Easy Vegan Cherry Cobbler: Your Go-To Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly Dessert Recipe

Indulge in this delightful semi-homemade vegan cherry cobbler, featuring a light vanilla cake nestled around a luscious layer of gooey cherry pie filling. Finished with a sweet, delicate drizzle, this dessert is incredibly easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Best of all, it’s free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts – making it a top-eight-allergy-friendly and completely vegan treat!

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Why You’ll Adore This Easy Vegan Cherry Cobbler

This vegan cherry cobbler recipe is truly a gem, especially for those with dietary restrictions or anyone looking for a simple yet impressive dessert. What makes it so special is its “semi-homemade” nature. Forget the fuss of pitting fresh cherries or spending hours in the kitchen; we leverage the convenience of canned cherry pie filling, which is a total game-changer. This means less prep work, quicker assembly, and more time for you to enjoy the warmer months – or any time of year, for that matter!

The cobbler topping itself, a soft and tender vanilla cake, comes together effortlessly in just one bowl. Yes, you heard that right – minimal dishes, maximal deliciousness! This makes cleanup a breeze, a huge win in my book. The cake bakes to golden perfection, creating a beautiful contrast with the vibrant cherry filling. And let’s not forget the finishing touch: a sweet, delicate icing drizzle that takes this humble dessert from great to absolutely irresistible. Many consider fruit cobblers the quintessential summer dessert, but with canned filling, this vegan cherry cobbler transforms into a year-round delight that’s perfect for any potluck, family gathering, or quiet night in. For the ultimate indulgence, don’t forget a generous scoop of your favorite vegan vanilla ice cream on top! This easy vegan cobbler recipe ensures that everyone, regardless of dietary needs, can enjoy a truly comforting and delicious dessert.

Essential Ingredients for Your Vegan Cherry Cobbler

Crafting this delicious, allergy-friendly vegan cobbler requires just a handful of straightforward ingredients. Each plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and flavor profile for our semi-homemade masterpiece. Here’s what you’ll need to gather to make this delightful vegan cherry cobbler:

Vegan Butter: Essential for a rich, tender cake topping, replicating the texture and flavor of traditional butter without any dairy. Look for brands that are dairy-free and often soy-free and nut-free to keep this a top-eight-allergy-friendly dessert.
White Sugar: Provides the perfect sweetness and contributes to the cake’s tender crumb, ensuring that classic dessert taste.
Ener-G Egg Replacer: My go-to for ensuring proper binding and structure in this egg-free cobbler cake, without any off-flavors or discoloration. It’s a reliable choice for consistent results in vegan baking.
Rice Milk: A fantastic neutral-tasting non-dairy milk that won’t overpower the delicate vanilla flavor of the cake, making it an excellent choice for allergy-friendly baking.
Vanilla Extract: Elevates the flavor of the cake topping, adding a classic comforting aroma and taste that is synonymous with homemade desserts.
All-Purpose Flour: The base for our cake batter. If you need a gluten-free vegan cobbler, simply use a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to ensure it remains gluten-free.
Salt: A pinch enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and bringing out the best in the cherry filling.
Cherry Pie Filling: The star of the show! Canned filling provides convenience, consistent sweetness, and perfect thickness every time, making this an easy vegan dessert.
Powdered Sugar: For creating that irresistible sweet glaze drizzle to finish off your baked cobbler, adding an extra touch of deliciousness.

Is This Vegan Cherry Cobbler Refined Sugar-Free?

It’s a common misconception that all vegan desserts are automatically refined sugar-free. While many vegan recipes explore alternative sweeteners, this particular vegan cherry cobbler recipe, designed for ease and reliability, typically uses regular cane sugar. Baking without common allergens like butter and eggs presents enough challenges on its own, so for consistent results and a familiar taste, I opt for standard cane sugar. The cherry pie filling itself also contains sugar, contributing to the overall sweetness of this delightful treat.

I haven’t personally tested this recipe with coconut sugar or maple syrup as direct substitutes. However, if you’re keen on exploring refined sugar-free options, you might be able to swap coconut sugar at a 1:1 ratio. Keep in mind that coconut sugar has a slightly different flavor profile (more caramel-like) and can alter the color of your cake topping. Substituting maple syrup is generally not recommended in baking recipes like this, as it’s a liquid sweetener and would significantly throw off the moisture balance in the batter, potentially leading to a much different and less desirable texture. For the best and most consistent results with this specific easy vegan cherry cobbler recipe, I advise sticking to the recommended sugars.

Choosing the Best Non-Dairy Milk for Your Cobbler

When it comes to non-dairy milks, the market offers a fantastic variety, but not all are created equal for baking, especially when you’re aiming for a neutral flavor that allows the other ingredients to shine. For this vegan cherry cobbler, my absolute preference is rice milk. I find it boasts the least amount of aftertaste, ensuring the delicate vanilla notes of the cake topping come through beautifully without any competing flavors. This makes it an ideal choice for an allergy-friendly cobbler where taste purity is important.

Many people enjoy almond milk, and while it’s a popular choice, my family avoids it due to nut allergies. Beyond that, I personally find that almond milk can impart a distinct nutty aftertaste that isn’t always desirable in a classic dessert like cobbler. Oat milk is another excellent contender and would likely work well in this recipe at a 1:1 ratio, offering a creamy texture and relatively mild flavor. My least recommended option would be soy milk; much like almond milk, it can sometimes leave an aftertaste that might alter the overall profile of your delicious vegan cobbler. However, if soy milk is all you have on hand, it will still function perfectly in terms of consistency at a 1:1 swap. Ultimately, the best non-dairy milk is the one you prefer and have access to, but for a truly clean and delicious flavor in your vegan cobbler, rice milk is my top pick.

Making Your Vegan Cobbler Gluten-Free: Yes, It’s Easy!

Absolutely, this vegan cobbler recipe is incredibly versatile and can easily be made gluten-free! In fact, all the baking recipes on my site are developed to be gluten-free and vegan, catering to common dietary needs in my own family (my son has a wheat allergy, and my husband has a gluten intolerance). So, you can trust that this recipe has been thoroughly tested for gluten-free success and is truly an allergy-friendly dessert.

To transform this into a gluten-free vegan cobbler, simply swap the regular all-purpose flour for an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. The conversion is a straightforward 1:1 ratio, making it incredibly simple. You don’t need expensive or specialty brands; I often use the Great Value (Walmart’s brand) all-purpose gluten-free flour, and it yields fantastic results every time. It’s important to note that you should not attempt to substitute coconut flour or almond flour directly for an all-purpose blend. These individual flours have very different absorption and binding properties and typically require specific recipes or complex adjustments to work correctly. Most effective gluten-free flour blends are a combination of several different flours (like rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch) designed to mimic the properties of wheat flour. Using a good quality, pre-mixed gluten-free all-purpose flour will ensure your vegan cherry cobbler has the perfect texture and consistency.

Exploring Other Flavors: Beyond Cherry Cobbler

While this recipe highlights the classic appeal of a cherry cobbler, its versatility means you can easily experiment with other fruit flavors! The key to successful substitutions is to use the same amount of filling and ensure it is indeed a “pie filling” (not just canned fruit). Pie fillings are pre-thickened and sweetened, offering the ideal consistency for the gooey fruit layer of your cobbler.

Imagine a vibrant blueberry pie filling for a burst of berry goodness, or a comforting apple pie filling for a taste of autumn. Peach pie filling would also be a magnificent choice, offering a juicy, sweet, and slightly tart counterpoint to the vanilla cake topping. Feel free to unleash your creativity and choose whatever fruit filling speaks to you. As long as the consistency and volume are maintained, any of these options will create a truly delightful and easy vegan cobbler. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy seasonal flavors year-round, or simply to cater to different fruit preferences among your family and friends while keeping it an allergy-friendly dessert.

The Unbeatable Perks of Using Canned Pie Filling

Embracing canned pie filling for this vegan fruit cobbler isn’t just about cutting corners; it’s about unlocking a level of convenience and consistency that is hard to beat. Beyond the sheer ease factor, it significantly reduces the number of ingredients you need to worry about. There’s no need to meticulously pit fresh fruit, or agonize over whether your fruit is perfectly ripe. More importantly, you bypass the entire process of thickening your fruit filling with cornstarch or arrowroot powder, or adjusting for sweetness.

Store-bought pie filling arrives perfectly sweetened and thickened, ready to go straight from the can into your baking dish. This eliminates potential pitfalls in terms of texture and flavor, guaranteeing a beautifully gooey and flavorful fruit layer every single time. It truly makes this an “easy peasy” dessert, allowing you to focus on assembling the simple cake topping and enjoying the baking process without any stress. It’s a lifesaver for busy days, impromptu gatherings, or when you simply crave a delicious, allergy-friendly dessert without all the fuss. This semi-homemade approach to our vegan cherry cobbler saves you time and effort without compromising on taste or quality.

Step-by-Step: How to Make This Irresistible Vegan Fruit Cobbler

Creating this delicious vegan cherry cobbler is a straightforward process that yields incredibly satisfying results. Follow these simple steps for a perfect bake every time, ensuring your easy vegan dessert comes out wonderfully:

Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Dish: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven heats up, lightly grease a square 9×9 inch or 8×8 inch baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray to ensure your cobbler doesn’t stick and comes out easily.
Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment), cream together the softened vegan butter, white sugar, and prepared powdered egg replacer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, contributing to a tender cake for your vegan cobbler.
Add Liquids: Next, pour in the rice milk and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until these wet ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour for a gluten-free vegan cobbler) and salt to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed, or by hand, until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to a tough cake.
Layer the Batter: Take about three-quarters of the prepared cake batter and carefully spread it evenly across the bottom of your greased baking pan. This forms the base layer of your cobbler.
Add the Fruit Filling: Spoon the entire can of cherry pie filling directly over the bottom cake layer, spreading it gently to create an even layer of luscious fruit.
Top with Remaining Batter: Take the remaining one-quarter of the cake batter and drop it by spoonfuls over the cherry pie filling. It’s okay if it doesn’t cover the entire top; the rustic look with peeking cherries is part of the cobbler’s charm!
Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the edges of the cobbler are beautifully golden brown and the cake topping is set. A toothpick inserted into the cake portion should come out clean.
Prepare the Glaze: While your cobbler is baking and cooling slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract, and two tablespoons of rice milk in a small bowl until you achieve a smooth, pourable glaze.
Glaze and Serve: Once the cobbler has cooled down sufficiently (it will still be warm, but not piping hot), drizzle the sweet glaze generously over the top. Slice, serve warm, and enjoy your homemade vegan cherry cobbler!
Storage: Store any leftover cobbler at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

Choosing the Right Vegan Egg Replacer

The world of vegan baking has come a long way, offering a plethora of egg replacers ranging from commercial blends to natural ingredients like flax eggs, applesauce, or mashed bananas. However, through extensive testing, I’ve found that Ener-G Egg Replacer consistently delivers the most reliable results for this vegan cobbler, making it my safest bet for an allergy-friendly dessert.

Many fruit-based egg replacers, like applesauce or banana, can sometimes impart a subtle aftertaste or cause discoloration in lighter cakes, which isn’t ideal for a delicate vanilla cobbler topping. Ener-G, on the other hand, is virtually tasteless and won’t affect the color, allowing the true flavors of the dessert to shine. While popular, I personally don’t find Bob’s Red Mill egg replacer to perform as consistently as Ener-G in my recipes, though others may have different experiences. If you discover another vegan egg replacer that you absolutely love and find works perfectly in this kind of cake-like batter, please share your insights in the comments below! Your feedback is invaluable to fellow allergy-friendly bakers looking to perfect their vegan cherry cobbler.

The Perfect Pairing: Vegan Ice Cream with Cherry Cobbler

A warm, sweet cobbler simply begs for a cool, creamy accompaniment, and this vegan cherry cobbler is no exception! Thankfully, the market is brimming with incredible vegan ice cream options, ensuring you can still enjoy that classic pairing. A scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream melting gloriously over a slice of warm cobbler is truly the pinnacle of a delicious dessert experience. It’s the perfect contrast of temperatures and textures that makes every bite heavenly and completes your allergy-friendly cobbler meal.

When choosing your vegan ice cream, you have a fantastic selection. Some popular and widely available brands that create delicious dairy-free alternatives include Ben & Jerry’s (with their oat milk and almond milk lines), Oatly (oat milk-based), So Delicious (coconut, almond, and cashew milk options), O’My (coconut cream), Haagen-Dazs (various non-dairy lines), NadaMoo! (coconut milk-based), Halo Top (lighter options), and Tofutti (soy-based). Each brand offers a slightly different texture and flavor profile, so feel free to experiment and find your favorite. No matter your choice, a scoop or two will undoubtedly elevate your vegan cherry cobbler to an unforgettable treat.

Craving More Vegan Dessert Ideas?

If you’ve loved this vegan cherry cobbler, you’re in luck! My website is a treasure trove of baking recipes, all of which are designed to be both vegan and gluten-free. If you don’t require them to be gluten-free, you can often swap in regular all-purpose flour at a 1:1 ratio and simply omit any xanthan gum that might be called for in the recipe. Here are some of my other favorite vegan and fruit-focused dessert recipes that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth:

Vegan Strawberry Chocolate Galette: A rustic and elegant dessert combining fresh strawberries with rich chocolate, perfect for a special occasion.
Vegan Fruit Pizza: A vibrant and refreshing dessert featuring a soft sugar cookie crust topped with creamy frosting and an array of fresh fruits – a true crowd-pleaser.
Vegan Streusel Stuffed Peaches: Juicy peaches baked with a sweet, crumbly streusel topping for a delightful warm treat, reminiscent of summer.
Vegan Lemon Raspberry Streusel Cake: A bright and zesty cake with the perfect balance of sweet raspberries and a crunchy streusel, offering a burst of fresh flavors.
Vegan Frozen Raspberry Pie: A cool, refreshing, and incredibly easy-to-make frozen pie bursting with raspberry flavor, ideal for warmer weather.
Cherry Chocolate Cake: A rich and indulgent cake combining the classic flavors of cherry and chocolate for a truly decadent experience.

Or, if you’re more into crisps and crumbles, you can also try this delightful Gluten-free Blueberry Crisp from my fellow blogger, Clean Eating Kitchen. Enjoy exploring new allergy-friendly sweet treats!

Vegan Cherry Cobbler (Gluten-Free, Top 8 Allergy-Free)

Yield:
9 servings

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
45 minutes

Total Time:
55 minutes

A semi-homemade dessert with a soft vanilla cake sandwiching a gooey layer of cherry pie filling. Topped with a sweet drizzle, this is an easy and crowd-pleasing dessert. Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanut and tree nuts, making it a Top 8 free and vegan treat!

Ingredients

CAKE:

1/2 cup vegan butter
1 cup sugar
3 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer
4 Tbsp rice milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cans (21 ounce) cherry pie filling

GLAZE:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp rice milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a square 9×9 or 8×8 pan with non-stick spray.

In a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, cream the buttery spread and sugar. (Hand beaters will also work).

Next, add the egg replacer, milk, and vanilla and blend well.

With the stand mixer on low, add the salt and flour until incorporated.

Spread 3/4 of the cake mixture onto the bottom of the pan.

Then, spread the entire can of cherry pie filling over it.

Drop the rest of the batter on top of the cherry layer by spoonful. It won’t cover the entire top, but I like that the pretty cherries show through.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is set and the corners are starting to brown.

While it’s baking, make the glaze by whisking all of the glaze ingredients together. Once the cobbler is cooked and cooled, drizzle the glaze on top. Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 9
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 262Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 0gSugar: 30gProtein: 1g

Adapted from: Julie’s Eats and Treats

Easy Vegan Cherry Cobbler Gluten Free Friendly