Peach Pudding

When the dog days of summer arrive, there’s only one thing on my mind: peaches! From late June through August, I look forward to everything from peach pancakes to peachy pork ribs. When it comes to peach desserts, this Tennessee peach pudding recipe will forever be the gold standard in my book. Like peach cobbler, this recipe combines the comforting aroma of baked fresh peaches with warm cinnamon and a brown sugar-spiked topping to yield an utterly divine result. You don’t even need a mixer!

Serve peach pudding hot and bubbling straight from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream. While you can enjoy this fruity summer dessert in the comfort of your air conditioning, we recommend taking your bowl outside and enjoying it al fresco as you watch the sun sink below the horizon for a peachy end to a fine summer’s day.

Ingredients for Peach Pudding

• Flour: All-purpose flour is the base for many of our favorite cobblers, including this one. It’s always a good idea to sift flour, even if the recipe doesn’t call for it.
• Sugar: A few spoonfuls of sugar sweeten the peach pudding batter, keep it moist and help it turn perfectly golden in the oven.
• Baking powder: Baking powder reacts while baking to give the batter a little oomph, so the batter rises and bakes around the juicy, sweet peaches in the oven.
• Salt: Salt is vital for balancing flavors, even in sweet desserts.
• Cinnamon: It’s optional, but a dash or two of cinnamon really makes this recipe for Tennessee peach pudding sing.
• Milk: A generous splash of low-fat milk thins the batter to the perfect consistency. If you have only whole milk in your fridge, use it.
• Peaches: When baking, choose the type of peaches well-suited for baking, typically ones with yellow flesh and easy-to-remove pits.
• Topping: The topping, made with water, sugar, brown sugar, butter and ground nutmeg, gets poured over the peachy batter before baking and turns into an irresistibly aromatic symphony of flavors.
• Vanilla ice cream: While this Tennessee peach pudding is delish straight from the pan, we like to finish each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can make homemade vanilla ice cream or select one of the best store-bought vanilla ice cream brands.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the batter and add the peaches

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon (if using). Stir in the milk just until combined, then fold in the peaches. Spread the mixture into a greased 8-inch square baking pan.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t overmix the batter. Overworking the gluten in the flour can cause the pudding to become tough.

Step 2: Make the topping

In a large saucepan, combine the water, sugars, butter and nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugars dissolve entirely, then pour the topping carefully over the peach mixture.

Step 3: Bake the peach pudding

Bake the peach pudding for 40 to 50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the topping. Serve warm (or cold) topped with vanilla ice cream if desired.

Ellie Crowley for Taste Recipes

Peach Pudding Variations

• Use frozen peaches: If you don’t have access to fresh peaches, frozen peaches work great in this recipe. No need to thaw!
• Make plum pudding: You can enjoy this peach pudding with other seasonal stone fruits, like plums.
• Create peach Melba pudding: For a burst of color and berry goodness, add 1 cup fresh raspberries with the peaches.
• Try an apple pudding: If you missed peach season, make a divine apple pudding with baking apples. Swap in 3 cups of peeled and sliced apples for the peaches.

How to Store Peach Pudding

Store leftover pudding covered tightly in the refrigerator. It will last four to five days.

How do you reheat peach pudding?

While a Tennessee peach pudding recipe is traditionally served warm, it can also be served cold from the fridge. If you’d like to reheat peach pudding, warm individual servings in microwave-safe bowls in one-minute increments until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat the entire peach pudding in a 350° oven, uncovered, until heated through.

Peach Pudding Tips

Ellie Crowley for Taste Recipes

What’s the best way to peel peaches?

Peeling fresh peaches doesn’t have to be a chore. Blanching them in water is easy, but you can also peel them with a good paring knife or peeler. Once you learn the proper technique, it’s as easy as (peach) pie.

How can you ripen peaches quickly?

If your fresh peaches are not quite ripe enough to make this Tennessee peach pudding recipe, you can speed up the process by tossing them into a paper bag overnight. For more tips, here’s our complete guide for ripening peaches.

What should you serve with peach pudding?

The best way to enjoy this recipe for Tennessee peach pudding is with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you’re looking for other ideas, try a dollop of this bourbon whipped cream or thick and creamy vanilla Greek yogurt on top. Alternatively, a drizzle of the vanilla sauce from this poached pears recipe would be a fancy twist.