Description
Tennessee Peach Pudding is a classic Southern dessert featuring tender peaches baked in a sweet, cakey batter with a rich, buttery brown sugar topping. This old-fashioned recipe yields a warm, comforting pudding perfect for serving with vanilla ice cream for a nostalgic treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Batter
- 2 cups sliced fresh or canned peaches (drained if using canned)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the milk, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract, stirring until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Incorporate Peaches: Gently fold in the sliced peaches, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter without breaking them up.
- Pour Batter into Dish: Transfer the peach batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Prepare Brown Sugar Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar with boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Add Topping to Batter: Carefully and slowly pour the brown sugar mixture over the batter in the dish without stirring, allowing it to seep through during baking.
- Dot with Butter: Distribute small pieces of unsalted butter over the top of the batter to add richness and help create a golden crust.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and set but the inside remains soft and pudding-like.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the pudding to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, especially delicious when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Frozen peaches can be used as a substitute—just thaw and drain them well before adding to the batter.
- For an enhanced Southern flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter before baking.
- This dessert is best served warm to enjoy the contrast of the hot pudding and cold ice cream.
