The 2-Ingredient Dessert I Make Every Saturday

My partner makes the best diner-style breakfast. Waking up to the rich, smoky scent of bacon sizzling always puts me in that weekend state of mind. I love to contribute by making something sweet and carby to serve alongside his bacon and eggs, and my current favorite is this two-ingredient cherry cobbler. 

I know what you’re thinking: cherry cobbler for breakfast? And I say, with this recipe, absolutely! The genius of this version is that all it requires is a can of store-bought cinnamon roll dough and a can of cherry pie filling. I mix cut-up pieces of the cinnamon roll dough together with the cherry pie filling and bake. Then, while the cobbler is still warm, I drizzle the icing that came with the cinnamon roll dough over the whole thing.

The tartness and freshness from the cherries really complement the buttery richness of the cinnamon rolls in this cobbler. The classic combo of stewed fruit and sweetened carbs really shines alongside a cup of strongly brewed coffee or black tea, whether in the morning for breakfast or the evening for dessert. 

Tips for Making My 2-Ingredient Cherry Cobbler

• Shield it with aluminum foil: Don’t skip this step! Partway through baking, grab a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the baking dish. Spray one side of the foil with nonstick cooking spray and gently lay that side face-down onto the cobbler. The foil prevents the cobbler from burning.
• Do a fork test: After the cobbler has baked for 30 minutes, pull it out of the oven and use a fork to gently stretch apart some of the cinnamon roll portion. It should be fluffy inside, not gooey. If it’s still wet, bake for 5 to 10 more minutes until the bread is fluffy and fully cooked. 
• Warm up the icing: Add the icing to a small microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds. This makes it pourable so you can create a prettier drizzle on top of the cobbler. 

How To Make My 2-Ingredient Cherry Cobbler

To make six servings (one 9x13-inch cobbler), you’ll need:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 (17.5-ounce) can Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls 
• 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling (I like Duncan Hines Comstock Original Country Cherry)

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13 or 10x10-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut each cinnamon roll dough portion into four equal pieces (you will have 20 pieces total from 5 rolls). Pull apart the layers from each piece, making sure each sliver of dough is separated. 

Pour the cherry pie filling into a large bowl. Add the dough pieces and mix until the pie filling covers each piece of dough. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. 

Bake for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, tear off a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the baking dish. Spray one side of the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the cobbler from the oven and gently lay the foil, greased side down, onto the cobbler. Return the cobbler to the oven and continue to bake, loosely covered, until the cinnamon rolls are fully cooked with no gooey parts remaining, about 18 more minutes. 

Remove the cobbler from the oven and use a fork to gently stretch apart some of the cinnamon roll portion to check for doneness. The bread should be fluffy inside, not stretchy or gooey. If it’s still gooey, bake until the bread is fluffy and fully cooked, 5 to 10 more minutes. Be careful not to over or underbake this recipe; the cinnamon rolls should have crispy edges and soft centers, but not be gooey inside. 

Remove the icing from its plastic container, place it in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave until loosened, about 10 seconds. Drizzle the icing over the cobbler and serve warm for breakfast or dessert. 

Easy Tweaks

• Change up the fruit: Use apple pie filling or blueberry pie filling for a different-flavored cobbler. Apple works especially well for fall and winter, and blueberry really brings spring vibes.
• Feed a crowd: Double the recipe and use two 9x9-inch baking dishes to feed twice as many folks.
• Add some toppings: Top with vanilla ice cream, homemade whipped cream, or chopped nuts like pistachios or walnuts.
• Bump up the flavor: Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, apple pie spice, or pumpkin pie spice for extra flavor and warmth.