Summer desserts are some of the best, in my opinion. While I love apples and pears, it’s the summer berries and stone fruit that I look forward to most. That’s why, when I saw Sally Field’s summer cobbler recipe recirculating online, I knew I needed to give it a try. It looked like a simple, yet delicious way to celebrate my love of sweet summer fruit. So I gathered some peaches and blueberries and whipped up her cobbler. Here’s what I thought of the dessert.
Allrecipes/Sara Haas
How to Make Sally Field’s Summer Cobbler
I enjoy baking, and recreating vintage recipes has become somewhat of a hobby of mine. Even though the ingredient amounts and instructions used in older recipes tend to be vague, there’s something charming (at least most of the time) about their simplicity.
I’ve found that some of the best vintage recipes are often shared on Reddit in the r/Old_Recipes forum. One that I stumbled upon recently was a delicious-sounding cobbler from actress Sally Field, originally published in 1985 in “The Hollywood Bowl Cookbook.”
It starts by adding a stick of butter to a baking dish and letting it melt in the oven while it preheats. Next, you combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk, and pour it over the melted butter. The final step is covering the top with your favorite summer fruit, then after about 30 minutes of baking, you’re left with a bubbling cobbler that will have you frantically digging around your silverware drawer for a spoon.
My Review of Sally Field’s Summer Cobbler
One of the best things about this recipe is how simple it is to make. There’s very little hands-on time required, and many of the ingredients are kitchen staples I always have stocked. I was able to throw together the recipe in just under five minutes, but I was rewarded with something that looked like I’d spent hours in the kitchen.
The cobbler batter cooked up perfectly, with a delightfully doughy bottom, but crunchy golden top. As for the flavor, it was delicious, but I do think it would’ve been even better with a few spices and a bit of vanilla extract. But unlike other cobblers where the fruit is buried, the fruit in this cobbler is the star. It was juicy, flavorful, and—when topped with vanilla ice cream—instantly became my new favorite dessert.
Tips for Making Sally Field’s Summer Cobbler
- Add some flavor. The batter is fine the way it is, but adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a pinch of ground ginger and/or nutmeg would make it even more delicious.
- Don’t skip the salt! Sally’s recipe says to use a pinch of salt, but I think 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon would help bring out the flavor of the cobbler even more.
- Swap the sugar. Consider swapping half or all of the granulated sugar for brown sugar. It not only adds color, but also a richer molasses flavor that pairs well with summer fruit.
Get the Recipe: Sally Field’s Summer Cobbler from “The Hollywood Bowl Cookbook”
