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Lighter Salted Caramel Pecan Pie Cobbler: Best Easy Dessert

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A lighter version of a classic pecan pie cobbler with a gooey caramel-pecan topping and a tender, biscuit-like base. Made with Greek yogurt and less butter, it’s indulgent yet balanced—perfect for weeknights or company.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • ⅓ cup (80g) plain Greek yogurt (full-fat recommended)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) milk (2% or whole)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (100g) pecans, chopped
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus more for finishing)
  • ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar (for caramel sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter (for caramel sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream (for caramel sauce)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel sauce)
  • ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt (for caramel sauce)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
  2. Spread chopped pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer. Toast for 5-7 minutes, shaking halfway, until fragrant and slightly darker. Let cool.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add cold butter cubes. Cut into flour using a pastry cutter or two forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces.
  4. In a small bowl, stir together Greek yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract. Pour into flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few streaks of flour are fine). Spread dough evenly into prepared dish.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine toasted pecans, ½ cup brown sugar, melted butter, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, and ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt. Stir until well coated. Spoon evenly over cobbler base.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until top is golden brown, edges are bubbly, and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cobbler base comes out clean.
  7. While cobbler bakes, make caramel sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Stir constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves, about 2-3 minutes. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat. Stir in ½ teaspoon vanilla and ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt. Set aside to cool slightly.
  8. Remove cobbler from oven and cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Drizzle caramel sauce over top while still warm. Sprinkle with extra flaky sea salt just before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the 10-minute cooling step to allow caramel to set. Keep butter cold for a tender cobbler. Toast pecans for best flavor. Use flaky sea salt, not table salt, for the finishing touch. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and coconut cream. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: lighter pecan pie cobbler, salted caramel pecan cobbler, easy dessert, pecan cobbler, healthier dessert, Greek yogurt cobbler

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/lighter-salted-caramel-pecan-pie-cobbler-best-easy-dessert/