The Stately Desserts Series: Alaska Mixed Berry Cobbler

I may upset a few people here by not using Baked Alaska as the state dessert, but let me tell you: Baked Alaska was created in New York to resemble Mount McKinley by someone who had never even set foot in the state. I absolutely could not include that in my list, as I feel it is an insult to the native desserts that actually deserve to be mentioned.

If you're looking for a truly authentic Alaskan dessert, you could always try Akutaq, which is a Yup'ik (a native Alaskan language) word meaning mix them together. Although recipes for Akutaq can vary from family to family, it originally contained tallow, seal oil, cooked fish, and berries. Since I'm pretty sure most of you don't want to make what is basically 'fish ice cream', I decided to focus on a dish that would showcase one of Alaska's greatest assets: berries.

Alaska is home to roughly 50 different varieties of berry. Among these are blueberries, raspberries, crowberries, and lingonberries. Just imagine all of the delicious things you could make! I chose to make a cobbler featuring a mix of berries I already had on hand to represent this beautiful state. Pair it with some homemade vanilla ice cream for an extra special dessert that is especially delicious during the late summer months.

Let's get on with the recipe, shall we?

What you need:
2 1/2 cups mixed berries of your choice (if frozen, thaw and drain first)
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

How to make it:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix the berries and the sugar together in a bowl, and let stand for 20 minutes.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients, and spread in an ungreased 8x8 inch pan.

4. Spoon the berry mixture evenly over the batter.

5. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the dough has risen and is golden brown.

6. Serve warm.