Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your cobbler bakes evenly and achieves that golden-brown perfection.

In a large bowl, combine your peeled and sliced apples with lemon zest, lemon juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, optional cardamom, kosher salt, and vanilla extract. Stir until the apples are well-coated and juicy.

Transfer the apple mixture to a baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Look for the apples to be snug but not overcrowded for the best cooking results.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 & 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 & 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, kosher salt, and baking powder until combined.

Stir in the buttermilk and egg together until just mixed. Then, cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

Spoon the cobbler topping over the apple filling evenly, allowing it to cover as much of the fruit as possible. It’s okay if some apples peek through.

For an added touch of sweetness and crispy texture, sprinkle the top with 2 tablespoons of sugar before baking.

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbly.

Let your cobbler cool slightly before serving, then delight in every warm scoop topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.