Tennessee Peach Pudding: A Southern Comfort Dessert for Beginners
Tennessee Peach Pudding is a simple, comforting Southern dessert that’s perfect for beginners. With juicy peaches, a soft cake-like texture, and a buttery, crispy topping, this dessert is both easy to make and irresistible. It’s a quick treat that requires just a few basic ingredients, making it ideal for anyone looking to bake something sweet without much hassle. Whether you’re craving a cozy dessert for yourself or a dish to share with loved ones, this pudding will deliver every time!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Southern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Pudding:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour – All-purpose flour provides the structure for the pudding and helps create a soft, fluffy texture.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar – The sugar sweetens the pudding base, making it delicious and comforting.
- 2 teaspoons baking powder – This is the leavening agent that helps the batter rise and become light and airy.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt – A pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness of the pudding.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) – Cinnamon adds warmth and a lovely, spicy note to the pudding, but it’s optional if you prefer a more neutral flavor.
- 1/2 cup milk – Full-fat milk creates a smooth batter with the right consistency. You can use almond milk or oat milk for a dairy-free alternative.
- 3 cups sliced, peeled peaches – Fresh, ripe peaches are ideal, but frozen peaches will also work in this recipe.
For the Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups water – The base for the syrup that will be poured over the pudding, creating a crispy, sweet top.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar – Sweetens the syrup and adds that irresistible caramelized flavor.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed) – Brown sugar brings a deeper, molasses-like sweetness to the topping.
- 1 tablespoon butter – The butter helps to enrich the syrup and adds a smooth, velvety finish.
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg – Nutmeg adds a warm, aromatic spice to the topping, giving it a comforting, holiday-like flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Dish
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This temperature will allow the pudding to bake evenly and create that beautiful golden top. While the oven is heating up, grease an 8-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. You can also lightly flour the dish to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon (if using). Use a whisk or a spoon to stir the dry ingredients together. This helps ensure that the baking powder is evenly distributed throughout the flour, so the batter will rise evenly while baking.
Step 3: Add the Milk and Stir
Once the dry ingredients are mixed, pour in the milk. Stir the mixture until it comes together into a smooth batter. The batter should be thick yet pourable, with no lumps. If you’re using almond or oat milk, you may need to stir a bit longer to ensure everything is well incorporated.
Step 4: Fold in the Peaches
Now it’s time to add the peaches. Carefully fold in the sliced, peeled peaches, making sure that they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. If you’re using frozen peaches, make sure they’re thawed and drained to avoid excess liquid. The peaches should add bursts of sweetness throughout the pudding, so be gentle when folding them in to maintain the fluffy texture.
Step 5: Pour the Batter into the Baking Dish
Transfer the peach-filled batter to the prepared 8-inch baking dish. Use a spatula to spread the batter out evenly. It’s okay if the batter doesn’t completely cover the dish—it will spread out as it bakes.
Step 6: Prepare the Topping
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and ground nutmeg. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture constantly until the butter has melted and the sugars have dissolved. Bring the syrup to a boil and let it cook for another 2–3 minutes to ensure everything is well incorporated.
Step 7: Pour the Topping Over the Batter
Once the syrup is ready, carefully pour it over the batter in the baking dish. The syrup will soak into the batter as it bakes, creating a sweet, golden crust on top. Don’t worry if the syrup covers only part of the batter—everything will bake together beautifully.
Step 8: Bake
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The pudding will puff up as it bakes and develop a slight crispiness on top. Keep an eye on it towards the end of baking to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
Step 9: Cool and Serve
Once the pudding is baked to perfection, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. Serve the pudding warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to add a touch of richness. The warm, gooey filling and crispy topping make this dessert irresistible!
Notes
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: When mixing the dry and wet ingredients, avoid overmixing. Stir just until everything is combined. Overmixing can cause the pudding to become dense rather than light and fluffy.
- Watch the Peaches: If you’re using fresh peaches, make sure they’re ripe and sweet. Under-ripe peaches can make the pudding too tart. If you’re using frozen peaches, be sure to thaw and drain them first to prevent excess liquid from making the pudding soggy.
- Check for Doneness: Always check your pudding with a toothpick before removing it from the oven. If it comes out clean, the pudding is ready to be served.