outside but stays tender inside.
Divide and Conquer (errr, Cover)
Now that you’ve made the biscuit topping it’s time to make nine cute little islands of dough that you’ll place on top of the berry mixture. Don’t worry about being exact with your measurements, just eyeball it. The dollops of dough should be about 2 ½ inches in diameter. The biscuits will spread a bit once they’ve baked, and you want that heavenly berry filling to have space to bubble up between the biscuits to release any steam as they bake.
How to Make Blueberry Cobbler that is Dairy-free and Vegan
With just a few swaps you can easily make this gluten-free blueberry baked recipe a dairy-free and vegan blueberry cobbler so that anyone following a special diet or with certain food allergies can enjoy this perfect seasonal dessert. Simply swap the butter for vegan butter (we like this one from Miyokos Creamery) and use unsweetened non-dairy milk of your choice such as almond, cashew, or coconut. This easy blueberry cobbler recipe is already free of gluten, eggs, and nuts making it a versatile option for family dinners and potlucks that everyone will appreciate (look at you being thoughtful!).
Off to the Oven: The Hardest Part
We don’t mean that the hardest part is yet to come. Honestly, you did it! That’s all it takes to make this delicious summer dessert. What we mean is that the hardest part is now waiting for this gluten-free blueberry cobbler to bake! We don’t know about you, but the sweet smell of blueberries, vanilla, and cinnamon wafting from the oven are enough to make us weak in the knees and want to dig right in as soon as it emerges from the oven all golden brown and bubbly.
Just Stay Cool When Making Gluten-Free Blueberry Cobbler
Now trust us, after you pull your delicious creation from the oven, it’s worth the wait to let this gluten-free blueberry cobbler cool for 30 minutes or more to let the sauce thicken just a bit (and so you won’t burn your tongue on the first bite). Of course, if you absolutely cannot wait, we understand. Dish it up and top a fruity-biscuit serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. To keep it dairy-free and vegan, use a vanilla non-dairy frozen dessert or whipped topping (some great ones exist now).
Other Summer Desserts to Try:
The Best Gluten-Free Lemon BarsStrawberry Pretzel Ice Cream PieBerry Oat Crumble BarsGrain-Free Strawberry Rhubarb CrispSweet & Salty Ice Cream Sandwiches
Pin it Now & Make it Later!
All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
5 cups fresh blueberries (28 ounces) Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon) 1 ½ tablespoon lemon juice (½ medium lemon) ⅓ cup brown sugar, lightly packed 1 ½ tablespoon gluten-free flour* ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of fine salt
For the Topping
1 cup + 1 tablespoon gluten-free flour* (150 grams) 3 tablespoons cane sugar, plus ½ – 1 teaspoon more to sprinkle on top 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes ½ cup milk (dairy or unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice) ½ teaspoon white vinegar ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving, optional
**we have not yet tested this recipe with frozen blueberries or other types of fresh berries, but will update any instructions after we do. We highly recommend using fresh blueberries, as we have tested the recipe multiple times using them and love the results every time.
