Blackberry Cobbler with Lemon Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in a 10 inch baking dish over low heat. Set aside. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, making a simple syrup. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in the other stick of butter with a fork or pastry cutter until small pea-sized balls form. Add the milk and vanilla and stir with a fork until a dough forms.

Add the blackberries to the baking dish over top of the butter, distributing them evenly. Add the dough on top of the berries in an even layer, then pour the simple syrup on top. Bake for 45 minutes.

While the cobbler is baking, mix the remaining 1/8 cup sugar with the lemon zest, and use your fingers to infuse the lemon into the sugar. Do this until the lemon is very fragrant and the sugar a little damp. After the cobbler bakes for 45 minutes, sprinkle the lemon sugar on top and bake for another 15 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the berries are bubbling.

Enjoy with ice cream, if you desire!