Southern Peach Cobbler
This classic southern peach cobbler made with fresh peaches is a quick and easy dessert to make for summer. Serve it topped with vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable treat.
Ingredients
For the Peach Filling:
- 8 fresh peaches OR 4 cups frozen peach slices thawed
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For the Cobbler Topping:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pie spice
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 3 tablespoons sugar for dusting the top of the cobbler after assembly
Instructions
Prep the Fresh Peaches:
- If you are using fresh peaches, you'll need to season them with pie spice and sugar and do a quick prebake. If you want to use canned peaches, see the easy variation notes at the bottom.
- First, preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Peel the fruit with a vegetable peeler using a gentle see-saw motion to get the blade under the skin and remove it.
- Slice the peaches into 1/4 inch slices.
- In a large bowl, combine the peaches, both sugars, the pie spice and vanilla extract, lemon juice, and cornstarch.
- Gently fold all the ingredients together until the peaches are evenly coated with the spices and the cornstarch has dissolved into the juices.
- Pour the fruit into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes.
Prepare the Cobbler Topping:
- While the fresh peaches are softening in the oven, prepare the easy cobbler topping. In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry cobbler topping ingredients: flour, both sugars, baking powder, salt and pie spice.
- Cut the cold butter into cubes and then cut it into the flour using a pastry cutter or your fingers. First, smash the butter against the side of the bowl with a fork. Then finish the process by pinching the butter into the flour with your hands. The mixture should feel slightly damped and begin to stick together when you pinch it.
- Bring 1/2 cup water to boil in the microwave on HIGH heat for 3 minutes. Slowly pour the boiling water into the flour mixture and stir it until the dough comes together. It will be very firm and there should be no more dry pockets of flour.
Assemble and Bake the Peach Cobbler:
- Place the baking dish with the peaches on the stove top and carefully drop large spoonfuls of the cobbler dough evenly over the top. You want the dough to be uneven and "dollop-y" but there should be enough batter to completely coat the surface of the peaches.
- Sprinkle the surface of the cobbler with 3 tbsp of sugar and place the dish on a cookie sheet to help avoid spills in your oven.
- Bake the peach cobbler for 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the peaches are bubbling.