Surprise Fruit Cobbler

 Surprise Fruit Cobbler  - Jill Dorrough    (6 servings)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut up

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup milk

3 1/2 cups fresh or canned fruit, drained (see Variations)

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Ground cinnamon

Ice cream or whipped cream (optional)

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Melt the butter in a square baking pan in the oven.  Remove the pan from the oven.

3.  Stir the flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder in a medium bowl.  Stir in the milk. Gently pour the mixture evenly over the butter in the baking pan.  Do not stir.

4.  Place fruit of your choice evenly over the batter, top with the brown sugar, and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Bake until the cobber is well-browned and the fruit is cooked (if using raw fruit).  The baking time will vary depending on the fruit.  Start checking for doneness at 40 minutes.

Serve right out of the oven, plain or with ice cream or whipped cream, or my favorite way - with milk poured over it.

VARIATIONS:  Used sliced peaches or blueberries (or a combination), sliced apples, sliced pears, ora red cherries.