Aunt Audrey’s cobbler is the ultimate throw-it-together summer dessert

So, look, we will all agree: the outside temperature is unacceptable. In my beloved house state of Kentucky, we’re nonetheless on an influence grid fueled by coal, so protecting the home in a liveable zone all through the season prices about the identical as a second-hand Rolex.* 

Leaving apart any scheduling points, private preferences, or pandemic-era ingredient availability, my motivation to sprint out for dry items when somebody calls an audible and calls for a same-day potluck dessert hovers someplace round zero. I even have what we would name a status for being type of rather a lot, so I can not simply roll as much as the barbecue with a melty half gallon of Kirkland Signature vanilla ice cream. This, my pals, is after I make Aunt Audrey’s cobbler. 

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Aunt Audrey was my mother’s mother’s dad’s sister, and she or he was simply beautiful, a completely self-sufficient broad, although she would most likely have most well-liked “dame” or possibly even “gentlewoman.” Someday in her late nineties, she got here house from a health care provider’s appointment, realized she had locked herself out, and — as an alternative of calling her neighbor for a spare key — wrapped her elbow in her scarf, broke a basement window, and slithered her nonagenarian physique by way of. That, my pals, is moxie. 

This will-do perspective prolonged very a lot to her housekeeping philosophy and is nowhere higher exemplified than in her cobbler recipe. I’ve the notecard (yellowed, juice-flecked) someplace, however I’ve additionally dedicated it to reminiscence as a result of it’s 1. Malleable and a couple of. Easy. The fantastic thing about Aunt Audrey’s cobbler is you just about at all times have every little thing available. It may be made gluten-free or vegan and not using a second thought. Seasonal produce? Nice. Solely obtained canned peaches available? No downside. Attempting to make use of up one thing proper earlier than it goes unhealthy? You are in the correct place. Attempting to indicate off the spices you introduced again from if you studied overseas in Krakow? Toss that proper in. Wish to put it on the grill as a result of the mere notion of turning on the oven makes your head swim? It is slightly extra superior, however yeah, completely doable.** It is good scorching. It is good chilly. Portioning it requires zero forethought. It is nice year-round, however it’s actually the proper summer time dessert. 

The proportions are properly and actually the one factor that matter right here. Within the recipe beneath, I will stroll you thru the canonical Audrey model which options simply peaches and a few very primary pantry staples, however perceive this: the one limitations are your creativeness and your tolerance for failure, which on this case is simply mediocre cobbler. 

The bottom of this can be a 1:1:1 ratio of elements. You may commerce out the flour for a complete wheat flour or a gluten-free possibility (brown rice flour, for instance, makes it crispier, and if gluten is not the problem, is cool to combine in for crispness causes). Milk is extensive open! When you’re utilizing dairy, I at all times go for complete, however once more: it is high quality to make use of soy, 2%, no matter. All sugars are equally legitimate within the eyes of Aunt Audrey, although I might warning towards doing brown sugar or a liquid sugar like molasses for all of it, simply because it will get sticky. It is high quality to swap slightly bit, although, no query. I’m a butter partisan, however you’ll be able to check out no matter vegan possibility you want, or do a combination for those who’re quick (I did coconut oil and a half stick of butter in a pinch not too long ago and DAMN). 

Flavoring and filling can be a free-for-all. Any fruit will work, and I really like to make use of this as a possibility to scrub out the crisper. A mixture of stone fruit and berries is great, for those who want extra steering than “simply do it.” Commerce the vanilla for a touch of rum, rye, or bourbon. Strive almond extract as an alternative. Grate some contemporary nutmeg or ginger on high. Toss a touch of cinnamon in with the salt. The sky would not even start to explain the restrict. You actually and actually can’t mess this up. 

*A banged up one, not a pleasant one, and from an property sale the place you are rolling the cube slightly, not a licensed seller, however STILL it’s simply freeway theft along with, you recognize, a local weather and public well being disaster

** Observe the beneath recipe, however you may must do it on really feel. I do know not everybody feels snug doing this, however for those who’re good at grilling and prepared to maintain a watchful eye, it really works nice!