Good old fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler is one of my all-time favorite desserts. It’s quick, easy and wholly delicious. Served warm, with a little Vanilla Ice Cream on top, this delicious treat is a real delight. I recall attending family events, community events and, state fairs growing up. And, at every one of these shindigs, the smell of Peach Cobbler permeated the air and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a slice of this sweet goodness. This recipe is a classic Southern version and sure to make your mouth water.
The Southern History of the Peach Cobbler
A Southern Cobbler is typically made with one fruit and named accordingly. Blackberry Cobbler, Apple Cobbler, Blueberry Cobbler, and of course Peach Cobbler are the standards. However, it is not uncommon to mix various fruits into a single Cobbler. The Southern tradition is to top this fruity cobbler with a scoop or two of creamy vanilla ice cream. It’s the ultimate yin and yang of flavor. As with many customs in the South, it’s certainly a dessert worth taking your sweet time to consume.
In Georgia, Peaches are the state fruit- the Peach State. There are hundreds of streets named “Peachtree” something, and it was a right of passage to learn how to cook with this incredibly sweet fruit by default. In Southern Georgia, just south of Macon, there are hundreds of acres filled with Peachtrees and Peach farms. Therefore, the freshness of this fruit in the South is pretty amazing given the location. A ripe Peach will last about 1-3 days in the pantry, 3-5 days in the refrigerator and, 10-12 months in the freezer.
This history of Cobbler itself dates back to the British American colonies. Early settlers had limited access to ingredients and equipment. So, using a wooden bowl (“cobbler”) cooks would prepare stewed fruits covered with a layer of uncooked- and many times left over- biscuits or dumplings. It was a quick and delightful dessert that the entire community would enjoy.
Ingredients
- 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
- Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.
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