Old Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler

The peaches have been so sweet and delicious this summer and there is nothing like a ripe fresh peach! I bought a few more peaches than we could eat last time I went to the farmer’s market so I decided to make a peach cobbler with the really ripe ones and just the smell of it baking brought back so many memories for me!

When I was little, we traveled often to Hartwell, Georgia to see my grandparents. It was a long drive and we went at least once a month, because my grandfather (Pops) had Parkinson’s Disease and wasn’t doing well. He was sick for most of my life and died when I was around ten.

That is a sad memory, but there are fond memories as well! My grandmother, we called her Big Mama, (she was tiny), was a great Southern cook! I remember her picking greens (turnip greens, mustard greens, etc.) from the garden and cooking them along with cornbread in her cast iron skillet and pinto beans. I still love to eat that same meal to this day!

Big Mama also made a fabulous pound cake and she canned everything. I have memories of eating oatmeal with her canned pears on top and I still remember the taste of those pears, but I’ve yet to find a recipe that even comes close.

When we were at my grandparents housed in the summer, sometimes all my cousins would be there as well and we had a house full of people! The adults wanted the children outside as much as possible and I have memories of Big Mama giving us whole peaches, peel and all, and sending us outside to eat them. They were so sweet and juicy and the juice ran down our faces as we devoured those peaches. Of course, we had no cellphones and her television was not the greatest (she mainly used it to watch football games), so we found things to do and I don’t ever remember being the least bit bored! It was certainly a simpler time in many ways.

I’m sure my Big Mama made peach cobbler although I don’t remember…my mother made the peach cobbler I remember eating and the recipe I’m sharing today is very similar!

“The history of peach cobbler as a Southern dish dates back to the early 1800s when African Americans started to combine fruits like peaches with spices and flour to make a sweet, tasty dessert. This combination was then covered with a biscuit-like topping and baked.”

My cobbler recipe doesn’t have a biscuit topping (I’ve made those and don’t like them as well), it has more of a sweet batter that cooks with the peaches and has the most amazing flavor. It’s crunchy on the edges and soft and bread like on the inside. It’s indescribably delicious! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ll think you’re in heaven!

When this cobbler came out of the oven, I realized that I had no vanilla ice cream but I wasn’t about to take the time to go and get some! We ate it right away! There is still a small serving left that I’ve hidden in the back of the refrigerator and I’ll eat it when I can sit on the front porch and savor those last few bites!

If you grew up in a household where food was regularly prepared and you ate as a family, you likely have many good memories associated with food! I think family meals are important and hopefully families are trying to make it a priority. My mom made lunch every Sunday after church and we ate dinner together almost every night. We also went to her mother’s house at least once a week to eat a meal! We rarely had a “fancy” dinner, but believe me when I say that it was always good and summer dinners with garden fresh veggies and homemade cornbread were my favorites!

That was a long preface to a peach cobbler recipe, but for some reason, this one just brought back all the memories! I know you’ll enjoy!

I am partnering with our local potter, Haand Pottery. Haand is actually a global business providing beautiful handmade pottery to hotels and restaurants all over the world and selling online, but amazingly, they are based in Burlington, NC.

The pink plates I served the cobbler on were made at Haand and they are some of my favorites! Haand makes an assortment of dishes in a variety of colors, as well as vases, coffee and espresso cups, and hand blown glasses! The holidays are around the corner, and a handmade gift is always appreciated and dishes are something everyone uses. You can use my code CRAZYBLONDELIFE to receive 15% off your order.

What are your memories of food and growing up? Do certain foods bring back memories? Leave a coment and let me know!

*This post was first published last year in August, but I thought it would be nice to revisit as it’s peach season again!