Can a Burned Apricot Cobbler be rescued?

[msfiddlestix]

I'm soo bummed that my made from scratch apricot cobbler burned following a recipe that called for the oven to be set a 375 for 40 minutes. I checked the cobbler 35 minutes in, and it already burned.

the apricots were $5 a pound, this recipe called for 2 lbs. not to mention the waste of other ingredients. It's cooling right now, I have yet to test taste the apricot part of the cobbler, but the topping will have to be discarded.

Any ideas of what can be done to salvage the apricots if they haven't been ruined along with the topping?

[elleng]

1. This may or may not help, but

Burn some apricots to make this perfect fresh summer snack.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/recipes/article-burn-some-apricots-to-make-this-perfect-fresh-summer-snack/

[wyn borkins]

2. An Odd Suggestion

Scoop out any portion of the cobbler that does not seem to be overly cooked NOW, before it sets-up-and-takes-up the stench of the burnt other parts. Allow bits to cool and then (possibly) serve with an abundance of half & half or even better, serve with ice cream (over top).

May the apricot remnants be with you...(also, consider investing in a decent stand-alone oven thermometer).

[viva la]

5. Also, you could spread the apricots on toast

Or on chicken! Apricot and chicken are great together.

[wyn borkins]

6. Indeed - And Chicken-n'Apricots Is A Rather Tasty Thought (n/t)

[viva la]

8. I like it-- it's kind of African/North African

Chicken takes in sweet flavors so nicely. Over rice, maybe?

[flor-de-jasmim]

3. Maybe add a light sugar syrup with cinnamon and/or ginger?

[SheltieLover]

4. Scoop out unburned filling

& heap vanilla ice cream on it.

[Retrograde]

7. Is just the top burned?

"cobbler" is one of those terms that means different things to different people: my cobblers are a layer of biscuits on top of a fruit filling. If that's similar to yours, you should be able to just remove the top. Since the fruit's been partially cooked, you can put it in a pot with some additional water (and maybe sugar to taste) and make a quick jam that will keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

Or try the milk shake/smoothie approach: add the apricots to either ice cream or plain yogurt in a blender and blend until smooth. Or make apricot shortcake, or serve them rolled up in crepes with a soft cheese.

[wyn borkins]

9. Another Odd Suggestion

Scoop out any portion of the cobbler that does not seem to be overly cooked NOW, before it sets-up-and-takes-up the stench of the burnt other parts. Place remaining cobbler into a strainer in your sink and lightly caress with warm water to remove any cakey bits, then allow to dry thoroughly in a covered bowl.

When ready, chop remaining cobbler bits into tiny pieces and cover with a few ounces of brandy (or vodka). Reserve to a glass container and allow to steep for a few days. Serve over ice cream OR even serve over your next (unburnt) batch of apricot cobbler (!).

[Layzeebeaver]

10. Only from the inside out.

Using a fork and ones mouth.

[dem in texas]

11. Cobbler is one of my favorite desserts

What a bummer to have a recipe go bad on, especially when the ingredients cost a lot, but hey, that's how you learn to cook.

2 pounds of fruit doesn't sound like a lot of fruit, especially if you are weighing the fruit unpeeled with the seed still in. For such a small amount of fruit - 375 degrees for 45 minutes is definitely too high and too long.

Try a few trial runs with some Granny Smith apples and refrigerated pie crust. I have quit making my own crust, just use the refrigerated kind and put on a lattice top.

[msfiddlestix]

12. Thanks everyone for great ideas... turns out the cobbler wasn't quite as "burnt" as it inititally

appeared.

After it cooled, I taste tested as well as turned the topping over, and there was no stench or burnt taste, so thankfully it worked out ok. Not the greatest cobbler I've made, but it was still edible enough.

I have made cobbler many times in the past years, never, ever experienced anything but great results. I believe the oven was set too high as suggested above though I had followed directions from the Little Cottage food recipe to the T.

I will invest in an oven thermometer though nothing else I've baked in the past in this oven seemed to be overly done.

But to come to think of it, there was a time or two something recipes didn't quite turn out the way I expected.

So an oven thermometer from this point.

Thanks again!

[hippywife]

13. Oven temps vary from one to another...

so temps and cooking times should be viewed as guidelines rather than hard and fast rules. You did well by setting your timer for sooner than instructed in the recipe.

Once you get an oven thermometer and can gauge how accurate the oven settings are, it will be easy to make those adjustments in the future.

Glad it turned out better for you than you had feared. Apricots are terribly expensive.

[msfiddlestix]

14. thanks.. i didn't realize my oven ran hotter than it's set for.

kind of explains a few other disappointing outcomes on my tried and true baking experiences.


so, yeah. an oven thermometer is now on my immediate shopping list.

in this instance, i managed to camaflauge by folding topping under a smidge.. a dollop of vanilla icecream also helps.

The cost of seasonal fruit blew has sky rocketed like other foods. I'm surprised because these are locally grown.