If you love gingerbread and you crave apple cobbler, then this is the perfect dessert for you! This Gingerbread Apple Cobbler features layers of apple pie filling, topped with soft gingerbread, and crunchy pecan streusel, and needs only 15 minutes of prep time to create a grand family friendly dessert!
This scrumptious Gingerbread Apple Cobbler is so quick and easy to make! It features three luscious layers – apple pie filling on the bottom, soft gingerbread in the middle, and a crunchy pecan streusel on top. Yum!
Let me warn you, though, that this recipe uses pre-packaged ingredients (gasp!). Yes, a boxed cake mix and canned pie filling (double-gasp!). I’ll probably have my official food blogger card revoked for this, but you know what? I don’t see a thing wrong with it.
So what if the ingredients are already measured and boxed for me and the pie filling is cooked and canned. That saves me loads of time that I could spend with my family instead. But, if you want to make up your own gingerbread and peel apples for hours and cook up your own pie filling, please do.
❤️ Why I Love this Recipe
- It’s so easy – boxed and canned ingredients are used to best advantage.
- All the best flavors of autumn in one dish.
- Takes just 15 minutes to prepare.
🛒 Ingredient Notes
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- Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix (I recommend Betty Crocker brand 14.5 ounce mix for this.)
- Apple Pie Filling (Use your favorite brand. This saves you the time of coring, peeling, and cooking apples.)
- Pecans (You can substitute walnuts if you prefer.)
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥄 How to Make Gingerbread Apple Cobbler
This recipe really couldn’t be simpler to put together. Start by measuring out two cups of the gingerbread mix.
Stir it together with ¾ cup of water until you have a smooth mixture. Set that aside for now.
Next, mix together the remaining gingerbread mix and the brown sugar. Cut in ¼ cup of butter until you have a crumbly mixture. Stir in the pecans. Also, set that aside for now.
👉 PRO TIP: Cutting in Butter – to “cut in” butter, put the flour and butter into a bowl. Use either a pastry blender, a fork, or two knives to cut the butter until the mixture of flour and butter resembles coarse crumbs. The butter pieces will be approximately the size of peas. If you’re a visual learner, like me, here’s a great video that shows exactly how to cut in butter.
Combine the two cans of apple pie filling and the remaining ¼ cup butter in a large heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and the filling is thoroughly heated.
Now, assemble the cobbler in a greased 11×7 baking dish. Simply pour the hot pie filling mixture into the dish.
Top the filling evenly with the gingerbread batter.
Sprinkle the pecan mixture evenly on the top.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Allow the cobbler to rest for 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
👉 PRO TIP: Place the baking pan on a cookie sheet to catch any pie filling that might accidentally bubble over during the baking time.
❓ Questions About Gingerbread Apple Cobbler
You can make the recipe in advance up to adding the pecan streusel on top. Store the base and the streusel separately in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Add the streusel to the top and bake as instructed.
Cover any leftovers with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to three days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave.
I don’t have a specific brand of apple pie filling that I think is best. They’re pretty much the same, so just use whatever is easily available to you.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
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Gingerbread Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 14.5 ounces gingerbread mix (recommended: Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix)
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 42 ounces apple pie filling (two 21-ounce cans)
- Vanilla ice cream optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Stir together 2 cups gingerbread mix and 3/4 cup water until smooth. Set aside.
- Stir together remaining gingerbread mix and brown sugar.
- Cut in ¼ cup butter until mixture is crumbly.
- Stir in chopped pecans. Set aside.
- Combine apple pie filling and remaining ¼ cup butter in a large saucepan.
- Cook, stirring often, over medium heat until butter is melted and filling is thoroughly heated.
- Lightly grease an 11×7 baking pan.
- Spoon hot pie filling mixture into the baking pan.
- Spoon gingerbread mixture evenly over hot apple mixture.
- Sprinkle with pecan mixture.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until set.
- Serve with ice cream.
Notes
- I recommend using Betty Crocker brand 14.5 ounce Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix for this recipe.
- Walnuts can be substituted for pecans if you prefer.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
Yummy! I need to make this. 2 of my favorites together in one dish.
I do hope you’ll give it a try, Jessica.
Gingerbread on a cobbler, I adore this idea!
I’ve been known to use boxed mixes and canned fillings! This sounds really warming and wonderful!
This looks so wonderful, what a great combination.
Made this for Thanksgiving. Was so very easy and delicious. Will have to add this to my staples.
You’d never know this was last minute! Love the flavors…I’m drooling
Official food blogger card…cute! I have on problem with pre-packaged ingredients. It’s what Sandra Lee calls “semi homemade,” right? Have a great Thanksgiving, Lana!
This cobbler is lovely! I definitely don’t mind using boxed mixes…and this is just about the most clever way to use a boxed mix that I’ve ever seen! Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!
looks great I love cobblers and the gingerbread sounds delicious!!
Gingerbread is one thing I always make from a boxed mix. I kick it up with powdered ginger and sometimes crystallized ginger, too, but for some reason I always start with the box. It works!
It can really be fun to take a boxed mix and jazz it up to make something really special! Good for you, Lydia.
Oh my goodness, why didn’t I think of this??? I love gingerbread and I love apples so I KNOW that I am going to love this as well!! Oh, and just so you know one of the pastry chefs I studied under said “boxed mixes are just fine for baking cakes” – so there!!!!
Really, Nancy?? I am so glad to know that. I have so many “convenience” recipes but rarely post of them because people seem to label them as not being “real cooking.” Thanks for our very kind comment.
I trust your judgement; adding some convenience to dishes that still taste fantastic is no reason for you to lose your card carrying membership anywhere. Just no canned cranberry sauce please???
I make a holiday cake using a cake mix and pudding; it’s far too good to not put on my blog and believe me, many readers have been most happy it’s there, cake mix and all.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Barb. I know that there are those who would never, ever use a boxed mix, but I have no problem at all taking a little help from the grocery store. I’d’ love to see the recipe for your holiday cake. I’ll just bet it’s delicious.
I love the idea of gingerbread in the cobbler!
I wasn’t sure at first, Curt, but it really turned out to be a fantastic combination.
Just yummy!!! I love gingerbread, but baked with apples? amazing!
The combination of the gingerbread with the apples was really amazing. Plus the crunchy pecan streusel on top just really took it to another level. We completely enjoyed this recipe!
Oh my this looks fabulous. You seem all prepared and ready to go i think this addition to the desserts you already have sounds fabulous. I am sure nobody will notice it is prepackaged :)
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
Thanks! And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.