The Best Peach Cobbler

Article by: Krissy Downey

Southern-style peach cobbler is the ultimate comfort dessert, combining juicy ripe peaches with a sweet, airy cake-like topping that’s baked to golden perfection. Bursting with flavor and classic simplicity, our best peach cobbler recipe is as easy to make as it is to enjoy. Whether you’re serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or going for it straight from the pan, this peach cobbler is the perfect way to bring a taste of southern charm to your summertime table.

Cobbler vs. Crumble vs. Pie

A cobbler, a crumble and a pie each have different key attributes. A cobbler has a fruit filling and is topped with a biscuit or cake-like topping that is baked until golden brown and bubbly. A crumble has a fruit filling and a streusel topping, and a pie has a bottom and top crust made of pastry.

How to Choose the Perfect Peaches

Nothing is more enticing than a perfectly ripe peach, and we have a few tips for picking out just the right ones. First, give the peaches a smell; they should be wonderfully fragrant and smell very sweet. Next, there should be no visible bruises or wrinkles on the peach. Finally, it’s time to feel them. You want them to be slightly firm but not hard. The best way to test this is by gripping the peach with your fist and gently pressing in with your whole hand. If you use one finger or part of your hand, you will risk bruising the peach. If the peach is very hard but slightly fragrant, it probably just needs a few days at room temperature to ripen.

How to Make Peach Cobbler Like a Pro

Skip peeling the peaches. Even very simple recipes for peach cobbler will often call for peeling the peaches. This involves scoring them, blanching them, and then peeling them. Honestly, it’s a lot of work for little reward. The skins of the peaches are delicious and add a nice color to the presentation of the cobbler. We just don’t think peeling the peaches is worth it for a simple peach cobbler, so we skip that step altogether.

Pre-cook the peaches. While we don’t peel the peaches, we do simmer them for a few minutes before baking off the cobbler. The peaches are simmered in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice which all work together to begin the process of cooking the peaches. Once the mixture comes to a boil, the peaches release their own juices and sugar, creating a glossy glaze that coats every peach. This process both softens the peaches and brings out all their natural delicious flavors.

Heat the pan before adding the batter. We like to put the pan in the oven while it preheats, before adding any fruit or batter to the pan. This accomplishes a few different things: first, it creates a nice, crispy crust. When the batter hits the hot pan, it will begin to cook immediately which results in perfectly crisp edges. Secondly, preheating the pan ensures the bottom layer of the cobbler cooks evenly with the peach filling and topping, avoiding any unwanted sogginess. This one simple step will yield bakery-quality results every time.

Serve with vanilla ice cream. Nothing beats the combination of fresh peach cobbler and a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream. It is the classic accompaniment for a reason!

Can I Use Canned or Frozen Peaches Instead of Fresh?

We think homemade peach cobbler with fresh peaches is one of the most satisfying delights in the world, but it’s ok if you only have canned or frozen peaches on hand. If using canned, be sure to drain the peaches well, and, if using frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight and then drain. From there, start with step one of our easy peach cobbler recipe.

How to Store and Reheat Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is best enjoyed the same day you make it, but the leftovers are surely the next best thing. To store it, wait for the cobbler to cool completely to room temperature, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for fifteen minutes. Remove the foil for the last five minutes of reheating to ensure a nice, crispy topping.