Cranberry Apple Cobbler

Here is a great dessert recipe that I made over the holidays. It was perfect after a big meal. It calls for 1 1/4 cups of sugar, but my apples were sweet, so I reduced it to 3/4 cup, and it was perfect.

Cranberry Apple Cobbler

5 cups apples, sliced and peeled (or pears)
1 1/4 cups + 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 cup cranberries
3 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup margarine or butter
3 Tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add apples (or pears, or a mixture of both), 1 1/4 cups sugar, cranberries, tapioca, cinnamon and water to a large saucepan. Let stand 5 minutes. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to full boil. Pour into 2-qt. baking dish. Dot with 2 Tbsp. margarine.

In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in 1/4 cup margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto hot apple mixture. Bake 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.