This irresistible skillet peach cobbler has a syrupy, spiced peach filling and a tender, buttery crust that gets delicious crusty edges from baking in cast iron. Warm spices and a crust made with flour and cornmeal add something special to this Southern peach cobbler that will keep you coming back for more!
When you think about classic Southern desserts, peach cobbler is typically one of the first dishes that comes to mind. My Mama made a dang good peach cobbler using canned peaches and this recipe is my take on hers, using fresh peaches and a few other special touches.
If you come to any holiday dinner, cookout, or potluck in Mississippi, you will probably see a peach cobbler on the table, and I'm super excited to share my beloved Southern recipe with you!
For more classic Southern desserts, check out our Old Fashioned Banana Pudding and Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cake recipes next!
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Why You Will Love This Peach Cobbler
- Sweet, juicy, spiced filling. Ripe, fresh peaches, brown sugar, and warm spices create a luscious filling for this delicious cobbler!
- Scrumptious, tender crust with crispy edges. All-purpose flour, cornmeal, sugar, and buttermilk create the most tender crust with an incredible texture. The cast iron skillet helps the edges bake up deliciously crispy!
- Incredibly easy to make. This is one of those dump-and-bake recipes that come in clutch when cooking for a crowd or pressed for time.
What Is Peach Cobbler?
Peach cobbler is a delicious dessert made with peach filling and some type of crust. Peach cobbler can be made with either fresh or canned peaches and is typically made with a cake or biscuit crust.
Peach cobbler is said to have been invented by early American settlers who lacked proper cooking equipment and came up with this dessert by cooking it over an open fire. Peach cobbler has become particularly popular in the South over the years, and a Peach Cobbler Day was even established by the Georgia Peach Council in the 1950s.
Important Ingredient Notes
A complete list of ingredients along with measurements and detailed recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Peaches. This recipe calls for ripe, fresh peaches. Choose peaches that are firm but give a little when gently squeezed. Very hard peaches are not yet ripe and mushy peaches are past their prime. You may substitute canned peaches but will not need to cook them on the stovetop.
- Spices. I love the warmth and subtle spice that cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove give to this peach cobbler. However, if you find these spices overpowering, feel free to use less or omit any of them.
- Cornmeal. Cornmeal is combined with flour for the cakey cobbler crust and gives it a delicious and interesting texture and flavor. I recommend either yellow or white fine stone-ground cornmeal. You may also omit the cornmeal and make the crust using just flour.
- Buttermilk. While the crust can be made using regular whole milk, buttermilk makes it extra tender and adds a subtle tanginess that is so good! Whole or low-fat buttermilk works great.
- Vanilla extract. I always recommend using good-quality, pure vanilla extract whenever this ingredient is called for. Imitation vanilla flavoring and cheaper brands of vanilla extract can throw off the flavor of this cobbler crust and we don't want that!
How To Make Skillet Peach Cobbler
- Add the peaches, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to a medium saucepan. Heat the ingredients over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peaches release their juices.
- Place the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet and transfer the skillet to the oven while it preheats to 350°F.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl until combined. Pour in the buttermilk and vanilla extract and mix with a silicone spatula until the ingredients are combined and no more dry flour is visible. Do not overmix the batter.
- Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and pour the batter into the skillet. Spoon the peaches and their juices evenly over the batter. Sprinkle the cobbler with cinnamon and sugar and bake the cobbler for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Serve skillet peach cobbler warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference between peach cobbler and a peach crumble lies in the crust. While cobbler is made with a biscuit or cake crust, a crumble is made with a streusel crust containing oats and sometimes nuts.
There is no need to peel peaches for peach cobbler although some people prefer to do so. The peels of peaches are very tender and contain much of the fiber in the fruit. If you prefer to peel your peaches, go right ahead! This peach cobbler tastes incredible either way.
If your cobbler crust turns out soggy, it may be because the cobbler was underbaked or because the filling contains too much liquid. If your peaches are very ripe, add a tablespoon of cornstarch while they cook on the stovetop to thicken the filling.
Variations and Substitutions
No peaches? No problem! This delicious cobbler recipe can be made with several different kinds of fruit. Try it with some of the following suggestions and don't forget you can always use canned peaches if fresh peaches aren't in season!
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Apricots
- Plums
- Apples
- Pears
- Cherries
Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
Since this cobbler is cooked in a cast-iron skillet, I do not recommend making it in advance. You never want to leave foods sitting in a cast-iron skillet too long because they can develop a metallic taste and you could cause your skillet to rust.
Leftover skillet peach cobbler should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Tasty Southern Desserts You Will Love!
- Fresh Strawberry Cobbler
- Sock It To Me Cake
- The Best Pecan Pralines
- Southern Buttermilk Pie
- Hummingbird Cupcakes
- Moist Lemon Bundt Cake
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Bananas Foster French Toast
- Southern Sweet Potato Pie
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
- New Orleans King Cake
- Southern Pecan Pie
- New Orleans Beignets
📖 Recipe
Skillet Peach Cobbler
Ingredients
Peach Filling
- 5 cups sliced peaches about 5-6 small peaches, no need to remove peels
- ¾ cup light brown sugar or dark brown or granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1//4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter sliced
Crust
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornmeal see notes
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Add the peaches, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to a medium saucepan. Heat the ingredients over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peaches release their juices.
- Place the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet and transfer the skillet to the oven while it preheats to 350°F.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl until combined. Pour in the buttermilk and vanilla extract and mix with a silicone spatula until the ingredients are combined and no more dry flour is visible. Do not overmix the batter.
- Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and pour the batter into the skillet. Spoon the peaches and their juices evenly over the batter. Sprinkle the cobbler with cinnamon and sugar and bake the cobbler for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Serve skillet peach cobbler warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Choose ripe peaches that are a bit firm but give a little when gently squeezed. Very hard peaches are not quite ripe and need to sit out on the counter for a couple of days, while very soft and mushy peaches are past their prime.
- I recommend either yellow or white fine stone-ground cornmeal. You may also omit the cornmeal and make the crust using only flour.
- Leftover skillet peach cobbler can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Heather
This is so delicious! It was easy to make and my family loved it. It is definitely my favourite summer dessert!
Ashley Boyd
I'm so happy your family loved the peach cobbler recipe, Heather! Thank you for giving it a try and for the kind comment.