This Easy 4-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler is the ultimate “dump cake” dessert that proves you don’t need a complicated recipe to create something magical. Bursting with sweet, juicy blueberries and topped with a golden, buttery crumble, it tastes like it took hours but preps in minutes.
With bubbling fruit and a crisp, cookie-like crust, this crowd-pleasing treat is perfect for last-minute gatherings or a simple weeknight sweet fix.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: The tart sweetness of the blueberries pairs perfectly with the rich, buttery vanilla flavor of the yellow cake mix topping.
- Texture: You get a gooey, jammy fruit layer underneath a topping that is crispy on top and soft on the bottom where it meets the juices.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 40 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It is a foolproof mix-and-bake method.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a 9×13 baking dish and a medium bowl to mix the crumble topping. The ingredient list is incredibly short: fresh or frozen blueberries, sugar, melted butter, and a box of yellow cake mix are all you need.
Ingredient Notes
- Blueberries – You need 3 cups of blueberries. Fresh berries work wonderfully, but frozen berries are a great budget-friendly option and release plenty of juice to create a sauce.
- Yellow Cake Mix – A standard 15.25 oz box of yellow cake mix serves as the dry base for the cobbler topping. The butter transforms the dry mix into a delicious crumble.
- Butter – Melted butter is essential. It hydrates the cake mix so it bakes into a crisp, golden crust rather than remaining powdery.
- Granulated Sugar – Mixing this with the berries draws out their juices and creates a sweet syrup that bubbles up around the crust.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Fruit – This method works with almost any fruit. Peaches, blackberries, or cherries make excellent variations.
- Lemon – Adding the zest and juice of one lemon to the blueberries brightens the flavor significantly.
- Nuts – Stir 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the cake mix crumble for added crunch.
- Spice – A teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg mixed into the topping adds a cozy warmth.
How to Make Easy 4-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Prepare Fruit: Add the blueberries directly to the baking dish. Top with the granulated sugar and stir gently to coat the berries evenly.
- Make Crumble: In a medium bowl, add the melted butter and the dry yellow cake mix. Stir until combined and the mixture looks like wet sand or coarse crumbs.
- Top: Crumble the cake mix mixture evenly over the blueberries. Try to cover most of the fruit, but some gaps are okay for the juice to bubble through.
- Bake: Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the blueberry filling is bubbling vigorously around the edges.
- Serve: Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
Pro Tip: Mixing the butter and cake mix in a bowl before sprinkling it on top ensures an even, crunchy texture. The traditional “dump cake” method of pouring dry mix and then pouring butter on top can sometimes leave dry, powdery spots. This crumble method fixes that!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Thaw: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them first. Add them frozen; they will release liquid as they bake, which creates the sauce.
- Check the Bubbles: The cobbler is done when the filling is bubbling in the center, not just the edges. This ensures the cornstarch/thickeners in the cake mix (if any reached the bottom) or natural pectins have activated.
- Golden Crust: If the top isn’t brown enough at 40 minutes, you can leave it in for another 5-10 minutes. The crunchier, the better!
FAQs
- Can I use white cake mix? Yes, white cake mix works fine, though yellow cake mix offers a richer, more buttery flavor profile.
- Is this gluten-free? You can easily make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free yellow cake mix.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
- A la Mode: The warm cobbler is practically begging for a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.
- Breakfast: Leftovers make a delicious sweet breakfast served with yogurt.
- Garnish: A sprig of fresh mint or a dusting of powdered sugar makes it look elegant.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30 seconds to bring back the gooey texture.
- Prep: You can mix the blueberries and sugar in the pan ahead of time, but wait to add the topping until just before baking to keep it from getting soggy.
Easy 4-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 Servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Easy 4-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler is the ultimate “dump cake” dessert that proves you don’t need a complicated recipe to create something magical. Bursting with sweet, juicy blueberries and topped with a golden, buttery crumble, it tastes like it took hours but preps in minutes. With bubbling fruit and a crisp, cookie-like crust, this crowd-pleasing treat is perfect for last-minute gatherings or a simple weeknight sweet fix.
Ingredients
- 3 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 box (15.25 oz) Yellow Cake Mix
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
Instructions
Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
Prepare Fruit Base
Add the blueberries directly into the baking dish.
Sweeten
Pour the granulated sugar over the berries and stir gently directly in the pan to coat them evenly.
Make Crumble Topping
In a medium bowl, combine the dry yellow cake mix and the melted butter.
Mix
Stir until combined and the mixture looks like wet sand or coarse crumbs.
Assemble
Crumble the cake mix topping evenly over the sugared blueberries. Tip: Try to cover most of the fruit, but leaving small gaps is okay to let the juices bubble through.
Bake
Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the blueberry filling is bubbling vigorously around the edges and in the center.
Serve
Serve warm, ideally topped with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
Notes
The “Crumble” Method: Many dump cake recipes tell you to pour the dry mix over the fruit and then pour melted butter on top. This often leads to dry, powdery spots. Mixing the butter and cake mix in a bowl first (Step 3) ensures a perfectly crunchy, cookie-like crust every time.
Frozen Fruit: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them first. Use them straight from the freezer. They will release plenty of liquid as they bake to create a delicious sauce.
Doneness Check: The cobbler is done when the fruit filling is bubbling in the center, not just the edges. This ensures the sauce has thickened properly.
Flavor Boost: For a fresher taste, grate the zest of one lemon over the blueberries before adding the sugar.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of Recipe
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: blueberry cobbler, dump cake recipe, 4 ingredient dessert, cake mix recipes, easy fruit cobbler, blueberry crisp, yellow cake mix hacks
