Southern-Style Tennessee Peach Pudding
This Tennessee Peach Pudding is a cherished Southern dessert with a texture similar to a cobbler. What makes it special is the hot syrup poured over the batter before baking, which magically turns into a soft cake layer on top with a rich, jam-like peach sauce underneath.
Tennessee Peach Pudding
Ingredients
Batter
- All-purpose flour – 1 cup
- Granulated sugar – ½ cup
- Baking powder – 2 teaspoons
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Ground cinnamon (optional) – ½ teaspoon
- Milk – ½ cup
- Peaches, peeled and sliced (fresh or frozen) – 3 cups
Topping
- Water – 1½ cups
- Granulated sugar – ½ cup
- Brown sugar, packed – ½ cup
- Butter – 1 tablespoon
- Ground nutmeg – ¼ teaspoon
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Oven and Pan
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon if using. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
Step 3: Add the Peaches
Gently fold the sliced peaches into the batter. Frozen peaches may be added directly from the freezer. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Step 4: Make the Syrup
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugars are fully dissolved.
Step 5: Pour and Bake
Carefully pour the hot syrup evenly over the batter. Do not stir. Bake for 40–50 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Let the pudding sit for 10–15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Serve warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
