Southern-Style Tennessee Peach Pudding

Tennessee Peach Pudding

Tennessee Peach Pudding is a classic Southern dessert that sits somewhere between a cobbler and a self-saucing cake. Its signature step—pouring hot syrup over the batter before baking—creates a soft, golden cake on top with a rich, peachy sauce underneath. Warm, comforting, and irresistibly nostalgic.

Ingredients

For the 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

For the Syrup Topping

• Water — 1½ cups
• Granulated sugar — ½ cup
• Brown sugar, packed — ½ cup
• Butter — 1 tablespoon
• Ground nutmeg — ¼ teaspoon

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.

Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon if using. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

Step 3: Add the Peaches
Fold the sliced peaches gently into the batter. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Frozen peaches can be added directly without thawing.

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 until the sugars fully dissolve.

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 set.

Step 6: Rest and Serve
Let the pudding sit for 10–15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Serve warm, ideally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.