Description
This classic Southern Peach Cobbler recipe is a delightful dessert featuring juicy frozen peaches baked beneath a tender, cinnamon-spiced biscuit topping. Infused with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and subtly enhanced by vanilla and almond extracts, this cobbler offers a perfect balance of sweet and fragrant flavors. It’s an easy-to-make treat perfect for family gatherings or any comfort food craving.
Ingredients
Peach Filling
- 2 bags frozen peaches (20 ounces each)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional but recommended)
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Cobbler Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon (reserve ½ tablespoon for garnishing)
- 1 stick cold unsalted butter
- ¼ cup boiling hot water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (to dust top of cobbler)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Peach Filling: In the prepared baking dish, combine the frozen peaches with granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, cream of tartar, softened butter, water, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly to ensure the flavors meld evenly. Cover the dish with foil.
- Bake Peaches: Place the covered dish in the oven and bake the peach mixture for 20 minutes to cook the fruit and let it release its juices.
- Make Cobbler Topping Mixture: While peaches bake, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and ½ tablespoon cinnamon until evenly combined.
- Cut in Butter: Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your hands until the texture resembles coarse crumbs, which helps create a flaky topping.
- Add Boiling Water: Pour in the boiling hot water and stir gently just until combined to form a dough similar in consistency to drop biscuit dough, being careful not to overmix.
- Top Peaches: Remove the peach mixture from the oven and spoon the cobbler dough in golf ball-sized dollops over the peaches, leaving small gaps to allow the dough to cook thoroughly as it won’t fully cover the fruit.
- Garnish Topping: Combine the reserved ½ tablespoon cinnamon with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cobbler dough to add a sweet, spiced crust.
- Bake Cobbler: Bake the cobbler uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Check after 30 minutes, and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Allow the cobbler to cool slightly, then serve warm for the best experience. Enjoy your comforting Southern Peach Cobbler!
Notes
- Using frozen peaches helps maintain their shape and prevents the cobbler from becoming too watery.
- If almond extract is unavailable, you can omit it or substitute with a bit of almond-flavored liqueur for added flavor.
- Make sure the butter for the topping is cold to achieve the ideal texture for the biscuit topping.
- The boiling water in the topping mixture helps to tenderize the dough quickly without overworking it.
- This dessert pairs wonderfully with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgence.
