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This Soul Food peach cobbler with fresh peaches is a family favorite that has been passed down through four generations! My Great Great Aunt Georgia taught us how to make peach cobbler the right way, with ripe, juicy peaches caramelized in butter and brown sugar then topped with a simple all-butter crust.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my peach cobbler pound cake, too!
Also, for anybody asking is peach cobbler Soul Food, the answer is simply yes. Let's get into the history of peach cobbler Soul Food facts.
Jump to:
- History of Black Folks' Peach Cobbler
- Why You'll Love this Recipe
- What You'll Need for this Recipe
- How to Make Peach Cobbler with Fresh Peaches and Pie Crust
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Serve
- More Black History Month Family Recipes
- Aunt Georgia's Peach Cobbler with Fresh Peaches
History of Black Folks' Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler descends from a European dish brought to the United States via colonization and the good ole southern peach cobbler we know and love was perfected by the hands of enslaved African Americans as the original chefs of this nation.
In fact, the first known cobbler recipe appeared in 1881 from What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking, the cookbook by formerly enslaved Abby Fisher of South Carolina (Tasting Table).
In the South, fresh peaches are preferred, which makes summertime prime season for the best peach cobbler. But Black American cooking has historically included making magic with less than ideal ingredients and people want to eat peach cobbler year round, so using frozen or canned peaches are really common.
My Aunt Georgia came up during a time when the South was segregated and Black people didn't always have access to the best ingredients or tools. Yet she created what would become her signature recipe using canned cling peaches! Every family has that person that can make a dish just right and nothing else will do. Peach cobbler was hers.
One non-negotiable with Black people's peach cobbler is the pie crust topping. I fondly remember watching Aunt Georgia carefully place the lattice crust atop peach filling before placing her renowned peach cobbler in the oven to bake.
If you're looking for cobbler with a biscuit or dumpling crust, check out my mother's fresh pear cobbler recipe!
Like many traditions in the Black American experience, my Great Great Aunt Georgia's peach cobbler is a family heirloom passed down through storytelling. We don't actually have a written record of her recipe so I recreated it from memories of my many childhood days observing her at work in the kitchen of her Southeast Houston home.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - This is a great peach cobbler for beginners because you only need a few everyday ingredients. And I've included my expert tips and tricks below to make it as easy as possible!
Customizable - Make sure you check out the substitutions section for all the options available to make this simple southern peach cobbler recipe your own.
Black Family Approved - My youngest brother loves was the absolute biggest Soul Food homemade peach cobbler fan growing up and this one has his seal of approval. It will become your family go-to and be highly requested for gatherings.
We love Soul Food dessert recipes around here like sweet tea pound cake and grandma's southern sweet potato pie with bourbon. And don't sleep on my sweet potato and praline bread pudding!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Fresh Ripe Peaches are the star of my brown sugar peach cobbler filling. Grab the best peaches you can find in season. Or you can make peach cobbler outside of the summer season with the caramelizing step in this recipe!
Brown Sugar and Butter combine to add more sweetness and depth of flavor to peach cobbler filling and makes fresh peaches mimic the super soft texture of canned peaches while retaining their bright fresh flavor.
Sweet Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg lend warmth and that signature bakery touch so don't skip them in my southern peach cobbler filling ingredients.
Flour and Lemon Juice help to thicken and balance the filling so it's not too sweet.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Crust - I find that peach cobbler is better from scratch but that it's still great with already made pie crust! So grab from the store if you are short on time. But no oats or cake mix or any of that.
Canned or Frozen Peaches can work in this recipe but you won't need to cook canned peaches down since they're already softer.
Vegan - Use plant based butter and egg products to make this peach cobbler recipe vegan.
How to Make Peach Cobbler with Fresh Peaches and Pie Crust
Old Fashioned Crust
Step One: Combine flour, sea salt, and butter until the mixture resembles a coarse meal then mix in cold water to form dough (Photos 1 and 2).
Step Two: Shape the dough into a disc then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (Photos 3 and 4).
Pro Tip #1: You can combine the dough using your hands, a dough blender or a food processor.
Pro Tip #2: The key to a pie crust for peach cobbler is cold ingredients, especially the butter. They give your crust the best chance of being tender, flaky, and standing up to the delicious filling. Start with cold ingredients and don't skip the chilling step!
Spiced Peach Filling
Step Three: Peel and cut the peaches then toss them in brown sugar, spices, flour, and lemon juice (Photo 5).
Step Four: Cook the peaches in melted butter until they are tender and the filling is properly ooey and gooey then transfer to a baking dish (Photo 6).
Assembling the Cobbler
Step Five: Roll out the pie crust dough on a floured surface until it's ¼ inch thick (Photo 7).
Pro Tip #3: If you don't have a rolling pin, a wine bottle (empty or full) can work as a good substitute in a pinch!
Step Six: Cut the dough into one-inch strips then arrange in a lattice pattern on top of the peach filling (Photos 8-10).
Baking Easy Southern Peach Cobbler
Step Seven: Brush the crust with an egg wash then place cobbler into the oven to bake until golden brown and bubbly (Photos 11 and 12).
Pro Tip #4: Sprinkle a bit of sugar all over top and your soul food peach cobbler will come out looking professional with a capital P!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to peel peaches for peach cobbler?
You don't have to peel the peaches when making peach cobbler using fresh peaches. It is simply a matter of preference.
Can I make peach cobbler at home ahead of time?
You can prepare this dessert up to three days ahead of time. For the best results, though, I recommend prepping the filling and crust and storing separately then putting them together and baking on the day you will serve it.
How long does peach cobbler last in the refrigerator?
Store leftover peach cobbler in the fridge, in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It will keep for up to one week.
How to freeze homemade peach cobbler?
Allow the cobbler to cool to room temperature then double wrap it aluminum foil and freeze. It will keep for up to three months.
How to Serve
I like to enjoy my fresh peach cobbler with pie crust top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, served with a spoon.
Enjoy this dessert as the perfect conclusion to Soul Food Sunday dinner. I recommend family faves like collard greens, black eyed peas and rice and .
And if you're making peach cobbler for Thanksgiving, check out my Black American Thanksgiving menu ideas. And grab my holiday dinner guide for all the tea on family recipes!
- Your Guide to a Flawless Holiday Dinner
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More Black History Month Family Recipes
- Authentic Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe
- Fluffy Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits with Spiced Pear Compote + Black History Month Virtual Potluck
- Soul Food Power Bowls + BHM Virtual Potluck
- Warm Brewed Zobo Drink
I am humbled and grateful to be able to share recipes from my heritage with you. The culinary legacy of the women in my family who made something from nothing continues here.
And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this easy Soul Food peach cobbler recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
P.S. Aunt Georgia's peach cobbler is my "contribution" tothe first-ever Black History Month Virtual Potluck with 27 other amazingly talented Black food bloggers! Everyone is sharingtheir best recipes and those included span regions and continents.
Check out all of the fabulous creations right on Eat the Culture!
Aunt Georgia's Peach Cobbler with Fresh Peaches
Jazzmine Woodard
Aunt Georgia's Peach Cobbler is an ooey-gooey Southern classic dessert passed down through generations.
4.85 from 44 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Soul Food
Servings 9 servings
Calories 282 kcal
Equipment
2 mixing bowls
1 knife
1 kitchen spoon
1 skillet
1 Rolling Pin
1 8 x 8 inch baking dish
Ingredients
For the all-butter cobbler crust
- 1 ¼ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon ice cold water
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
For the peach cobbler filling
- 3 pounds peaches
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Instructions
To Make Peach Cobbler Pie Crust
Whisk together 1 ¼ cup flour with sea salt in a large bowl. Add in cold butter and work ingredients together with your hands until a coarse, sandy looking meal forms.
Add cold water to mixture and continue working and pressing it until the dough melds together. Don't overwork the dough so as to not add too much heat to it.
Shape dough into a flattened square, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
To Make Fresh Peach Cobbler Filling
While the dough chills, peel and slice peaches then combine with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix until peaches are well coated. Mix in lemon juice.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the filling mixture to the pan. Cook until bubbly and thickened, stirring as necessary (about 5-10 minutes). Remove from heat.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour prepared filling into a square 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Set aside.
Roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness and cut into 8 one-inch strips. Lay the strips over top of peach filling in a lattice or criss-cross pattern.
Brush the dough with beaten egg then sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Bake cobbler for about 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is thick and bubbly. Allow it to cool and set for at least another 45 minutes then serve.
Notes
Preparation
You don't have to peel the peaches when making peach cobbler using fresh peaches. It is simply a matter of preference.
You can prepare this dessert up to three days ahead of time. For the best results, though, I recommend prepping the filling and crust and storing separately then putting them together and baking on the day you will serve it.
Modifications
To make this recipe vegan, substitute the butter and egg with plant based butter and egg products.
Canned or frozen peaches will work in a 1:1 ratio for fresh peaches. If you opt to use canned peaches, skip step two under the filling instructions.
You can use store bought pie crust dough to save time, if needed.
Tool Substitutions
You can combine the pie crust dough using your hands, a dough blender or a food processor.
If you don't have a rolling pin, a wine bottle (empty or full) can work as a good substitute in a pinch!
Storage
Store leftover peach cobbler in the fridge, in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It will keep for up to one week.
To freeze, allow the cobbler to cool to room temperature then double wrap it aluminum foil and freeze. It will keep for up to three months.
Nutrition
Calories: 282kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 173mgPotassium: 345mgFiber: 3gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 846IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg
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