Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (2024)

Featuring juicy sweet peaches and a buttermilk biscuit-like topping, peach cobbler is the ultimate comforting homestyle summer dessert. For the best texture, cut the peaches into chunks instead of slices, and add an egg wash and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar on top before baking. Serve warm with cold vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream for the *best* summer dessert experience.

Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (1)

We don’t usually think of summer fruit recipes as “comfort food”—that’s a term typically used to describe cold-weather fare—but if there is one, it’s peach cobbler. Juicy peaches with a hint of cinnamon and ginger… under a buttery biscuit topping… served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top… is like a hug at first bite. 😉

I originally published this recipe in 2016, and it’s been a reader favorite since. It even preceded my popular berry cobbler recipe! I haven’t changed this peach version over the years, but I now add a little ginger to the juicy peach filling because peaches + ginger are a seriously underrated flavor combo.

One reader, P&C, commented: “Once again, a flawless recipe. We bake with confidence when we use your recipes, even when we have made slight mistakes, we always get a good result. This peach cobbler is among the best, if not the best, I have ever had. ★★★★★

One reader, Wendy, commented: “This turned out so delicious and beautiful! I liked that the recipe calls for less sugar than other recipes; it was still sweet enough for me, and the peaches really shined. Definitely do the egg wash and sugar-cinnamon topping, it added a nice crunch…. Thank you for this fantastic recipe! ★★★★★

Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (2)

Let’s Have High Peach Cobbler Standards

In all of my peach cobbler recipe testing over the years, I’ve learned that there are several standards for this classic summertime dessert:

  • The peach filling has to be rich and sweet, but not overly sweet.
  • Chunks are best, just like I recommend in peach pie and peach crumble pie.
  • Lemon juice balances the sweet peaches and sugar, just like in this peach crisp.
  • Use minimal cornstarch to thicken the peach filling, because too much weighs it down.
  • The buttery biscuit topping should be crisp on top, but soft and moist underneath.
  • An egg wash + cinnamon-sugar on the biscuit topping adds a beautiful golden sheen and a little sparkle (just like we do for pie crust), but also makes for the best texture.
  • A hint of ginger (just 1/8 teaspoon!) is the BEST flavor booster for peaches.

So, now that we’ve got that all figured out, it’s actually really easy to make this dessert! No chilling, decorating, or special tools are required for this peach cobbler recipe.

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What Are the Best Peaches to Use?

The best peaches for peach cobbler are the same I recommend for other peach recipes including peach pie, fresh peach cake, peach crisp, and peach bread. You want slightly firm (not hard) peaches with zero bruises or soft spots. If your peaches are soft, stringy, and mushy, your filling will taste soft, stringy, and mushy.

#1 Success Tip: Use Chunks, Not Slices

For the best texture, cut your peaches into small chunks. Because peaches are so juicy, slices bake into mush, while chunks retain more of their deliciously soft texture. They’re also easier to eat with a spoon! The same tip applies for peach pie and apple crisp.

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Overview: How to Make Peach Cobbler

The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through each step and show you some photos so you have success when it’s your turn to make this iconic dessert.

  • Mix the filling ingredients together.You need peaches, brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a dash of salt. Since peaches are naturally sweet, you only need 1/4 cup of sugar in the filling. Don’t skip the lemon juice—the filling tastes a little flat without it. Spread the filling into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
  • Pre-bake the peaches. Pre-baking the peach filling for about 10 minutes before adding the biscuit topping. Without this step, the peaches could remain firm underneath the topping.
  • While the peaches pre-bake, make the biscuit topping. Mix a few basic ingredients together. You need flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter until pea-sized crumbs form, like when making for pie crust. These flour-coated butter crumbles promise a flaky soft, but crisp biscuit topping. After that, mix in buttermilk.
  • Top peaches with biscuit dough. Using your hands, form the dough into little patties and place them on top of the warm peaches. Add an egg wash and sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar on top.

Then it’s ready to bake! A 9×13-inch pan is best for this recipe, but any baking pan that holds 3-4 quarts volume works wonderfully.

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Peach Cobbler Biscuit Topping

You need basic ingredients for the biscuit topping. I recommend using buttermilk for an ultra-rich biscuit flavor. It’s what I use to prepare my homemade biscuits and strawberry shortcake, too.

You can also find recipes that use a cake-like topping, combining cake batter and peaches. The cake batter is actually on the bottom and floats above the peaches as it all bakes.

Of course it’s all personal preference, but I definitely gravitate towards the biscuit. There’s more crunchy texture and the whole thing tastes wholesome, substantial, and rich, especially when the warm sticky peach syrup and vanilla ice cream topping (a must!) cross paths.

Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients, and then pour in the buttermilk and mix to combine:

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The biscuit dough placement on top of the peaches doesn’t need to be exact or perfect. Some peaches can be exposed underneath. It’s a rustic-looking dish that doesn’t require fussy decorating steps.

Before baking, brush the biscuit layer with an egg wash (egg + buttermilk), then sprinkle it with cinnamon-sugar. These little extras add a gorgeous golden sheen and sweet crunch. Trust me, this additional step only takes a minute, and the results are more than worth it!

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Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (8)
Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (9)

This biscuit-topped peach cobbler is one of the most delicious ways to enjoy fresh peaches when they’re in season. The peaches are obviously the star of the show, and the whole dessert won’t leave you with a toothache. It’s pure, peachy-keen summer goodness.

How do you know peaches are ripe enough for cobbler?

When peaches are slightly firm (not hard) with zero bruises, they’re ready for peach cobbler. If your peaches are mushy, your dessert will taste mushy.

Do you have to peel peaches for peach cobbler?

While I usually do, you don’t have to peel the peaches when making this dessert.

Can I make this cobbler with frozen or canned peaches?

Fresh peaches are best for cobbler, though you can get away with unsweetened frozen peaches. If using frozen peaches, thaw, chop, and blot them dry before using. Readers have raved about this dessert using frozen, thawed peaches. Canned peaches are not ideal because they’re already too soft and mushy.

Can I add or use other fruits?

Many readers have asked about mixing in blueberries, cherries, plums, pluots, nectarines, etc. You can absolutely swap fruits, or use a mix of fruits, as long as you have a total of about 10 cups (1.5kg). I particularly love equal parts blueberries and peaches here. You may also like this mixed berry cobbler.

Can I make this without egg wash?

I brush the biscuit topping with an egg wash (egg beaten with some buttermilk), so it’s golden-brown, crisp, and shiny. You can skip the egg and brush with just buttermilk if desired.

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Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (11)

Fresh Peach Cobbler

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.9 from 79 reviews

  • Author: Sally
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Yield: serves 10-12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Juicy sweet peaches and buttery biscuits come together in this classic summer dessert. Cut the peaches into chunks for the best texture, and use this easy buttermilk biscuit topping for the best flavor. The egg wash promises a golden crisp topping.

Ingredients

Peach Filling

  • 3.54 lbs fresh peaches, peeled and cut into 1-1.5 inch chunks (about 10 cups or 1.5kg)
  • 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon (7g) cornstarch
  • 1 Tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Biscuit Topping

  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour ()
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk, cold*
  • egg wash:1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon (15ml) milk or buttermilk
  • optional: 2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Any 3-4-quart baking dish works.
  2. For the filling: Mix all of the filling ingredients together in a large bowl, then spread into the baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside as you prepare the topping. Keep the oven on.
  3. For the topping: Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter or 2 forks, cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse pea-sized crumbs. A pastry cutter makes this step very easy and quick! You could also use a food processor. Pour in the buttermilk, and gently mix until evenly combined. Dough should be slightly sticky once completely combined, but if it’s too dry, add 1 more Tablespoon of buttermilk.
  4. Assemble the cobbler: Take handfuls of dough and gently flatten out. Place dough all over the top of the warm peach filling. There’s no special trick to this—just flatten the dough in sections and cover most of the peaches.
  5. Brush the top of the biscuit dough with egg wash, then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, if using.
  6. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the biscuit topping is golden brown and peach filling is bubbling around the edges. To test for doneness, stick a toothpick into the biscuit topping and if it comes out clean, it’s done.
  7. Remove cobbler from the oven, and set the pan on a wire rack. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
  8. Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  1. Freezing Instructions: I don’t recommend preparing this recipe ahead of time because the biscuit topping won’t rise as much if it is not immediately baked. You can, however, freeze the prepared peach filling for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator, mix in 1 teaspoon of cornstarch (it will be so juicy, and this helps thicken it, then pre-bake as instructed in step 2. You can also freeze the baked cobbler for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the oven before serving.
  2. Special Tools (affiliate links): Vegetable/Fruit Peeler | 9×13-inch Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl |Whisk | Pastry Cutter | Pastry Brush | Cooling Rack
  3. Frozen or Canned Peaches: Fresh peaches are best for cobbler, though you can get away with unsweetened frozen peaches. If using frozen peaches, thaw, chop, and blot them dry before using. Readers have raved about this dessert using frozen, thawed peaches. Canned peaches are not ideal because they’re already too soft and mushy.
  4. Buttermilk: You can make your own DIY version of buttermilk if needed. Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then add enough cold whole milk to the same measuring cup until it reaches 1/2 cup. (In a pinch, cold lower fat or cold nondairy milks work for this soured milk, but the topping won’t taste as moist or rich.) Stir it around and let sit for 5 minutes. The homemade “buttermilk” will be somewhat curdled and ready to use in the recipe.
  5. To Make Without Egg Wash: The egg wash helps the dessert reach that golden-brown, crisp goodness. You can skip the egg and brush with just buttermilk instead.
  6. Other Fruits: Many readers have asked about mixing in blueberries, cherries, plums, pluots, nectarines, etc. You can absolutely swap fruits, or use a mix of fruits, as long as you have a total of about 10 cups (1.5kg). I particularly love equal parts blueberries and peaches here. You may also like this mixed berry cobbler.
  7. Individual Cobblers: Instead of baking as one big dessert, you can make individual peach cobblers by dividing the layers and baking in several oven-safe ramekins. Bake time depends on the amount of food in each ramekin. Bake on a large baking sheet until the filling is bubbling and biscuit topping is golden brown. It’s easier to bake as a whole and simply serve in individual ramekins or even parfait glasses, though!
Best Peach Cobbler Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction (2024)

FAQs

Which is better for peach cobbler canned or frozen peaches? ›

And while frozen fruit is better than canned for maximum nutrients and for textural purposes, if you have to end up using canned peaches, just be sure to drain the liquid first. The more liquid you drain from the can, the less of a chance the filling will go mushy.

How do you keep peach cobbler from getting soggy? ›

We love cobblers for being juicy, but really ripe fruit can make more puddles than a spring rain. The result is a soupy cobbler with a soggy top. Try this: Add one to two tablespoons of cornstarch to the filling.

What is the difference between peach crisp and peach cobbler? ›

Peach crisp and peach cobbler both showcase peaches, but they have different toppings. Peach crisp includes a buttery streusel-like oat crumb topping, while peach cobbler typically has a thicker, more substantial biscuit topping. Both are easier than pie!

Is it better to peel peaches for cobbler? ›

Keeping those beautiful skins on gives the cooked cobbler a gorgeous, deep peachy-pink hue and even more depth of flavor. Plus, unlike other cobbler or pie fruit with tougher skins, like apples, peach skins melt away into the cobbler filling.

Does peach cobbler need to be refrigerated after baking? ›

Does peach cobbler need to be refrigerated? Yes, it needs to be refrigerated if you're not going to eat it within a couple of hours after baking (while its still warm or at room temperature). If there are leftovers, or if you've made the cobbler ahead of time, it's best to refrigerate it.

Is Patti Labelle peach cobbler frozen? ›

At Walmart, the pre-baked cobblers will be sold fresh in the bakery, but samples provided to us by the company came frozen, meaning we had to reheat ours for about 40 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees, vs. the 12 to 16 recommended on the package.

Why is the bottom of my peach cobbler gummy? ›

You shouldn't have a problem with Peach Cobbler being gummy if you use fresh fruit unless you overcook it. Canned peaches, however, can result in a gummy filling because the peaches are already softer to begin with and bathed in heavy syrup. Make sure to thoroughly drain the peaches before using.

How to thicken peach cobbler after baking? ›

Water and flour can be combined to make a thickening agent for peach cobbler. This mixture is commonly known as a "flour slurry."

What is cobbler topping made of? ›

The method for the topping goes like this: Combine equal parts flour and sugar, and add enough melted butter to make a dough. This makes a very sweet cobbler with a topping somewhere between a sugar cookie and pie crust.

How thick to slice peaches for cobbler? ›

You don't need fancy knife skills to make a cobbler, but the peach slices do need to be relatively the same size. Aim for slices ¼-½ inch thick so that they get nice and jammy while baking. Thicker slices won't bake completely through and might remain slightly crunchy by the time the cobbler is golden brown.

Why is it called Brown Betty? ›

This has led some historians to believe that Betty was the name of the cook and creator of the recipe and that brown was in reference to her skin color.

What ingredient makes a crisp different from a cobbler? ›

Cobbler: A fruit dessert made with a top crust of pie dough or biscuit dough but no bottom crust. Crisp/crumble: In Alberta, the terms are mostly interchangeable. Both refer to fruit desserts similar to cobbler but made with a brown sugar streusel topping sometimes containing old-fashioned rolled oats.

Can I use canned peaches instead of fresh? ›

If peaches aren't in season and you don't have any frozen peaches on hand, you can use canned peaches for most baked recipes. Keep in mind that canned peaches are cooked (even if they're raw packed), so they'll be softer and more tender compared to the texture of a fresh or frozen peach.

Does peach cobbler need to rest? ›

Let it Rest.

While it may be tempting to serve the cobbler as soon as it leaves the oven, you need to allow it to rest before serving it. As it cools, the juices from the peach filling will thicken into sweet, syrup-like perfection.

Which is better, canning or freezing peaches? ›

Freezing peaches is a little easier and quicker and produces wonderfully sweet and delicious peaches to put in your freezer. Canning peaches produces jars of peeled and halved peaches for your pleasure.

Do you thaw frozen peaches before baking? ›

Most baked recipes can be made directly with frozen peaches, so you don't have to plan ahead and thaw them. For uncooked recipes like salsa or parfaits, thaw the peaches overnight in the refrigerator. Resist the urge to speed up the thawing time in the microwave, which can lead to mushy peaches.

Are frozen peaches good for baking? ›

Secondly, apart from being convenient and easy to use, frozen peaches are more likely to be predictable and consistent in terms of quality and taste, making them a better choice to bake over fresh. You may think frozen peaches aren't juicy, but the opposite is true.

Which peach is better for baking? ›

If you like to bake your peaches into warm, comforting desserts, look for yellow freestone peaches at your local orchard or farmer's market. Yellow peaches have a sweet and tangy flavor that balances out sugary baked goods. Their naturally firm flesh bakes to a soft — but not mushy — texture.

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