Friday, October 23, 2009

Strawberry-Chocolate Cobbler


This recipe is so amazing I made it two weeks in a row. It calls for 2 cups of whole grain pastry flour, which I don't have, but I used 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1 cup cake flour as a substitute and it worked beautifully. It's quick to put together and tastes incredible. I like that the cobbler part has a chewy bready texture and a rich chocolate flavor. The strawberries keep it refreshing.


One of many nice things about living in California is having strawberries available year-round. My relatives in Ohio are probably lifting their angry fists at me and cursing. They have a few weeks a year of strawberries. That is just not sufficient for my strawberry-loving self! I want to be able to make this cobbler in the cold of winter (Ha! That's funny to say since I live in sunny Los Angeles)!

Jesse CoolJesse Cool, the baker/chef extraordinaire who invented this cobbler recipe, is a name I grew up with in Northern California. My mom made her recipes or talked about her often. She has a well known, delicious restaurant in Menlo Park called the Flea Street Cafe, and more recently she took over the cafe at Stanford University's Cantor Arts Center. Her style is very much about using organic, locally grown, in-season ingredients and promoting sustainable cuisine. My mom has adopted that same philosophy, even joining a CSA, and I'm doing my best to, also (though I'm not quite as disciplined as Jesse or my mom yet). Sorry, it has to be said: Jesse Cool is très cool!


Strawberry-Chocolate Cobbler
Recipe by Jesse Ziff Cool in Your Organic Kitchen: The Essential Guide to Selecting and Cooking Organic Foods

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
2 cups whole grain pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup milk
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the butter, cocoa, and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a 3-quart glass baking dish (or whatever dish you want). Place in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes to melt the butter. Remove from the oven and stir until well-blended.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Add the milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. Spoon onto the melted butter mixture, but do not stir.

Sprinkle with the strawberries. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 servings.


Step-by-Step in Pictures

Melt the butter, cocoa, and 1/4 cup sugar in the baking dish by placing in the preheated oven...

Don't let the chocolate burn; instead, take the dish out before the butter has fully melted and stir by hand until all incorporated...


Add milk to the dry ingredient mixture of flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and remaining sugar...

It will be thick and goopy at first but stir until smooth...

Spoon the batter onto the melted butter/cocoa/sugar mixture...

Hull and slice a pint of strawberries...
Sprinkle the strawberries on top of the batter...

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-55 minutes...

Let the cobbler cool for 15 minutes before serving...

Serve it up and try not to eat the whole cobbler in one night...

6 comments:

Mom said...

I think this recipe is such a natural combination of flavors, yet one so rarely seen in baked goods. I made it, too, and loved it. I served it with homemade hot fudge and vanilla ice cream. You have to try it that way! Amazing!!

AJ said...

I am making this for Thanksgiving. And, you know, if I have to make it a few times prior to perfect it, I guess that's just the price I have to pay for my art...

Marni said...

Mom - I really owe you one for introducing me to this recipe. Thank you!!!!!!!! I will have to try it with ice cream next time. And you KNOW there will be a next time!

AJ - Let me know what you think when you make it! I'm sure you'll be making it over and over again. :)

Uncle Mikey said...

These look delicious! Nomi and I may have to try one of these recipes out.

Uncle Mikey said...

BTW, my handle is "Uncle Mikey" because I post on our niece's and nephew's blog!

Marni said...

Uncle Mikey - I love your handle! Awesome. And you and Nomi really should make this. It's so easy. Just needs to be for a dairy meal.

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