Best Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix

If you ask me, desserts made with cake mix are a genius invention.

This simple peach cobbler makes a family-friendly dessert that’s loaded with sweet fruit and buttery goodness. Fresh peaches bubble underneath a golden cake mix topping that bakes up perfectly every time.

The fruit gets tossed with a bit of sugar and cinnamon, then topped with dry cake mix and butter. A scoop of vanilla ice cream and maybe some whipped cream help the whole thing come together.

It’s a crowd-pleasing dessert that comes together in no time, perfect for potlucks or weeknight treats.

What Kind of Peaches Should I Use?

For this easy peach cobbler, canned peaches in heavy syrup are actually your best bet since they’re already sweetened and perfectly tender. You can use either sliced or halved peaches – just make sure they’re packed in heavy syrup rather than juice or light syrup for the richest flavor. If you only have peaches in juice, you might want to add a tablespoon or two of sugar to make up for the sweetness. Fresh peaches can work too if they’re in season, but you’ll need to peel and slice them yourself, plus add some extra sugar since they won’t have that syrup coating.

Options for Substitutions

This simple cobbler recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:

• Canned peaches: You can use fresh peaches instead – about 6-8 large peaches, sliced and tossed with ½ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Frozen peaches work too, just thaw them first and drain any excess liquid.
• Vanilla cake mix: Yellow cake mix works just as well, or try spice cake mix for extra warmth. You could even use white cake mix, though the flavor will be a bit more mild.
• Butter: If you’re out of butter, you can substitute with the same amount of melted margarine. Coconut oil (melted) also works, though it will add a subtle coconut flavor.
• Cinnamon: Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice along with the cinnamon, or try pumpkin pie spice for a more complex flavor.
• Heavy syrup peaches: If you prefer less sweetness, peaches in light syrup or juice work fine. You might want to add 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar to make up for the reduced sweetness.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest mistake people make with peach cobbler is draining the peach syrup completely, which robs your dessert of moisture and flavor – instead, drain about half the syrup and keep the rest for a juicier result.

Another common error is mixing the cake mix with the butter before sprinkling it on top, but you’ll get a much better texture by sprinkling the dry cake mix over the peaches first, then drizzling the melted butter evenly across the surface.

Don’t forget to check that your butter is fully melted but not burning hot, as this helps create those golden, crispy patches on top that make cobbler so irresistible.

Finally, resist the urge to open the oven door too often during baking – let it bubble and brown undisturbed for about 45-50 minutes until the top is golden and the edges are bubbly.

What to Serve With Peach Cobbler?

Peach cobbler is amazing on its own, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top takes it to the next level – the cold, creamy ice cream melting into the warm cobbler is pure magic! You can also try it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or even some tangy Greek yogurt if you want something a little lighter. For an extra special touch, drizzle a bit of caramel sauce over the top or sprinkle some chopped pecans for a nice crunch. A hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk makes the perfect drink pairing to round out this cozy dessert.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Your peach cobbler tastes best when covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I like to cover it with foil or plastic wrap right in the baking dish. The flavors actually get even better after a day or two, so don’t worry if you have leftovers!

Freeze: You can freeze portions of this cobbler in individual containers for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s completely cooled first, then wrap it well to prevent freezer burn. It’s great to have a sweet treat ready to go when you need it.

Warm Up: To enjoy your cobbler warm again, just pop individual servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or reheat larger portions in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. I love serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream while it’s still warm and bubbly.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	50-55 minutes
Total Time	60-70 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 3500-4000
• Protein: 20-25 g
• Fat: 200-220 g
• Carbohydrates: 500-550 g

Ingredients

• 2 cans (29 oz each) sliced peaches in heavy syrup
• 1/2 cup reserved heavy syrup from peaches
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 box (15.2 oz) vanilla cake mix
• 1 cup melted butter

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set the pan aside.

Step 2: Drain the Peaches and Reserve Syrup

• 2 cans (29 oz each) sliced peaches in heavy syrup
• 1/2 cup reserved heavy syrup from peaches

Open both cans of sliced peaches in heavy syrup.

Drain the peaches while reserving 1/2 cup of the heavy syrup for later use.

I like to use a fine mesh strainer for more efficient draining.

Step 3: Layer the Peaches and Add Cinnamon

• drained peaches from Step 2
• 1/2 cup reserved heavy syrup from peaches
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Arrange the drained peaches (from Step 2) evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Drizzle the reserved 1/2 cup heavy syrup over the peaches, then evenly sprinkle the ground cinnamon across the top for a warm, spiced flavor.

Step 4: Add Cake Mix and Melted Butter

• 1 box (15.2 oz) vanilla cake mix
• 1 cup melted butter

Sprinkle the vanilla cake mix over the peaches and cinnamon in an even layer, making sure to cover all the fruit.

Next, pour the melted butter as evenly as possible across the surface of the cake mix.

For extra richness, I like to use high-quality butter here.

Step 5: Bake the Cobbler

Place the assembled cobbler in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Remove the cobbler from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

This helps the filling set up and makes for easier serving.