Description: This recipe details how to create an “Old Time Oven Peach Cobbler,” a classic comforting dessert featuring tender, juicy peaches topped with a golden-brown, lightly sweetened biscuit-like crust. The image prominently displays a glass baking dish brimming with warm, inviting peach cobbler. Large chunks of bright orange-yellow peaches are visible beneath a lattice or patchwork of baked dough, which has achieved a beautiful golden hue. The surface of the crust is glistening with what appears to be melted sugar and possibly butter, hinting at a delightful sweetness and a slight crispness. This dish is the epitome of Southern comfort food, perfect for serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Its rustic charm and delectable blend of sweet fruit and tender crust make it a timeless favorite, especially when peaches are in season. The simplicity of its preparation belies the rich, comforting flavors it delivers.
Ingredients:
For the Peach Filling:
- 6-8 ripe medium peaches (about 4-5 cups sliced), fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not thaw before using)
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar (adjust to sweetness of peaches)
- ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional, brightens peach flavor)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
For the Topping:
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons (85g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- ½ cup (120ml) milk (whole milk or buttermilk for extra tang)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten (for egg wash, optional)
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling on top
Equipment:
- 9×13 inch baking dish (glass or ceramic recommended)
- Large mixing bowl (for peaches)
- Medium mixing bowl (for topping)
- Pastry blender or two forks (for cutting in butter)
- Whisk
- Sharp knife and cutting board (for peaches)
- Potato peeler (for peaches)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions:
Part 1: Prepare the Peach Filling
- Prepare Peaches: If using fresh peaches, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Carefully drop the peaches into the boiling water for about 30-60 seconds. Immediately transfer them to an ice bath (a bowl of ice water). This blanching process helps the skin peel off easily. Once cooled, peel the peaches, slice them in half, remove the pits, and then slice them into ¼ to ½ inch thick wedges. If using frozen peaches, you can use them directly without thawing.
- Combine Filling Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced peaches (or frozen peaches), granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch (or flour), vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Add the optional lemon juice if desired.
- Toss Gently: Toss all the ingredients gently until the peaches are evenly coated with the sugar and spice mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the peach mixture into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Dot the top of the peach mixture with the small pieces of butter.
Part 2: Prepare the Cobbler Topping
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in Cold Butter: Add the cold butter cubes to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This step is crucial for a flaky topping.
- Add Milk: Gradually add the milk to the flour-butter mixture, stirring with a fork until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough topping. The dough will be shaggy but should hold together.
Part 3: Assemble and Bake the Cobbler
- Drop Topping on Peaches: Drop spoonfuls of the cobbler topping mixture over the peaches in the baking dish. You can either drop them randomly for a rustic look or flatten them slightly into discs and arrange them over the peaches, leaving some gaps for the peaches to bubble up.
- Egg Wash and Sugar Sprinkle (Optional): If desired, lightly brush the tops of the cobbler topping with a beaten egg wash. Then, generously sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar over the entire topping. This will give the cobbler a beautiful golden crust and a delightful sugary crunch.
- Bake: Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips) and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until the peach filling is bubbly and thick, and the cobbler topping is golden brown and cooked through. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven and the ripeness of the peaches.
- Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove the cobbler from the oven. Let it cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to thicken further and prevents the cobbler from being too soupy.
Part 4: Serve and Enjoy
- Serve Warm: Serve the Southern-Style Peach Cobbler warm. It’s often best enjoyed freshly baked.
- Serving Suggestions: This cobbler is heavenly on its own, but it’s traditionally served with:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- A dollop of freshly whipped cream
- A drizzle of crème anglaise
- Storage: Store any leftover peach cobbler in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, individual portions can be warmed in the microwave, or the entire dish can be reheated in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) until warm and bubbly again.
Tips for Success:
- Ripe Peaches: The key to a delicious peach cobbler is ripe, flavorful peaches. If fresh peaches aren’t available, high-quality frozen peaches work wonderfully. Canned peaches can also be used, but drain them well and reduce the added sugar in the recipe.
- Don’t Overmix Topping: For a tender and flaky topping, avoid overmixing the dough once the milk is added. A light hand is best.
- Cold Butter: Keep the butter for the topping very cold. This helps create pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a flakier crust.
- Adjust Sugar: Taste your peaches! If they are very sweet, you might want to reduce the sugar slightly in the filling. If they are tart, you can add a little more.
- Spice Variations: While cinnamon and nutmeg are classics, you can also add a pinch of cardamom or ginger to the peach filling for a different flavor profile.
- Thickening Agent: Cornstarch creates a clearer, glossier sauce for the filling, while flour will result in a more opaque sauce. Both work effectively.
- Broiler for Extra Browning: If your topping isn’t as golden as you’d like after baking, you can briefly place the cobbler under the broiler for a minute or two, but watch it very carefully to prevent burning.
- Let it Rest: The resting period after baking is important for the filling to set.
- Dessert Category: This Southern-Style Peach Cobbler is a classic dessert. It is in the same category as other sweet treats like the Super Moist Chocolate Truffle Cake, the unnamed chocolate cake (likely Chocolate Mousse Cake), Decadent Chocolate Ganache Layer Cake, Double Chocolate Cream Dream Cake, Fluffy Japanese-Style Blender Sponge Cake, Delightful Strawberry Crunch Cookies, No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Lasagna, Southern-Style Blackberry Cobbler, Easy No-Bake Peanut Clusters, Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake, Homemade Fruit Cake, Classic Apple Bundt Cake, Creamy Lemon Pudding, Leche Flan, Fluffy Asian-Style Sponge Cakes (Mamon), Super Soft Vanilla Breakfast Cake, Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, World’s Best Butter Cookies, Classic Homemade Strawberry Cake, Healthy Carrot Cake, Homemade Creamy Ice Cream, Mini Cherry Cheese Danish, Pineapple Pecan Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Caramel Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Orange Blender Cake, Blueberry Bundt Cake, an unnamed chocolate pie, Maple Cream Pie, Vanilla Custard Puff Pastry Squares, Sweet Milk Fudge Squares, Strawberry Banana Pudding, Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes, and Fried Apple or Peach Pies. It is distinct from savory dishes like Irresistible Marinated Feta Cheese, Cheesy Biscuit Bake with Pepper Topping, Savory Sheet Pan Egg Muffins, Sticky Honey Garlic BBQ Ribs, Sizzling Chinese Pepper Steak with Onions, Longhorn Steakhouse Parmesan Chicken, Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza, Dorito Taco Salad, Hearty Ground Beef Cabbage Soup, Pan-Fried Cod with Lemon Butter Sauce, Crispy Ground Beef Rolls, Southern-Style Cheddar Cheese Quick Bread, Fish Cutlets, Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak, Shepherd’s Pie, Braised Oxtail, Garlic Parmesan Fried Lamb Chops, Mac and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza Bombs, Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops, Fresh Napa Cabbage Salad, or a simple loaf of bread.