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

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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.