Name: Sweet-Potato Cobbler
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 1/2 hours
Yield: Makes 8 to 10 (dessert) servings
Ingredients: 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes; 1 quart water; 3/4 cup canned pure cane syrup; 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 4 teaspoons baking powder; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 1 1/4 cups whole milk; Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream; a 3 1/2- to 4-quart well-seasoned cast-iron Dutch oven or other heavy pot (10 inches in diameter)

A Dutch oven filled with sweet potato cobbler. On the side are small grey bowls and a serving spoon.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton

Mama Sugar says this dish was common at Juneteenth celebrations years ago but is now seldom seen. It's a homey dessert, substantial and rich with butter and cane syrup, and it deserves a comeback.

Cooks' note:

Dough can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, disks wrapped separately in plastic wrap.

Recipe information

Total Time
2 1/2 hours
Yield
Makes 8 to 10 (dessert) servings

Ingredients

For filling

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes

1 quart water

3/4 cup canned pure cane syrup

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For biscuit dough

3 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/4 cups whole milk

Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream

Special Equipment

a 3 1/2- to 4-quart well-seasoned cast-iron Dutch oven or other heavy pot (10 inches in diameter)

Preparation

Make filling:
Step 1
Peel sweet potatoes, then halve lengthwise and slice crosswise 1/4 inch thick. Combine potatoes with remaining filling ingredients in a wide 4- to 5-quart pot and simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer potatoes with a slotted spoon to a bowl and boil liquid, uncovered, until reduced to about 2 cups (it will become syrupy), 20 to 25 minutes.
Make dough and bake cobbler:
Step 2
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. 3Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in milk with a fork until a dough forms.
Step 3
Gather dough into a ball, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 7 or 8 times. Divide dough into 2 pieces, then form each into a disk.
Step 4
Roll out 1 disk with a floured rolling pin into a 14-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick) and fit into bottom and about halfway up side of Dutch oven, pressing against side to help it adhere.
Step 5
Roll out remaining dough into another 14-inch round, then trim to a 12-inch round with a paring knife, reserving trimmings.
Step 6
Spoon half of sweet potatoes evenly into dough-lined Dutch oven, then top with 1 layer dough trimmings, cutting and fitting trimmings to almost cover potatoes. Add remaining potatoes, then pour syrup over potatoes and cover with 12-inch dough round, pressing edges together to seal. Cut 3 steam vents in top with paring knife.
Step 7
Bake cobbler until top is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool to warm before serving, about 30 minutes (dough will absorb most of syrup).