This peach cobbler with cake mix recipe is so easy! Similar to a peach dump cake, this recipe has only 10 minute prep time.
This is seriously one of the best peach cobbler recipes! And, one of the easiest. There are many similar cobbler recipes floating around that use cake mix in the recipe.
Some use soda or 7-up, some use peaches in heavy syrup, cream cheese instead of butter, or skimp on some much needed extra ingredients that turn the classic three ingredient cobbler from a watery mess to a delicious peach cobbler that thickens up nicely and has a crubmly and buttery cake topping.
Plus, since it uses cake mix it is still so easy and you can mix up the flavor profiles by switching up the type of cake mix used or the fruit in the filling. A win-win!
Why this recipe is so great:
- Quick and Easy: this recipe is basically foolproof. You add the ingredients to the pan in the order given and bake it. That's it!
- Can make it year round: Because it uses canned peaches you can make this dessert any time of year, not just peach season!
- Customizable: This method of using cake mix for a cobbler topping can work with any type of cobbler filling. Blackberry cobbler, blueberry cobbler, even cherry pie mix will all work.
Ingredients
- Cake Mix: This recipes uses yellow cake mix, but you can also use lemon cake, white cake, or even spiced cake mix.
- Canned Peached: Using peaches in juice rather than syrup helps cut the sweetness of the filling. But, if you want a sweeter filling you can try using canned peaches in light or heavy syrup, or a mix of both peaches in juice and light or heavy syrup. See FAQ for using fresh or frozen peaches instead of canned.
- Brown Sugar: Both light brown sugar and dark brown sugar will work in this recipe.
How to Make
This is such a simple peach cobbler recipe! There are only a few quick steps to this delicious dessert.
Step 1: Prep
- Set baking rack in the middle of the oven.
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Mix peaches
Add 2 cans of peaches and their juice into a large bowl. For the third can of peaches, drain the the juice and only add the peaches to the bowl.
Then add the remaining ingredients of cornstarch, ¼ cup of the light or dark brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract into a bowl and mix until everything is combined.
Add the peaches to the baking dish. Alternatively, for a true peach dump cake, mix everything directly in the prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Add Cake Mix, sugar, and butter
Once the peaches are in the baking dish, sprinkle the dry cake mix directly on top of the peaches and even it out. Gently press down on the mix so it absorbs some of the juice.
Then, add the remaining ¼ cup of brown sugar evenly on top of the cake mix.
Add the thinly sliced pats of butter on top of the cake mix. You want the butter to be pretty close together so that when it melts it covers the entire surface and there are no dry spots of cake mix.
Optionally, you can add an additional sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the butter as well as one cup of whole or chopped pecans evenly spread over the top.
Step 4: Bake cobbler
Bake the cobbler uncovered for 40-50 minutes in the preheated oven. To avoid dry spots of cake mix, after about 10 minutes in the oven take a look and see if there are any dry patches of cake mix. If so, carefully remove the cobbler from oven and gently press down on the dry patches so they absorb the butter and peach juice. Put back in the oven and continue baking.
When it's done the cobbler should be bubbling up and the peach filling should be nicely thickened. Remove from oven and let cool. Add whipped cream or ice cream and enjoy!
Tips
- Make sure the butter is evenly spread and covers the entire surface.
- Check for dry spots of cake mix after about 10 minutes in the oven.
- For a fun variation, evenly spread 1 cup of chopped or whole pecans to the top of the prepared cobbler before baking.
FAQ
Typically it's because the butter was spread too far apart, or not enough was added. This is super easy to fix though.
After about 10 minutes in the oven, check on the cobbler. If it has any dry spots, remove from the oven and gently press down on the dry spots of cake mix so it absorbs the butter and peach juice. Place back and the oven and continue baking.
Can I use fresh peaches instead of canned?
Yes! You can definitely make this using fresh peaches. All you have to do is substitute the canned peaches for about 4 cups peeled and sliced peaches (4-6 fresh peaches depending on the size).
Cook them down for about 3-5 minutes over medium heat with ¼ cup of granulated sugar (more or less to taste) and a ¼ cup lemon juice, orange juice, peach juice, or water.
Once the peaches have softened, released some of their juices, and the sugar has dissolved and started to slightly thicken let cool for a few minutes and then it's ready to replace the canned peaches in the recipe.
Yes! The process is exactly the same as uses fresh peaches, just replace the fresh sliced peaches with frozen peaches an cook down as instructed above.
When to Serve
This is a delicious peach dessert that can be made any time of year because it uses canned peaches! It's a delicious and easy last minute dessert for fall and the Thanksgiving holiday.
But, it still a summer favorite and is a great dish for backyard BBQs, potlucks, and dinner parties.
It pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream.
Storing and making ahead
This recipe is best the day it is made but the baked peach cobbler will last 1-2 days in the fridge.
You can also assemble ahead of time and keep the unbaked cobbler in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Just cover with aluminum foil when storing.
When ready to bake, remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking to come to room temperature and then remove foil and bake as instructed.
Looking for more cake mix dessert hacks? Check these out!
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Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
Equipment
- 9 x 13 inch baking dish
- non-stick cooking spray
- spatula or large spoon
- large bowl optional
INGREDIENTS
- 3 15 oz canned peaches in juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt omit if using salted butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar split
- 1 box yellow cake
- 3/4 cup cold butter 1 1/2 sticks thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add 2 cans of peaches and their juice into a large bowl. For the third can of peaches, drain the juice and only add the peaches to the bowl.
- Mix in cornstarch, ¼ cup of the brown sugar, cinnamon, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract.
- Add the mixed peaches to the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly on top of the peaches, even out, and gently press down so the cake mix absorbs some of the juice.
- Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup of brown sugar on top of the cake mix.
- Evenly spread the thinly sliced pats of butter on top of the cake mix, making sure they are fairly close together and cover the entire top of the cobbler.
- If desired, add another sprinkle cinnamon on top of the butter.
- Bake the cobbler uncovered for 40-50 minutes in the preheated oven, checking for dry patches after about 10 minutes in the oven.
- When it's done the cobbler should be bubbling up and the peach filling should be nicely thickened.
- Remove from oven and let cool.
- Serve warm or room temperature. Add whipped cream or ice cream and enjoy!
Notes
- For a sweeter cobbler, you can use canned peaches in syrup or a mix of syrup and juice.
- For a fun variation, evenly spread 1 cup of chopped or whole pecans to the top of the prepared cobbler before baking.
- If after 10 minutes in the oven the cobbler has dry spot of cake mix, remove from the oven and gently press down on the dry spots of cake mix so it absorbs the butter and peach juice. Place back and the oven and continue baking.
- This recipe can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Store unbaked and covered in the fridge. Let come to room temperature before baking.
- The baked peach cobbler will last 1-2 days covered or in an airtight container the fridge.
Shilo says
This is the perfect recipe!! came together quick and the trick of pushing it down onto the juice made it so much crispier then a usual dump cake. Thank you so much
Sophia says
So glad you liked it!!