Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 hr
Makes 12 servings.
INGREDIENTS
- for apple filling
- 1stick (1/2cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 8lb granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and each cut into 8 wedges
- 1 1/2cups sugar
- 2teaspoons finely grated fresh orange zest
- 1/2cup apricot preserves
- 1/3cup brandy
for biscuit topping
- 3 3/4cups self-rising flour (preferably white lily)
- 6tablespoons sugar
- 1/4teaspoon salt
- 2sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
- 1 3/4cups plus 2 tablespoons chilled heavy cream
- 1large egg yolk
- 2tablespoons heavy cream(not chilled)
- 1/4cup granulated sugarspecial equipment: a 3-inch round cookie cutter and 2 (5- to6-quart) wide heavy pots
DIRECTIONS Make filling:
Divide butter between 2 (5- to 6-quart) wide heavy pots. Heat over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté apples with sugar and zest, divided evenly between pots, stirring, until apples are slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
Transfer apples with a slotted spoon to 2 (2 1/2- to 3-quart) buttered shallow baking dishes (2 inches deep).
Transfer all apple juices to 1 pot. Stir in preserves and brandy and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture over apples.
Make biscuit topping and bake cobbler:
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor just until blended. Add butter and pulse just until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a large bowl and add chilled cream, stirring gently with a rubber spatula to form a dough. (Dough will be sticky at first, but it will stiffen slightly as flour absorbs cream.)
Knead dough on a floured surface 4 to 6 times with floured hands (do not overwork dough, or biscuits will be tough). Roll out dough 3/4 inch thick, flouring surface as needed, and cut out 12 to 14 rounds with cookie cutter, re-rolling scraps as necessary. Arrange rounds on top of apples about 1/2 inch apart.
Stir together yolk and unchilled cream and brush on biscuits. Sprinkle sugar generously over biscuits.
Bake cobblers in middle of oven until biscuits are golden andcooked through (lift one to checkif underside is cooked), 35 to45 minutes.
Cooks’ notes:
•Apple filling may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.
•Cobblers can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. To reheat, put chilled cobblers, uncovered, in a cold oven, then bake at 375°F until apples are bubbling,25 to 30 minutes.