A cobbler by any other name is just as sweet, right? Perhaps, but rustic fruit desserts go by a number of names, depending on their toppings. Here, we detail precisely what toppings make a cobbler, a crisp, a crumble, a betty, and more—and offer up some sweet examples and a tool so you can create your own fruit crisp recipe.

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Cobbler

Cobblers have a baked fruit filling with a thick top crust, usually made from biscuits or pastry. This Blackberry-Peach Skillet Cobbler has fresh orange juice in the blackberry and peach filling and orange-scented sugar on the biscuit topping.

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Crisp

A crisp has a baked fruit filling with a streusel crumb topping. This Peach & Blueberry Crisp features an aromatic spiced-pecan topping.

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Crumble

You're as likely to see a crumble on the Thanksgiving table as you are the dessert table at a 4th of July picnic. Crumbles are similar to crisps, but they're often made with oats. This Rhubarb Brown Sugar Crumble, best in spring or early summer when rhubarb is plentiful, has a tart, juicy filling.

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Betty

A betty, traditionally made with apples, like this classic version, has a baked spiced-fruit filling layered with cubes of buttered bread or breadcrumbs.

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Buckle

A buckle is a type of crumb cake. Buckles are topped with a layer of fruit and a crumb topping (the dessert cracks and "buckles" as it bakes). They can be made with just about any fruit, but berries are almost always included. This one features a pairing of fresh apricots and raspberries.

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Pandowdy

Pandowdies, like this spiced peach-blueberry version, include a baked fruit filling with a pastry crust that's broken during baking and pushed down into the filling to absorb its juice.

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Grunt

Don't let the name fool you. Grunts are at the height of elegant simplicity. Grunts are similar to cobblers but they have a dumpling topping that's steamed on the stovetop. This grunt recipe features sweet, ripe blackberries, but you can substitute blueberries if you like.

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Create Your Own Fruit Crisp

Inspired by the fruit desserts you've seen?  Use our Recipe Maker to turn fresh, seasonal fruit like blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and necatrines into a homey, satisfying fruit crisp.

Create your own fruit crisp