You will never find a Berry Cobbler easier than this one! It only takes 5 minutes to put together. Use frozen mixed berries for the filling, and a cake mix and butter are all you need for the topping! It’s a great last-minute dessert that you can keep the ingredients on hand for all the time! Don’t skip serving this with vanilla ice cream. It’s not optional! Originally posted on June 29, 2012.
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Eric woke me up early on Saturday morning to tell me that our upright freezer in the garage had been left ajar, there was water pouring out of it, and it was beeping loudly.
Nothing like a thawed out freezer to start your weekend off with a bang, right?? Gah!
It really wasn’t that bad though. We are lucky and have 2 other smaller freezers, and were able to transfer almost everything over with some careful maneuvering. Good thing Eric used to play Tetris all the time as a kid. I swear that’s why he’s so good at fitting stuff into tight spaces.
The reason there was water pouring out of the freezer was because we had bought a big bag of ice at the store in anticipation of making some homemade ice cream for Father’s day. When the door was left open, all the ice melted and Niagara Falls came pouring out the front.
Then I forgot to buy more ice, but still really wanted homemade ice cream. So on Father’s Day I made the ice cream using all the ice from our ice maker, which wasn’t nearly enough. I threw in all the Otter Pops we had, and then got desperate and threw in a bag of frozen peas too. (We don’t shop on Sundays so I was trying to be creative. Also, I don’t call myself a charlatan for nothing.) It worked! Kinda. I mean so what if we had to ladle our ice cream instead of scoop it? Don’t get picky on me, melty ice cream is still delicious.
But back to the freezer rearrangements. The only thing we couldn’t manage to fit back in the freezer on Saturday was a few of those huge Costco size bags of mixed berries. They were mostly thawed out and needed to be used, so I decided berry cobbler was on the menu! It’s the perfect thing to make when your freezer breaks and you have a ton of berries to use up! This happens to you all the time, right??
Easy Berry Cobbler
I have to say this is the best “cheater” cobbler recipe I’ve ever tried. Eric and I stayed at a bed and breakfast a while back and they served this in the morning. I’d never heard of cobbler for breakfast but I was definitely not complaining. After I went back for thirds I finally decided to track down the cook, and she spouted the recipe off the top of her head.
Why is it called cobbler?
Cobbler is a dessert with fruit in a dish, where the top crust is “cobbled” or dropped coarsely in big chunks over the top, then baked. For this recipe, our cobbled topping is just a cake mix and butter. Super easy, super delicious.
This is a great last minute recipe because you can easily keep all these ingredients on hand. That way you don’t have to run to the store when you want to make it. Because I’m all about planning ahead for my unplanned dessert cravings. Here’s everything you need:
Mixed Berry Cobbler Ingredients
Quantities given in the recipe! Scroll all the way down to that recipe card, this is just to glance at when you’re making your shopping list.
For the berry filling
- Mixed berries, fresh or frozen is fine!
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice, fresh is best!
- Granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
For the topping
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- Butter
Can you bake with frozen berries?
Yes totally! No need to thaw them first, just dump them in straight from the bag. Fresh berries will work too!
How to make Berry Cobbler
This berry cobbler recipe is embarrassingly easy and SO delicious. You can skip right to the recipe or check out these tips and process photos:
- Dump a bunch of berries in a cake pan. You don’t even need a separate bowl, I love it. You can use frozen berries, fresh berries, whatever you have. Mine were thawed obviously, but you can add them in completely frozen if you like. I happened to have about a 1/2 cup of frozen cranberries from the freezer fiasco that I threw into my cobbler. Really any mix of berries is going to work!
2. Add in a little bit of lemon zest and juice. This is optional but I really like the zing it adds to the final cobbler.
3. Add in some sugar, flour, and cornstarch to thicken it up. Mix it all together right there in the pan.
4. Combine some melted butter with a dry yellow cake mix and spoon it over the top! You can also just dump the completely dry cake mix on top of the berries, and top with the melted butter. (You can also cut cold butter and sprinkle on top). Any way you do it will work great! This is why sometimes people call this a mixed berry “dump cake.” Literally all you have to do is dump in the ingredients and you’re done.
Can you make cobbler ahead of time?
You can assemble the berry filling in the pan ahead of time and refrigerate until you need to bake. Don’t add the topping until right before baking, otherwise it will get soggy, no thank you.
Tips for making Berry Cobbler with Cake Mix
How do you thicken fruit for cobbler?
This recipe calls for both flour and cornstarch. You don’t have to heat the berry, flour, and cornstarch mix before baking. The oven takes care of it all!
Can this same recipe be used to make cobbler with other fruits?
Absolutely! Any kind of berry will work, peaches would be great, or any stone fruit. I would not recommend cherries, since they do not release a lot of juice. But for berries and stone fruit, all you need to do is add a little sugar, and some flour and/or cornstarch to thicken it. Then top with your cake mix and butter, and you’re done! Try the peach filling from my Peach Cobbler, that would be so good.
Serving this Mixed Berry Cobbler Recipe
With vanilla ice cream, that’s how. I’m telling you, it’s not optional!
We took this cobbler over to our neighbor’s pool party later in the afternoon after we got our freezer put back together, but didn’t have any ice cream. (I hadn’t made it yet!) Eric didn’t eat any cobbler because he said it just wasn’t worth it without the ice cream. What a snob right?
Should I share my homemade vanilla ice cream recipe next? It’s the best part about summer! Just make sure you have real ice and don’t use frozen peas. It really doesn’t work great. Ha!
So there you have it! This is not a fancy recipe by any means, and if you are having the Queen of England over for dinner maybe pick a from-scratch cobbler, like this killer Homemade Peach Cobbler. But since I don’t think the Queen is coming by my house anytime soon, I will take a cake mix berry cobbler for dessert any day!! It’s so good!
How to store Mixed Berry Cobbler
This berry cobbler can be stored on the counter for 2 days. After that you should put it in the fridge so that it will stay fresh. After 5 days or so it’s probably time to call the neighbors over to eat the last serving, warmed up, with vanilla ice cream on top.
More summer dessert recipes you are going to love!
- Homemade Peach Cobbler << if you want homemade cobbler, this is the one!
- Easy Homemade Apple Cobbler << saying a tearful goodbye to peach season? Dry your eyes, it’s apple season, and we’re cobbling it up again.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie >> it doesn’t get any better than strawberry and rhubarb, I’m telling you
- Easy Blackberry Cobbler Recipe with Oat Topping << Lots of nuts and oats! So good.
- Fresh Blackberry Glace Pie << just like the strawberry version you’re used to! It’s so good!
- Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars << these are so pretty and a perfect way to use up fresh berries!
- My Mom’s Blackberry Pie << I grew up eating this for every occasion. We had blackberry bushes in the backyard.
- Easy Homemade Cherry Pie Bars << cherry pie filling ftw!
- Apple Crisp, With a Ridiculous Amount of Streusel << I love this recipe so much!
- Peach Apricot Slab Pie << nothing says summertime like a slab pie!
- Layered Pudding Dessert with Golden Oreos << I’m newly obsessed with this pudding dessert!
- Peach Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting << This recipe uses a cake mix too! It’s so easy and delicious.
- The Best Blueberry Cobbler from The Country Cook
- Lazy Raspberry Cobbler from Wyse Guide
- Mixed Berry Oat Bars from Ali’s Apron
I posted this recipe the first time way back in 2012 and have the horrible picture to prove it. I didn’t forget the ice cream even back then:
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Easy Mixed Berry Cobbler
Ingredients
For the berry filling
- 2 pounds mixed berries, fresh or frozen
- zest from 1 lemon, optional
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, optional
For the topping
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a 9×13 inch pan, add the frozen or fresh berries. If they are frozen there is no need to thaw. Add the zest of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- Add 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch. (You can skip the cornstarch if you like a really juicy cobbler). Stir the dry ingredients into the berries.*
- In a separate bowl, melt the butter. Add the dry cake mix and chop lightly with a fork; it’s okay if there are some dry spots. Don't over mix. You want it to be crumbly, not smooth. Spoon the mixture over the top of the berries.
- Bake the cobbler at 350 degrees F for about 40-50 minutes, until the top starts to turn golden and the berries are bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
- Store leftovers covered on the counter for 2 days. After that store in the fridge.
Hi! Does the 9×13 pan need to be spayed with Pam prior to adding the ingredients?Thanks!
Hi Amy, no, it doesn’t. Since the juicy wet berries are the bottom layer, they won’t stick to the pan. Enjoy!
The flavor was good for this, but sadly my cobbler turned out with with dry cake mix on the top. I covered the pan with foil for a while to help soften the cake mix part, but then it just made it leathery.
Hi Ellen! So sorry you didn’t enjoy this cobbler. Even when mixed properly, a cake mix cobbler will have a little bit of dry cake mix on the top, a little crunchiness if you will. If you love a more classic cobbler, try this apple cobbler or this peach cobbler. Hope your next cobbler is absolutely perfect!
This recipe looks amazingly easy and delicious! I wanted to tell you that I’ve made countless amounts of your recipes and they have ALL been phenomenal! Any time a family member raves about something of yours my response is always, “the food charlatan has never let me down!” Haha! I did have a quick question about the mixed fruit for this cobbler. If I use a 2 lb bag of mixed berries that has strawberries, blueberries, and cherries in it would it still work? Or, would it still come out dry even though it has strawberries and blueberries with the cherries?
I just wanted to update my comment from the other day. I went ahead and tried the recipe with frozen strawberries, blueberries, and cherries (even though I didn’t get a response from my question in my last comment). I omitted the cornstarch and it turned out great!
I made this with one 16 oz. bag of blueberries and one 16 oz. bag of strawberries and used 1 box of yellow cake mix. I followed the recipe and it was so delicious! Such an easy go to. I will keep this recipe for the summer when fresh fruit is cheaper. Thank you.
I’m so happy you loved this recipe Krista! Gotta love a dessert as easy as this right. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe, that’s so helpful and kind! 💕
So soo good! Made this for two different gatherings and got rave reviews at both. I used frozen blackberries and raspberries from our garden last year. And frozen blueberries. Turned out great! Several came back for seconds and asked for the recipe! Will make again and again!
Ooh fresh berries from the garden Kelly!! I bet that was so amazing! I’m so happy you loved it and that it was a hit with your guests. Thank you so much for leaving a review! 😍
Hi! This looks amazing! Going to try subbing some cake mix for oats and protein powder and serving it for breakfast! 🙌🏻
Thank you for your comment, I didn’t see the bottom notes because I was in a hurry – and grabbed the frozen berry bag with cherries (which I love cherries). Omitted the cornstarch like you posted and it turned out great! Thank you, thank you!
This cobbler turns out really dry on the toppings. Make sure you add cream and more butter than is called for.
The photos you chose to walk along the process of the recipe did not match the given recipe. Example, the recipe asks for 1/2 cup of flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 TBL cornstarch which was an excessive amount to combine with 2 lbs of frozen fruit waiting in the 9x 13 sprayed dish. I am not a beginner when it comes to cooking. I should have listened to my inner voice telling me to stop and go no further; don’t sacrifice 2 lbs, of frozen family favorite fruit (one bag of blueberries, one of pitted delicious cherries). I did not listen, I proceeded to waste an entire lemon cake mix and 2 lbs of fruit. No reply, no trying to fix it. I always read reviews, but I didn’t this one time and did I ever pay for it!
Hi Linda! So sorry the cobbler did not work out. I know we communicated over email, but I’m publishing this comment for other reader’s benefit. Cherries will not work for this cobbler. I’ve updated the recipe to reflect this change. I’m sorry, I had said any fruit would work! I was wrong. Cherries do not release enough juice to work in this recipe. One day I will develop a cherry cobbler recipe, and when I do, I will be cooking the cherries down in a pot with added liquid before adding to the cobbler. I’m sorry your precious cherries were wasted! I did remake this recipe as written last Sunday (we ate it while watching the super bowl!) and when made with frozen mixed berries, it’s perfect. So to my other readers, I promise you can still have confidence in this recipe. 💕 Thank you for the feedback Linda!
Hey Food Charlatan
My man is coming after Midnight for the first time on Christmas.
I have no family and friends to ask. Can you help? My email address is Celebrateushome@gmail.com. I’m trying to put together you easiest to make Triple Berry Cobbler. I BOUGHT ALL THE INGREDIENTS. Now I am not computer savvy and I don’t understand how to access the recipe instructions. CAN YOU EMAIL THE RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS TO ME??? I WOULD ❤ ❤ ❤ GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
CELEBRATEUSHOME@GMAIL.COM
PATRICE G.
I gotchu Patrice! Sent you an email. 💕 Merry Christmas!
I followed the instructions and when my timer went off I had dry cake mix all on the top. I mixed it and cooked it longer. It didn’t turn out like I was expecting and I’m a little disappointed.
Hi Megan! I share photos in the post of what the cake mixture should look like on top of the berries. You are supposed to combine the cake mix with melted butter before adding it on top. I’m wondering if you missed that part? I’m sorry it didn’t work out!
Karen–Would this work if all I have is white cake mix? Trying to use up what I already have!
Hi Mary! Yes definitely! it will taste great! good sub :)
Pretty perfect. A little too much flour & or cornstarch but tastes really good. I put canned biscuits on top and sprinkled a little sugar on them.
I baked this, was easy to put together but had to bake longer and stirred midway through due to a lot of dry cake mix still in pan. I did what was suggested at end, broiled for a minute or so and then I had brown topping….turned out great after that. Next time I will mix butter & cake mix together first.
Can I substitute the butter with coconut oil?
Hi Mandy! I’m really not sure. I don’t think coconut oil would be the right flavor. Let me know if you try it out!
I opted to spread the cake mix on the berries and drizzle the butter on top. Had to bake 65 minutes and once it began to brown, there was still a lot of dry cake mix left on top. Flavor was good once I was able to get some of the cake mix off
I made this and must have done something wrong. The cake never browned and the berries started to burn. Thinking I may have added too much butter. Any thoughts?
Hi Jacki, sorry to hear this! If the topping isn’t browning, you can turn your broiler on for 1 minute (watch it carefully!) to 2 minutes to get that topping nice and crispy! The cake will be cooked through at the end of the cook time, even if it’s not browned. Broiler should do the trick!
Hi..I love this receipe, but find it’s better to mix the cake mix with the butter in a bowl and crumble it on top. However, my problem is the flour/sugar/baking powder doesn’t seem to break down, so my filling is kinda white and gooey… is this normal? If not, any tips?
Hi Marne! The mixture of flour, sugar, and cornstarch (not baking powder!) should be thoroughly mixed with the fruit, so you shouldn’t be having your filling get white and gooey. I’m glad you love the recipe and I hope thoroughly mixing in the dry ingredients with the fruit gives you a perfect cobbler next time. Enjoy :-)
Hi Sarah
Thanks for the reply! I meant cornstarch, yikes! I must have sounded crazy… but I just couldn’t remember the dry ingredients. I will try mixing the fruit and dry ingredients better
We have used a similar recipie for years, but ours is easier ;). Pour frozen berries in a 13×9 pan about half full. Sprinkle with some cinnamon (if desired). Dump in a yellow cake mix (spread out with a fork a little if you want to be fancy). Then melt a stick of butter and drizzle over the top. Bake at 350 for an hour and voila delicious cobbler with very little effort. Literally anyone can make it.