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 vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream for the *best* summer dessert experience.
I originally published this recipe in 2016 and have since added new photos, more helpful success tips, and a bit of ginger to the peach filling.
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… it’s like a hug at first bite. 😉
This dessert recipe has been a reader favorite since I first published it a few years ago. 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! ★★★★★“
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, blueberry 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), and 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.
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!
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 crumbles form, like we do to make pie crust. These flour-coated butter crumbles promise a soft and flaky biscuit topping. After that, mix in the 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.
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. If needed, you can use my buttermilk substitute instead.
You can also find recipes that use a cake-like topping, combining cake batter and peaches. I use this method when I make my easy cherry cobbler and my apple cobbler.
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.
Don’t Overwork the Biscuit Topping
Like when you’re making any type of biscuits or scones, you should be careful not to overwork the dough. Overworking or over-handling this dough will result in a tough and dense topping. We want to keep it flaky and soft, so mix the ingredients together *just* until combined.
Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients, and then pour in the buttermilk and mix to combine:
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!
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.
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.
While I usually do, you don’t have to peel the peaches when making this dessert.
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.
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 (1.5–1.8kg). I particularly love equal parts blueberries and peaches here. You may also like this mixed berry cobbler.
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.
Fresh Peach Cobbler
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 10-12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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
- 10 cups (around 1.8kg) peeled chopped fresh peaches (1- to 1.5-inch chunks)
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (7g) cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) fresh 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 (spooned & leveled)
- 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
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Any 3- to 4-quart baking dish works.
- 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.
- 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 crumbles. A pastry cutter makes this step very easy and quick! You could also pulse in 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.
- Assemble the cobbler: Take handfuls of dough and use your hands to gently flatten out into patties. 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.
- Brush the top of the biscuit dough with egg wash, then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, if using.
- 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; if it comes out clean, it’s done.
- Remove cobbler from the oven, and set the pan on a cooling rack. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- 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.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Vegetable/Fruit Peeler | 9×13-inch Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Pastry Cutter | Pastry Brush | Cooling Rack
- 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.
- Buttermilk: You can make your own DIY buttermilk substitute 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 nondairy milks work for this soured milk, but the topping won’t taste as moist or rich.) Stir it and let sit for 5 minutes. The homemade “buttermilk” will be somewhat curdled and ready to use in the recipe.
- 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.
- 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 (1.5–1.8kg). I particularly love equal parts blueberries and peaches here. You may also like this mixed berry cobbler.
- 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, though!
Reader Comments and Reviews
I just made this peach cobbler!! It was very fun and so delicious!! Would definitely recommend it to everyone!! Thanks for sharing!
You are my go to for ALL desserts! Love them and your special tips. Can I mix peaches with frozen blue berries or frozen strawberries? Is combo cobbler as good as a single fruit?
Yes! I love the combination of peaches and blueberries and use them in together in many recipes! As long as you have a total of about 10 cups of fruit you can mix them up.
Hello Sally,
I’ve tried some of your recipes, and they are delicious! I was wondering if I can use heavy whipping cream instead of the buttermilk?
Thanks Sheila! You need buttermilk here. You can try using heavy cream in the buttermilk substitute described in the recipe notes, but the topping will be very heavy. I recommend whole milk used in the sour milk substitute instead.
Can you halve this recipe? And if so, what size pan would you use? Thanks!
Sure can, Emily. And 8 or 9 inch square pan should work.
Can I bake this the day before serving? Or does it need to be eaten right after baking? And should I reheat it day of? Thanks! Love your recipes and cant wait to try this one!
Hi Arielle, it’s best served the day it’s made but you can reheat the next day to serve. Reheat, covered with aluminum foil, at 300°F (149°C) for about 15 minutes or until warm throughout.
Wonderful recipe!! Thank you for including the cup amount with peaches, super helpful. Here in Florida our peaches tend to be smaller (every bit as good) as other states, so I had to use twice as many.
Everyone needs to try this cobbler recipe. The peach filling is easy to throw together. I used frozen and thawed peaches and it was great. The biscuit topping was defintiely no fuss as Sally describes and easy to shape onto the filling. Served with whipped cream. Great way to use up last summer’s peaches. Thanks SAlly!
Hi Sally! I love your recipes-every one I’ve tried has turned out great! I want to make your peach cobbler recipe for my co-worker’s birthday this week, but I can’t find fresh peaches in the store this time of year. Can I use frozen peaches? Is so, would I need to make any adjustments to the recipe?
Hi Jill! Frozen peaches would be just fine, no need to thaw. The bake time will be slightly longer.
Sensational! Have never made a cobbler before and everyone loved it. Made it just like you wrote, love that it is a tad less sweet. Will make again for Thanksgiving. Thank you!
Could I cut this recipe in half? I don’t have quite enough peaches
Yes, that should be fine! Enjoy!
perfect! we totally love this recipe, as it’s cooking right now the biscuits are just gorgeous. Thank you, this was simple!
I just made this cobbler and it is AMAZING!! Thank you so much for sharing!! The only thing I did differently was add a bit more buttermilk but other than that I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect!
This was easy to make & absolutely delicious. I, too, found I needed to add more buttermilk than called for; some, not much more. Next time – tomorrow – I’ll add an extra peach, too. The wash & touch of cinnamon/sugar on top was pretty.
I made your recipe as directed and everything was perfect. I sift my flour and fill my cup up. Don’t forget to toss dry ingredients together before adding buttermilk. I didn’t have nutmeg, so added just a hint of pumpkin pie spice, super yummy. I did use egg was with buttermilk and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. It was a hit
Amazing recipe! The peaches off my tree are quite juicy, so I upped the cornstarch to 3 Tbsp. It was perfect. I also cut the butter into the flour, then stuck it in the freezer while the peaches did their 10 minutes. This will be my go to recipe from now on. Thanks!
I don’t think you can go wrong with cobbler, whether it be the kind with a cake like topping or what not. But I’ve been looking for a ‘sweet biscuit’ type for a long time.
Happy to say this one is it!! Thank you Sally, this is going into the file.
I made it with some fresh Georgia peaches yesterday and we all had too much of it! Delish!
Can I use strawberries? Should I change something in the recipe?
Hi Beyza! You can use strawberries instead. I would replace the brown sugar with regular white granulated sugar. Feel free to leave out the cinnamon and nutmeg in the filling, too.
I made this for our Labor Day dessert and it was unbelievably delicious! I had some local orchard peaches left and I did not have time to bake a pie. My almost 90-year old dad loves peach cobbler & I have been looking for a good recipe and I can emphatically say I have found it. I knew if I looked at your website I would not be disappointed. Your recipes rock Sally.
Thanks for this fabulous recipe and all the time you take on this website.
Made this today using almond extract. It was perfect! I always prefer almond over vanilla with peaches.
This peach cobbler was absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to keep trying more and more of your recipes!
Great recipe. I made it tonight using some white peaches that didn’t ripen well. But they were stars in this cobbler! Whole family enjoyed it. I’ll be back to try more recipes! 🙂
Hi!!
I want to let you know, I made this today (I replaced the peaches with fresh blueberries) AND it was DELICIOUS.
thank you for sharing your recipes!
Love your website & all the detailed information you share with each recipe. I prepared this Peach Cobbler today & took it to a family party & it was a huge success. Absolutely delicious with vanilla ice cream. Thank you so much for perfecting all of your recipes so those of us baking them know we are in for a treat.
My boyfriend and I are visiting his family in North Carolina right now and I made this and your chocolate chip cookie skillet for a large dinner get together, I was a little nervous making peach cobbler for southerners since I’m from Michigan. But we all agreed it was the BEST peach cobbler we’ve ever had! Everyone has been raving about both desserts for days now 🙂
How ripe do the peaches need to be before I use them in this recipe? I really want to make this recipe for dessert tomorrow but my peaches aren’t totally soft yet. Should I just wait? —I really hope not!!
I would wait at least 1 more day. A little soft is best 🙂
Hi, Sally, Last Monday I made your peach pie recipe for a special dinner with family; they just loved it! Today, I made your peach cobbler recipe and it’s fantastic!
Thank you so much!