Saturday, June 23, 2012

Black and Blue Vegan Cobbler

I had never made a cobbler before when my best friend told me that it was her favorite summer dessert. I knew then that I would be making her one on her birthday.  I always get pretty nervous when I make something for the first time and that something will be tasted by people that aren't just Jennifer and I.  It is because of this that I did a ridiculous amount of research on vegan cobblers.  Cobbler research was annoying.  Some sites called what I consider a buckle a cobbler.  One site even had the audacity to suggest that what was so obviously a crisp was really a cobbler.  This annoying research had me doubting myself and that led to more research into the exact definitions of cobblers, buckles, bettys, crisps, crumbles, grunts...and the list goes on and on.

Now that I am a fruit dessert educated woman, I feel confident in sharing with you a real, genuine vegan cobbler recipe that I adapted from a couple different recipes I found online.  I used blackberries and blueberries (my two favorite berries) but you can put whatever fruit you want in it.  It probably won't be as good though since no other berry can pull off the same amazing tricks when baked.  I also add a decent amount of sugar to this recipe.  You can be healthier (and smarter) and cut back a bit.  When I tell you to put in 1/3 cup sugar with the berries, you could probably get away with 1/4 cup.  It's up to you.  Either way I know it'll turn out great and have you singing praises to the berry Gods by the time you have finished eating it.  Happy Baking!

(Just a side note:  While I am typing this, my favorite dog that isn't my own is cuddled at my feet snoring ever so softly.  I love SebsDog and I love my life!)


Recipe:
2 cups blackberries
2 cups blueberries
1/3 cup sugar for berries plus 1/4 cup sugar for topping
2 Tbsp. flour for berries plus 1 1/4 cups flour for topping
2 ounces orange juice (either freshly squeezed or bottled but NOT from concentrate because that is just gross and won't taste as good...I promise...it's like using vanilla flavor instead of extract)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup cold vegan margarine, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup coconut milk (full fat not the low fat stuff)

Directions:


1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a small baking dish with oil (I used an eight inch round corningware dish and that seemed about just right.)
2.  Cook berries, sugar, flour and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat.  Once the sugar appears to be dissolved and the berries are warm, you have cooked them long enough.
3.  Pour berries into your prepared baking dish.
4.  Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar with a whisk.  Then add the margarine to the mix and use your fingers to mix it up until it becomes a bit mealy.
5.  Add the coconut milk to the flour mixture and stir it until combined.
6.  Plop spoonfuls of dough over berry mixture in whatever fashion you want.  Make it pretty, make it ugly...I don't care, just make it good.
7.  Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until top is slightly browned.
8.  Serve it up and enjoy!  In case you don't know what to serve it up with, try some vegan ice cream or coconut whipped cream or just have it warm and by itself.