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This single serving Apple Cobbler features tender, cinnamon-spiced apples baked under a soft, cake-like topping. It’s easy to make and perfectly sized for one.
Featured Comment
“Wonderful recipe with apples. Tried with blackberries, excellent that way too…”
– Cindi
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made from Scratch: Fresh, homemade flavor with no boxed mix or shortcuts.
- Easy to Make: Simple steps and basic ingredients, ready in minutes.
- Single Serving: No leftovers. Want to make apple cobbler for two? Just double the ingredients.
I love this little apple cobbler because it brings all the warmth and comfort of a classic dessert into one perfectly sized dish.
The apples turn tender and full of flavor as they bake, tucked under a soft, golden topping that’s just the right balance of sweet and buttery.
It’s the kind of dessert that feels familiar and special at the same time, simple, satisfying, and made just for you.
Try more single serve apple recipes like our single serving apple crisp, apple muffin for one, easy apple overnight oats, and mini French toast casserole.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this individual apple cobbler recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apple: Use 2 small apples or 1 medium apple. Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious are great choices. Mix and match for more flavor. Extra apples? Use them in our small batch morning glory muffin recipe, individual apple pie oatmeal, or our apple fritters recipe for 1.
- Brown Sugar: Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness. The molasses is key, so avoid substituting. Out of brown sugar? Use my homemade small batch brown sugar recipe.
- Flour: All-purpose flour thickens the filling and gives the topping structure.
- Cinnamon: Brings warm spice to the filling. Nutmeg or allspice can be used instead.
- Vanilla: Adds flavor depth. Almond extract is a good backup
- Lemon Juice: Brightens the apples and balances the sweetness.
Topping Ingredients:
- Flour and Sugar: Form the base of the biscuit topping giving it a soft, cake-like texture. Use 1:1 gluten-free flour if needed.
- Baking Powder: Ensures the topping rises for a light, fluffy texture.
- Milk: Keeps the topping soft and tender. Almond or oat milk work for a dairy-free version.
- Cinnamon and Sugar: Sprinkled on top for extra sweetness and flavor.
Recipe Variations
Change up the fruit or add new flavors to create your own version of this cobbler:
- Apple-Cranberry Cobbler: Use a mix of chopped apples and cranberries. Add orange zest to the topping for a citrus boost.
- Individual Peach Cobbler Recipe: Swap apples for peaches. Add a pinch of nutmeg with the cinnamon for a Southern touch.
- Tropical Cobbler: Use pineapple and mango instead of apples. Replace lemon juice with lime for a tropical flavor.
How To Make An Apple Cobbler
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a single serve apple cobbler. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Make the filling: In a bowl, combine chopped apples, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Stir to coat the apples evenly.
- Assemble: Lightly butter a 10-ounce ramekin. Add the apple mixture and spread it out.
- Make the topping: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until smooth.
- Top the cobbler: Pour the batter over the apples and spread evenly.
- Add cinnamon-sugar: Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the top.
- Bake: Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 25–28 minutes, until the topping is golden.
- Cool and serve: Let cool for a few minutes before eating.
Expert Tips
- Preheat Properly: Make sure the oven is fully heated before baking. An oven thermometer helps ensure accuracy.
- Boost Flavor: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the apples for extra warmth and depth.
- Grease the Ramekin: Butter the ramekin to prevent sticking. For added texture, dust with a little sugar.
- Bake on a Sheet: Set the ramekin on a baking sheet to catch spills and make it easier to move in and out of the oven.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this apple cobbler as-is or dress it up with one of these easy additions:
- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream: Melts into the warm cobbler for a classic pairing.
- Homemade Whipped Cream: Adds a light, sweet finish.
- Small Batch Caramel Sauce: Drizzle on top for extra richness.
- Toasted Nuts: Sprinkle with walnuts or pecans for crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Double the ingredients and use either two 10-ounce ramekins or one 5×5-inch baking dish.
This recipe is designed for one serving, but if you have leftovers, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Yes, prep the filling and topping separately, then assemble and bake when ready. Best baked just before serving.
More Cobbler Recipes
If you love this apple cobbler, try these other delicious single serving cobblers:
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serving apple cobbler recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Apple Cobbler For One
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 medium apple or 2 small apples – peeled, cored and diced (approximately 4-ounces)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- butter -for greasing the ramekin
For the Cobbler Topping
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons milk
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Make the Filling
- In a bowl, combine chopped apples, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Stir to coat the apples evenly.
- Lightly butter a 10-ounce ramekin. Add the apple mixture and spread it out.
Make the Cobbler Topping
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until smooth.
- Pour the batter over the apples and spread evenly.
Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
- Mix ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl, then sprinkle it over the top.
- Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills.
- Bake: Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 25–28 minutes, until the topping is golden.
- Let cool for a few minutes before eating.
Notes
- Preheat Properly: Make sure the oven is fully heated before baking. An oven thermometer helps ensure accuracy.
- Boost Flavor: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the apples for extra warmth and depth.
- Grease the Ramekin: Butter the ramekin to prevent sticking. For added texture, dust with a little sugar.
- Bake on a Sheet: Set the ramekin on a baking sheet to catch spills and make it easier to move in and out of the oven.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
The filling was good. But the cobbler topping did not rise at all…
I’m glad you enjoyed the filling! As for the topping not rising, there could be a few reasons. Make sure your baking powder is fresh—baking powder can lose its effectiveness over time, which might cause the topping to stay flat. Also, be careful not to overmix the batter, as that can affect the rise too. I hope this helps, and I’d love for you to give it another try!
If you’re looking for a treat that’s not overly sweet this one is for you.
Every one of your dishes I’ve made has been top notch. Thank you so very much for all your hard work. I really love baking without having a gazillion leftovers for just two people. You’re the best!
Thank you!
Wonderful recipe with apples. Tried with blackberries, excellent that way too. Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes!
Hi, Joanie, and I want to say that I love your newsletter and look forward to its arrival in my inbox every week.
Thank you for taking the time to create these recipes.
I have made a number of them, they have all been simple and delicious.
Tending toward batch/freezer cooking for main dishes, I am especially partial this time of year to your small portion desserts.
The apple crisp and pecan pie have become favorites, and now I have this yummy little cobbler.
Thank you.
Hi there! It’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoy the newsletter and the recipes. It’s great to know that the small portion desserts, like the apple crisp and pecan pie, have become your favorites. Delighted you’re enjoying the cobbler too! Your support and feedback are truly appreciated.
If I’m gluten free what can I use instead of flour in some of these recipes???
For gluten-free options, we recommend a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend as a direct substitute for all-purpose flour. You’ll find this suggestion in the Ingredient Notes section of the apple cobbler post. This is actually our go-to substitute in most recipes. For more details on ingredient notes and substitutions, be sure to read through the post.
I made this according to recipe. This is the only recipe I have tried from Joanie that I didn’t like. My cobbler was too runny and had no crust. I thought the cobbler topping would turn in a type of crust.
I’m really sorry to hear that the cobbler didn’t turn out as expected. The topping for this recipe is actually the same as the one we’ve used in our peach and blueberry cobbler recipes, both of which have received numerous positive reviews. It’s puzzling why it turned out runny for you. One possibility could be measurement errors, as slight variations can make a big difference in baking. Regardless, I appreciate your feedback and I’m sorry it didn’t work out this time. Thank you for giving it a try.
Just copied your Apple Cobbler for One….but did not see an amount of time listed for the
actual baking. Thanks…
Bake for 25 to 28 minutes.
Can you make this in a air fryer?
While I haven’t tested this apple cobbler recipe in an air fryer, it should technically work. Just keep in mind that air fryers have different temperature and time settings, so you may need to experiment a bit to get the cobbler to your liking.
Excellent recipe.
Thank you!