Go Back
+ servings
Apple walnut cobbler in a white baking dish.
Print

Apple Walnut Cobbler

This Apple Walnut Cobbler is like upside down apple pie topped with a rich caramel sauce studded with walnuts. (Yes, please!) Enjoy this cozy fall dessert recipe warm and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 16 servings
Calories 273kcal

Ingredients

For the cobbler:

For the topping:

Instructions

To make the cobbler:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Carefully remove the pastry top of each pie using a sharp knife and arrange the tops inside a 9"x 13" rectangular baking dish, apple side up. (It's okay if it breaks.) Press the dough into the bottom and sides of the baking dish, overlapping if necessary, and set aside.  
  • Gently scoop out or pour the apple filling from each pie into a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, allspice, and cinnamon and stir to combine. Spoon the apple filling into the baking dish on top of the pie dough. 
  • Cover the apples with the bottom pastry of the pies, apple side down, overlapping if necessary. Cut several small slits in the dough and bake according to the pie instructions, or at 400 degrees, for 45-50 minutes, until the crust is brown and the apples are bubbling.  Remove from oven. 

To make the topping:

  • While the cobbler is baking, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter and the brown sugar on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture bubbles and becomes deep brown and caramel-like in consistency, about 5 minutes. 
  • Remove from heat and add cinnamon, water, and walnuts. Stir to coat walnuts in the caramel. Set aside. 

To assemble the cobbler:

  • Once cobbler is finished baking, pour hot caramel walnut mixture over the cobbler. Cut into squares and serve warm with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream. 

Notes

  1. Apple pie: Start with thawed frozen store-bought pies. Or if you are feeling ambitious, whip up a couple of my Best Apple Pies from scratch (you can use fresh-baked and cooled pies or defrosted-from-frozen homemade apple pies).
  2. Allspice: This clove relative is a spice that tastes similar to a mash-up of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. If you don't have any on-hand, make your own mix of 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and a small pinch of ground cloves; use 1/2 teaspoon of this blend in the apple cobbler.
  3. Butter: Love the flavor of salted caramel? Opt for salted butter, otherwise unsalted works beautifully too. 
  4. Yield: This Apple Walnut Cobbler transforms two fruit pies into one 16-serving dessert that's perfect for parties, potlucks, and other large gatherings. Or, you know, one really hungry family for a few scrumptious servings per person!
  5. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  6. Make ahead: Assemble and bake the pie 1 day ahead (do not make or add the topping) and chill overnight. Either bring to room temperature or reheat in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Make and add the caramel-walnut topping.
  7. Seasonal twists: Come summer, try this same concept with peach pies or cherry pies.
  8. Crown your cobbler: Top each scoop with homemade whipped cream or a scoop of cinnamon, butter-pecan, or vanilla ice cream (and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce if you really want to take things over the top).
  9. Copycat: This recipe is based on the famous Houston's Walnut Apple Cobbler recipe, and per insiders, this is exactly how they make it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg