Who is not tempted by the aroma of fresh fruits that blend perfectly with crispy and soft cake dough? Cobbler, a dessert from Latin America, offers this sensation in every bite. With its alluring taste and simple way of making it, cobbler has become a favorite in various parts of the world, including Indonesia. However, behind its deliciousness, we should ponder an important question. Is cobbler halal?
Cobbler. Have you ever heard of a dessert with this name? According to tastingtable.com, this sweet dessert originates from South America and is typical of the Southern United States. This dish began in the early 1800s when the British colonies in America were unable to make their traditional pudding due to the lack of suitable ingredients and cooking equipment. They slowly began to combine fruits with the available ingredients.
The name cobbler comes from the ancient word “cobeler”, which means wooden bowl. This is because the top of the cake resembles a bowl or a concave container. The term cobbler comes from English, which means repair or patch. This refers to how the dough is placed on top of the fruit as if patching it. At first glance, this dish looks similar to a pie. The most striking difference from this cake is the two main layers in one pan. Cobbler is combined with toppings such as baked fruit.
This cake, also known as Latin American Pie, combines baked fruits such as apples, peaches, strawberries, or blueberries with a cake dough that is soft on the inside and crunchy on the top. Ingredients such as wheat flour, butter, sugar, and milk make this dessert easy to adjust to local tastes. Add your favorite toppings, such as ice cream or fruit syrup, to enrich the taste.
The popularity of cobbler lies not only in its taste but also in its flexibility. The recipe can be easily adjusted to the ingredients available in the kitchen. However, even though it looks simple, for Muslims, the halalness of cobbler is an aspect that should not be ignored. How do we ensure that every ingredient used is in accordance with Islamic law? What critical points need to be observed in this sweet dish?
As Muslims, it is essential to always be careful about the ingredients in food, including unfamiliar desserts such as cobbler. Halal Post Audit Management LPPOM, Ahmad Faizin, S.TP, explained several important points related to the ingredients used:
1. Wheat Flour. Basically, wheat flour is halal. “However, the fortification process to add vitamins often involves additional ingredients that potentially come from non-halal sources, such as animal protein that is not slaughtered according to Islamic law,” explained Faizin, a halal auditor.
2. Flavorings and Toppings. Flavor enhancers such as jam or chocolate often contain fat or emulsifiers. Lecithin, for example, can come from animal or vegetable sources. It is necessary to ensure the source is halal if it comes from animals.
3. Butter. The main ingredient in making this cobbler is an emulsion product, often using enzymes such as rennet or pepsin. “This enzyme can come from pigs, although not all of them. Therefore, it is important to verify the halalness of butter products,” added Faizin.
4. Spreading Brush. The Brush used to spread butter onto baking sheets or dough is often made from animal hair. “If the Brush comes from pigs, it is certainly not halal. Therefore, synthetic brushes are a safe choice,” he said.
5. Vanilla Extract. Vanilla extract often contains high levels of alcohol, reaching 40%. However, according to MUI Fatwa No. 10 of 2018, alcohol in intermediate products such as flavoring is permitted if it is not medically harmful and is not consumed directly.
6. Sugar. The sugar production process often involves decolorizing agents such as activated charcoal, which is sometimes made from animal bones. “If the bones come from pigs or animals that are not slaughtered according to Islamic law, then their use is not halal,” explained Faizin.
Cobbler is tempting, but as Muslims, it is important to be critical of the halalness of its ingredients. By utilizing the services of LPPOM and BPJPH, we can enjoy cobblers with a sense of security and enjoyment. One of the services LPPOM provides to the public is Cari Produk Halal, accessed on the official LPPOM website, www.halalmui.org, and the Halal MUI application on Playstore. The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) also provides similar services on its official website. Good luck, and keep maintaining halal in every dish you serve! (ZUL)
